Rosh HaShana

Tashlich
First day of Rosh HaShana - 1 Tishrei 5766 • Tuesday, October 4th, '05
NOTE: The hard copy of TT contains the full text in Hebrew

What it isn't & what it is
Tashlich is NOT a hocus-pocus magical method for ridding oneself of sins. It just isn't that simple. One must do sincere T'shuva, pray to HaShem, say Vidui, and if interpersonal sins are involved (which they inevitably are), one must appease those he/she has wronged and receive their forgiveness before T'shuva can succeed. One cannot go to the water side, say some p’sukim, throw some crumbs into the water (a practice which poskim frown upon, by the way), and walk away with a clean slate - without some hard, real repentance. In fact, there have been rabbanim in previous generations who have banned Tashlich in their communities so that people should not slacken off from the major challenges of the Yamim Nora'im - T'shuva and Prayer.

There are other authorities who did not mention the custom of Tashlich in their writings at all, since it does not appear in the Talmud or other early sources. For example, the Vilna Gaon's practice was/is not to do Tashlich.

Yet Tashlich is a wide-spread minhag in most Jewish communities around the world.

If it is difficult to go to Tashlich on Rosh HaShana, or for some reason one wasn't able to do so, it may be said during Aseret Y'mei T'shuva, or afterwards until (and including) Hoshana Rabba.

The lead passage of Tashlich gives us the origin of its name, and probably the main origin of the custom itself. The second pasuk (Micha 7:19) speaks of G-d, in His mercy, "casting our sins into the depths of the sea". This is our T'shuva goal - to repent so sincerely, that G-d will erase our sins completely.

Kings of Israel were anointed by the riverside. Water is the symbol of life, of Torah, and of continuity. On Rosh HaShana, when we celebrate the coronation of the King of Kings, we go to the river (or other body of water) as a reminder of this theme of the day.

The Midrash tells us that the Satan received G-d's permission to try to dissuade Avraham Avinu from going to Har HaMoriah to sacrifice Yitzchak.

He placed a river in Avraham's way, but Avraham was so determined to carry out G-d's command, that he walked right into the water. Nothing would stop Avraham. The river became a symbol of dedication to G-d. On Rosh HaShana, the anniversary of the Akeida, we go to the riverside and "remind" G-d (so to speak), and ourselves, of the dedication of our forefather Avraham, and to rededicate ourselves to Torah and mitzvot with that high level of dedication.

There is a kabbalistic analogy drawn between the opening, main p'sukim of Tashlich, and the Thirteen Divine Attributes. This idea adds to the significance of the Tashlich recitation, because of the power of invoking the Yud-Gimel Midot. They are an essential element in the Slichot and T'shuva process, and are integrally bound to the Biblical events of the Elul - Rosh HaShana - Yom Kippur period.

The text for Tashlich varies from machzor to machzor. In this 4-pager, you will find a bit more text than some, and less than others. It is appropriate to supplement the regular Tashlich texts with your own prayers. On Rosh HaShana, when we spend a significant amount of time in shul davening, we don't say "enough is enough". After a festive lunch, we go out of our homes to pray between prayers. But we don't go to the Beit Knesset. Instead, we go to a body of water, into nature, where G-d's Presence should also be strongly felt, and we revel in His majesty and recommit ourselves to His service.

Tashlich starts on the last page (which becomes the front page as soon as you turn this folded sheet over). It might sound funny, but "use Tashlich wisely". Make it a meaningful part of your Rosh HaShana, and let some of the ideas presented here enrich the experience.
Wishing you and yours a K'Tiva VaChatima Tova

OU Israel Center Torah Tidbits SHOFAR GUIDE
NOTE: The hard copy of TT contains the full text in Hebrew
The first “session” of Shofar blowing, which consists of 30 blasts and constitutes the fulfillment of the Torah’s mitzva of Shofar, is done after the reading of the Torah and Haftara (and Drasha) and before the Torahs are returned to the Aron.

It is known as the "sitting-down" blasts, as opposed to the Shofar blasts during the Amida, although we stand for this set too.

It is the minhag to say T’hilim 47 seven times before Shofar blowing:
The Shofar-blower AND each person listening to the Shofar should have KAVANA during the BRACHOT to fulfill the mitzva of Shofar, both the Torah requirements and those of our Sages. One must be careful to hear the entire BRACHOT without interruption, and to answer AMEN to each.
It is proper not to talk (other than davening and what is necessary for davening and Shofar) from the BRACHOT through the last of the blasts (after the repetition of the Musaf Amida), but especially until the first set of 30 KOLOT are completed. Although there are Machzorim that have passages for the KAHAL to say after each trio of sounds, it is widely accepted for the KAHAL to remain silent throughout the set of 30 blasts.

The Mitzva to Hear Shofar
First and foremost, before any of the themes, symbolisms, and reminders mentioned in the paragraphs that follow, is the main reason and kavana for doing ANY mitzva - because G-d commands it. The phrase L'SHEIM MITZVAT SHOFAR should be on our minds from the Brachot of the shofar-blower, from the first blast to the 100th.

The Torah says that the first day of the seventh month shall be a T'RU'A DAY. We are taught by the Oral Law that this means that we are to hear the sound called T'RU'A, which is to be produced by the Shofar. Furthermore, we are to hear the T’RU’A three times, and that each T’RU’A is to be preceded by and followed by a P'SHUTA, a plain, long blast which we call T'KI'A.

We do not know exactly what our Sages meant the T'RU'A to sound like. It is to sound like crying, wailing, sobbing, moaning, sighing, or some combination thereof. To satisfy different opinions, we have two sounds that we call SH'VARIM and T'RU'A, and the combination of the two. Therefore, to satisfy the Torah's requirement of hearing the Shofar on Rosh HaShana, we must hear 3 each of the following combinations:
T'KI'A | SH'VARIM-T'RU'A | T'KI'A
T'KI'A | SH'VARIM | T'KI'A
T'KI'A | T'RU'A | T'KI'A
Let’s refer to this as a Large Set of Blasts (a.k.a. 30 KOLOT). One of each make a Small Set (a.k.a. 10 KOLOT).

Although the requirement of the Torah will be satisfied with 30 KOLOT (sounds or blasts), the Sages instituted the practice of sounding the Shofar during the Amida - linking the Shofar-sounds with each of the 3 main brachot of Musaf - MALCHIYOT (Kingship), ZICHRONOT (Remembrances), and SHOFAROT (Shofars). Some shuls blow during the repetition of the Amida only; others blow during the silent Amida as well.

And, as is well-known, the custom is to blow additional blasts (10 or 40, as the case may be) after the Amida, to bring the total number of blasts to 100. 100 conveys completeness and fullness. On Rosh HaShana, we don't just blow the Shofar, we are fully saturated with the Shofar sounds. This fulfills the sense of "YOMT'RU'A there shall be for you", more than a lesser number would.

(There is also another reason given for the 100 blasts, having to do with the lament of the mother of Sisra, as recorded in the Book of Sho'f'tim.)
Symbolisms and Kavanot
(based on Menorat HaMa'or)

G-D'S KINGSHIP
Rosh HaShana corresponds to the 6th day of creation, the day human beings were created. Since it is the day that G-d's subjects, so to speak, came into existence, it follows that He became King on that very same day. We therefore consider Rosh HaShana to be the Coronation Day of the Supreme King. To herald that event, we sound the royal trumpet - the Shofar. This concept of G-d's Kingship is one of the major themes of Rosh HaShana. One of the three central brachot of the Rosh HaShana Musaf is Malchiyot - Kingship. In that bracha, we quote ten p’sukim from Tanach that deal with this theme. The T'KI'A (the long monotonic, unbroken blast) specifically is associated with this aspect of Rosh HaShana. The T'KI'A is a happy and proud sound. Although other emotions claim our attention, one should be happy and proud on Rosh HaShana as we reaffirm our loyalty to the King of Kings.

CALL TO REPENTANCE
The Shofar is the alarm that (hopefully) wakes people up to the challenge of doing T'shuva and asking G-d for forgiveness. This is one of the major aspects of Shofar (and the main reason for having blown the Shofar throughout Elul). It is the broken sounds of the SH'VARIM and T'RU'A that most fit this aspect of Shofar. Shofar is associated with embarking on the road to Spiritual Return.

AKEIDAT YITZCHAK
Perhaps the most prominent element of Rosh HaShana is the Binding of Isaac. The choice of a ram's horn as Shofar, the Torah readings, the main focus of the Zichronot bracha, and Tashlich, all point to the AKEIDA as a major theme of the day. When we stand in judgment before G-d, we are not isolated individuals but are the spiritual heirs of the Avot and Imahot whose commitment to G-d is exemplified by the Akeida. The Chafetz Chaim points out that most of the promises of blessing in the Torah are conditional upon our good behavior. The notable exception is G-d's promise to Avraham Avinu at the Akeida, which is unconditional. If our sincerity and commitment to G-d and His Mitzvot ever comes into question, we need only realize that we are the descendants of Avraham & Yitzchak and have inherited from them an absolute and complete dedication to G-d's Word, the Torah.

MATAN TORAH
The Torah describes the events of Sinai as being accompanied by the "sound of the Shofar ever increasing". When we hear the Shofar (specifically the T'KI'A), we should be motivated to rededicate ourselves to Torah and mitzvot. In essence, this is the foundation of T'shuva. The Shofar reminds us of our commitment to the Torah; repentance is G-d's gift to us when we fail in that commitment.

The words of the Prophets are likened to the sound of the Shofar. This reminder should inspire greater commitment to faithful observance of Judaism. Our deal with G-d, when we asked not to hear His voice directly, was our promise to listen to the prophets, starting with Moshe and continuing throughout the generations. This aspect of Shofar, then, follows the previous item - Matan Torah.

INSTILLS FEAR
"If a Shofar sounds in the city, will not the People tremble?" Think of the sound of a siren - the feelings of apprehension and dread that it filled us with. That's a Shofar - our spiritual siren, helping us to get serious about Torah and T'shuva.

Churban Beit HaMikdash should also be kept in mind while hearing the Shofar. The Prophets mention the Shofar in their description of the Churban. One should think of the "ups and downs" of Jewish history as part of the Rosh HaShana challenge that we all face. Furthermore, the destruction of the Temples resulted from our not keeping faith with G-d. These thoughts then, should also lead us to think of repentance as the way to reverse the devastating effects of the Churban.

In gathering of the Exiles is described by Yeshayahu as being accompanied by the sound of a Great Shofar. We are witness to the beginning of that process; may we be privileged to see its continuation and culmination. This too is in the realm of the T'KI'A and is one of the promises to keep in mind so that we can put "things in proper perspective".

The Great Judgment Day is associated with the Shofar. One must understand that we stand in judgment before G-d on every Rosh HaShana, but that we we will also do so on a different scale "after 120 years" and "at the end of days".

T'CHIYAT HAMEITIM is also associated with Shofar. Thinking of this gives us a broader perspective on what G-d expects of us and what is in store.