Tashlich can be fun for everyone!

By Alicia Feldman, PJ Library Coordinator

Tashlich, which literally translates to “casting off,” is a ceremony performed on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah. During this ceremony, Jews symbolically cast off the sins of the previous year by tossing breadcrumbs or other ecofriendly items into flowing water. During this ritual, people think of things they’ve done wrong in the past year and then “throw them away,” promising for improvement in the coming year.

Kids can easily grasp the idea of wanting to do better and saying “sorry,” so including them in a simple, age-appropriate tashlich ceremony is a great way to build understanding about the ritual while creating a fun family tradition.

Here in Southwest Florida, we are lucky enough to have an abundance of flowing water as a venue for “casting off.” Even if your children are too young to remember mistakes, do the writing for them and let them focus on the fun “washing away” part of the activity.

If you are looking for some creative options, below are some kid-friendly suggestions.

• Use bath crayons to write or draw things you are sorry about in the tub and then wash them away.

• Write or draw your list out in sidewalk chalk. Then, fill up some water balloons or use the hose to “erase” the list. You’ll be left with beautiful, temporary rainbow streaks on your driveway or sidewalk.

• Create paper airplanes and write down those things you want to ‘send away’ from yourself. Try as hard as you can to fly the plane as far away as you can. For a twist, write a good intention on the other side.

Of course, PJ Library has some wonderful picture books that offer easy to understand explanations of tashlich. I’ve taken the liberty to list some age-appropriate suggestions in the box below.

Lastly, I’d like to wish all of you a hearty Shanah tovah um’tukah, have a good and sweet year. May 5783 be a healthy and prosperous year for us all!

PJ LIBRARY BOOKS ABOUT TASHLICH“Happy New Year, Beni” by Jane Zalben(Recommended for children 3 to 5 years old)

“New Year at the Pier: A Rosh Hashanah Story” by April Halprin Wayland

(Recommended for children 5 to 7 years old)

“Tashlich at Turtle Rock” by Susan Schnur(Recommended for children 7 to 8 years old)