Iβm trading in lemonade on the porch for hot chocolate on the soccer field and a fresh start to the new year.
It’s Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. And my family smiles with anticipation. My children think apples and honey for breakfast. Jason thinks honey cake for whenever he pleases. And I think Tashlich.
In Hebrew, “Tashlich” means “to cast off.” On Rosh HaShannah, we toss (or cast) pieces of bread into a body of flowing water. The water carries away the bits of bread, and with them, we mindfully let go of Β aspects of the past year that we dislike. They, too, get carried away.
And thatβs just what weβre doing this afternoon. Our cheeks are rosy, our fleeces are zipped, our hands are clenching bags of bread. And our minds are filled with frown-worthy thoughts. But not for long. We’re ready to relinquish those icy fingers that are gripping onto nooks and crannies within our hearts. We’re ready to let go. Right now.
Besides the plane roaring above us and the bird squawking loudly nearby, we are alone here on this path. Our feet step firmly, strongly. Relentlessly crunching into the oh-so-very Fall-ish mish-mash of twigs, pebbles, sand and, indeed, leaves.
My heart beats in rhythm. And with each pound, my soul fills up with something that I’m ready to say goodbye to. I exhale those moments out and prepare to cast them into the water.
I keep walking. My little family fills up this seemingly never-ending path with our sounds, our steps and our thoughts. As I inhale again, I allow the joys, the “wins” from the year to fill me right back up. And that little gem, I learned from a book.
When I received Tashlich at Turtle Rock by Susan Schnur and Anna Schnur-Fishman in the mail, the teacher in me could hardly wait to crack the book open and pore over each and every page, word, illustration. And the mom in me couldnβt wait to share the book with my children.
And when I did, we all found it to be…absolutely perfect. The cozy, family togetherness, the tradition that fits like a glove, the blatant glowing enjoyment that each family member takes in being fully present, fully together as they do Rosh HaShannah. It’s mind-blowing, heart-warming, connection-inspiring and tradition-creating.
When I found out that the book describes how one family, in this case a rabbi’s family, does one aspect of Rosh HaShannah together, well, that just made it even better. I wanted to reach right out and give this book a hug. And so did my children. Because we could see ourselves within its beautiful pages.
Our own Tashlich Walk has followed the same path for a few years now. I remember Jason carrying each girl down to the water to toss in their own breadcrumbs and their own mistakes, something like, βnot listeningβ or βhitting.β I remember Brody sleeping through his first walk and being a stroller champion the second time around. And today, heβs a big two year old toddling right alongside his big sisters. Sometimes he tries to lead the way. But the girls eagerly, and somewhat forcefully, take center stage and step ahead. They’re tall, proud and ready.
*Many thanks to the fab Kar Ben Publishing for a copy of this beautiful book.*
Gorgeous. We mark so much with the return to a moment, a ritual, a time of year…
I published an essay (note the glaring misspelling) last spring about this same time of year, a different moment but so connected (as I so often feel about us!):
http://www.snreview.org/0309Buttenwieser.html
Beautiful post!!! The love you have for your family just pours from the computer. I simply adore mamas like you! Mindful mamas, indeed!
Happy New Year to you then! How that next year, you have many fewer things to cast off.
This was really beautiful, Galit! And so educational for me. Before this, I (am ashamed to admit) did not know what Rosh HaShanah is. The crazy thing is that not knowing any of this, yesterday Mia and I threw bread into flowing water to feed the ducks for the first time all year. I love learning about your traditions and rituals. Happy new year to you, and happy fall π
Maybe Fish aren’t affected by those bad things from people….Maybe, it is just food for them.(lol)
That is a lovely tradition, my dear. I had not heard of it before. And it is nice that it is something you all can do as a family, together, and then you all start fresh, once again.
A Very Happy New Year to you and yours, May it be a Healthy and Happy year, filled with all good things!
What a lovely post, filled with poignant and heart-warming prose, and food for our souls.
How precious of Chloe to worry so, about the fish. A moment to remember, to write down, to cherish.
~~Lorri
Sweetness and good health in abundance are wished upon you and your family.
This year the weather was very pleasant and tashlich took place near a canal in the middle of the town.
A cozy jacket? The wind? Rosy cheeks? Zipped fleeces? Sounds lovely! {sighs wistfully} We’re still very much in the throes of summer…
May you and your beautiful family have a wonderful, happy, healthy, and sweet new year!
I’m so jealous that you are experiencing Fall already. We are still in the throws of a lingering summer heat wave.
I love fall! And I love the tradition you described of throwing the bread in the water to symbolize letting go of yesteryears troubles. Do you state these troubles aloud as you toss you Ciabatta? LOL
Thanks for stopping by my place! Come back soon!
such a beautiful moment in time. It seems a silly thing to actually relish the change of weather, yet it is so welcomed, huh?! Embrace the dark hair and enjoy the hot chocolate, both so yummy in every way π
I like the hair! Very poetic post. Nicely written.
Tashlich is a very nice tradition to start the new year.
Another nice thing to do is, to call relatives and friends and/or to send greeting cards and wish a Shana Tovah.
Sounds like such a lovely day.
L’Shana Tova!
-Aimee
sarah, love it! and, indeed, you-me-soul-ish-ly connected, mama! thanks much for your kind words and link!
april, hi there mama! thanks much for the note. it means a lot to me! π
lisa, hi! thanks for your thoughtful (as always) note! i love that you and your babes were doing something so peaceful and similar! i can totally picture that and think we should try it all together sometime! π
naomi, right back at you, lady! and, indeed, i think the fish are just fine! lol
lorrie, your comment is so poetic! thank you for your lovely and oh-so-very kind words!
pearl, right back at you and yours mama!!
i-d, that must have been beautiful! i can definitely picture the scene!
mrs. s, i hear you! i, too, love fall but i know that it means that winter is way, way too close!! shana tova to all of you as well!
jennifer, hi mama! thanks for the note. i don’t know that i’d toss ciabatta & for the record, i love that you used yesteryear in writing! π
tara, thanks lady! i’m embracing, i’m embracing! π
eric, thanks much, friend!
mom, did you just get on the blog to remind me to call my mother?! i am not at all surprised! xoxo
& aimee, shana tova to you and yours as well! thank you for the visit and note– both are very much appreciated! π
“They’re eating our bad stuff” – the sweetness of this just about made ME cry. Galit, such a beautiful post. Makes me wish we had a walkable and memorable Taslich spot.
Oh, so sweet Chloe is for worrying about the fish. Such a tenderheart she is. Isn’t there a ‘tenderheart’ care bear? That’s your little Chloe.
I love your traditions…they are the stuff dreams are made of. For real.
bookishima, hi lady! so great to hear from you! thanks much for the kind words. chloe does indeed often bring tears to my eyes- for all sorts of reasons! this was a good one though! π
& christine, lol i’ve always thought she was funshine, but i think you’re right– tenderheart it is. and seriously, thanks lady. your words are amazing!