Back On Track: Rosh HaShannah

There is a ritual that we observe on the first day of Rosh HaShannah called Tashlich. The word means “casting away.” It is a part of the celebration of the new year and our preparation for Yom Kippur. (We perform Tashlich the second day if the first day was Shabbat.) The custom observed by most communities is to gather at a spot where there is free flowing water (pretty easy in Florida) and, after several Biblical verses are read, we cast bread into the water to symbolize the “casting away of our sins.”
There are communities that don’t include “the bread” but make Tashlich an oral declaration only. However one does it, it is clear that Tashlich is a symbol of what we hope to achieve during the High Holiday period—to rid ourselves of all those traits that we wish we could “throw away,” and retain the parts of our personalities that are the noblest!
If only it was that easy! We often make plans to change our behavior, our attitudes, stop bad habits, and improve ourselves. Of course we know how that usually turns out—we have great goals but most often fall short of what we planned. How great would it be if getting rid of all our bad habits or problems were as easy as throwing some stale bread into the water!! Wow – the world could be a better place pretty quickly! From experience we all know that the only thing that is really that easy is to make another mistake! Things don’t change by just wishing for them to be different.
With this said, should we despair? Should we give up on bettering ourselves by using the excuse that we “will probably just fail again?” One enduring message of this holiday season is an answer to that question: No, it is not easy to change, it is not easy to break old habits, and it is not easy to change one’s behavior. Often it is a slow process with ups and downs, with success and with failure. Nothing comes as easy as Tashlich—but by performing this one small ritual we are reminded of the message of Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur—getting back on track is always possible.
As we head into the holiday season it is not too early to start our spiritual preparation – we may dismiss rituals like Tashlich as “silly” – a simple act that really doesn’t change anything. That’s true on one level but the larger truth is that sometimes such rituals can serve as a reminder of what is possible. It’s been a very tough year for all Americans so a little reminder about “what is still possible” couldn’t hurt anyone!