 |
| Tashlikh (Gierymski, 1890) |
The Mishnah refers to Rosh Hashanah as the “day of judgment.” The Talmud further explains that this is the day when the “books of account” are opened – and the fates of the wicked, the righteous, and the “middle class” (moral, not economic) are determined. The fates of the wicked and the righteous are pretty straightforward. The wicked are “blotted out of the book of the living forever” - and the righteous (to conclude on a positive note) are inscribed “to live.”
The intermediate group? They have to sweat it out for another ten days. Their fate will be forever “sealed” on Yom Kippur. In the meantime, the clock is ticking. They can choose to repent – or not. While everyone else is celebrating (the righteous, and even the ignorant wicked), the middlers can get right to work on their sins. Gluttony? Well, then, it’s a simple matter of saying a polite “No!” to the apples, honey, pomegranates, dates, spinach, gourds, leeks, black-eyed beans, challah, pumpkin pastries, beets, stuffed birds, and fish heads that come your way.
If that wasn’t sufficient, then tashlikh (the “casting off” of sins) can be performed later that afternoon. This practice is derived from Micah 7:18-20, where it states: Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth the iniquity… He will subdue our inquities, and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Fear not - if you’re nowhere near the ocean, any flowing body of water will do. Simply stand upon the nearest bridge and cast your blessed bread upon the healing waters (Eccelesiastes 11:1).
Some, however, think it’s not all that simple. The Maskilim (leaders of the Haskalah “Jewish Enlightenment” movement) have been opposed to tashlikh on principle. They believe that repentance must involve profound transformations within the sinners themselves.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_Hashanah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashlikh
No comments:
Post a Comment