The LA Times did its “let’s-get-this-Jewish-holiday-thing-over-with” duty today by running two large photos on Section A, page 3 showing Jews yesterday, the second day of Rosh Hashana, on Venice Beach.
The accompanying two line caption correctly stated that the Jews were engaged in performing the tashlich rite. And that’s it. Great that The Times is out there in the community, not so great that their information fails to provide even the bare bones of what actually happened. The Times sent a reporter/photographer to the event, but didn’t include the Who, What, When, Why and How.
Even if I weren’t married to the rabbi of the congregation that actually pulled off the massive event, I’d like to believe I’d still, as a mildly curious reader, wonder WHO ran the event, WHAT is tashlich, and WHY all these people do it.
So here goes: The outreach congregation Nashuva organized yesterday’s massive tashlich ritual at Venice Beach. Some 1000 people showed up for the group’s annual drum circle and shofar blowing, followed by the performance of tashlich. Attendees recited ritual blessings, then threw crumbs of bread into the water to symbolize the casting off of the previous year’s sins.
Tashlikh, the Hebrew word for “casting off” is a Jewish practice that dates back at least 600 years. The previous year’s sins are symbolically “cast off” by throwing pieces of bread into a natural body of flowing water.
“You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea,” reads the Biblical passage Micah 7:18-20, from which the custom is derived.
Nashuva began the service five years ago, where Venice Blvd. meets the beach. Traditionally held the first day of the Jewish New Year, or Rsh Hashana, this year, because the first day fell onj the Sabbath, it was held on the second day of the holiday.
At the event, Nashuva musicians led a drum circle, which Nashuva claims is the largest Jewish drum circle in the world. Musician Jared Stein blew the shofar between sessions. As the sun set over the ocean, Rabbi Naomi Levy, the founder and leader of Nashuva (and, full disclosure, my wife), led the attendees through several blessings, then walked with the crowd, which had swelled to over 1000, to the water’s edge, where they threw old bread into the waves.
The Jewish Journal has reported on the phenomenon of the ancient tashlich ritual becoming more and more popular with local congregations, as its combination of active ritual and nature appeal to a new generation of Jews. Even congregations far from the sea now include it in their High Holy Day activities, often times finding it a good way to join forces with other congregations, even other denominations.
Tashlich bridges the gap between those Jews who want to adhere to tradition, and those drawn to new forms of spirituality. That’s likely why the 1000 people at Venice Beach with Nashuva Sunday included many who said they had never stepped foot in a synagogue—and many non-Jews.
Nashuva is experimenting with other ways to do outreach as well. This year, the congregation again joins forces with Jewish Television Network to do a live webcast of the Kol Nidre services (viewable also at www.jewishjournal.com) beginning Sunday, September 27 at 6 pm.
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