The High Holidays ritual of tashlich involves visiting a body of water and throwing bread in it to symbolically cast away their sins from the previous year.
Fortunately, for Jews celebrating the High Holidays in 2020, tashlich is one ritual that can remain mostly unchanged. It takes place outside, allows plenty of room for social distancing, and can be performed individually or with just a small group. Many Jewish institutions in the New York area are offering either virtual tashlich ceremonies or in-person, socially-distanced opportunities for the ritual. Check out some of these events from local synagogues or organizations below:
Tamid, the Downtown Synagogue
This congregation, based in lower Manhattan, will offer in-person tashlich on both days of Rosh Hashanah. Non-members are welcome. More information is available on the synagogue’s full High Holidays schedule of events.
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Park Avenue Synagogue
The Upper East Side synagogue will stream a virtual tashlich on their live-streaming website. The synagogue has produced a beautiful tashlich guide to use as you follow the livestream or on your own this year.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
This Upper West Side synagogue will offer in-person tashlich for small groups of people who register in advance. (See the synagogue’s full schedule for details.) For anyone performing tashlich on their own, their handy guide will help you make the most out of the ritual.
Jewish Community Project
This downtown venue will host tashlich as part of its robust calendar of offerings for all ages for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Check out the full schedule and access streaming links here.
Chabad Jewish Center Prospect Heights West
The Prospect Heights Chabad is holding a tashlich service at the Gowanus Canal in northwest Brooklyn on September 20 at 4:30 p.m. Tashlich will be preceded by a shofar sounding at Dean Street Park. Details available on the Chabad center’s calendar.
Congregation Emanu-El, Westchester
The Westchester synagogue will host an in-person tashlich event on September 20. Registration is required and questions should be directed to the synagogue’s office. Check the synagogue’s High Holidays schedule for more information.
Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El
On the second day of Rosh Hashana, September 20, there is an Outdoor Shofar Blowing at Scarsdale Synagogue, followed by a self-guided Tashlich event at Butler Woods from 3-3:15 p.m. Only 50 people will be accommodated at a time and an RSVP is requested. Details on the temple’s website here.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Don’t miss My Jewish Learning’s virtual tashlich experience on Monday, September 21, 2020. Find out more and register here.
