Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah and a Prayer for Parnassah

The Order of Tashlich

“Tashlich” is a special prayer recited on the first day of Rosh Hashanah while going to a place from which the sea, a river, or any other body of water can be seen. In this prayer, we ask that all our sins be cast away from us. The word “tashlich”—“cast away”—is taken from the verse of the prophet Micah (7:19) mentioned in this prayer: “And You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” The Order of Tashlich “Tashlich” begins with the words of the prophet Micah: “Who is a G-d like You, forgiving iniquity and pardoning transgression for the remnant of His heritage? He does not maintain His wrath forever, for He desires lovingkindness. He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue our iniquities. Cast all our sins into the depths of the sea! Show faithfulness to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days of old!” This passage is recited three times in succession, after which another prayer is read, traditionally attributed to Rabbeinu Chida. Tashlich concludes with Psalm 130 from Tehillim: “From the depths I call You, O L-rd…” and the following verse is repeated seven times: “Forever, O L-rd, Your word stands firm in the heavens!” After this ceremony, it is customary to turn out one's pockets and shake out the hems of one's clothing, as a sign that we are casting off the sins of the past that clung to us throughout the previous year. The Time for Tashlich Tashlich is recited on the first day of Rosh Hashanah after Mincha, but before sunset. If the first day falls on Shabbat, Tashlich is recited on the second day of the holiday. Where Tashlich Is Recited It is preferable to perform Tashlich on the shore of the sea or a river. The holy books state that it is preferable for the river to contain fish. The reason is that, like fish, which live in water and are hidden from people's eyes, we wish to be hidden from the evil eye. However, if there is no river nearby, one may go to any body of water or a well. Why Tashlich Is Performed The Midrash relates that when our forefather Abraham led his son Isaac to the binding יצחק עקדת, a river lay across his path, and he had to cross it with the water reaching his neck. He then cried out to G-d for salvation: “Save me, for the waters have reached my neck.” By performing Tashlich near a body of water, we invoke before G-d the memory of the binding of Isaac entrusted to Abraham.

The Order of Tashlich

[Having approached the body of water, one recites the text from the Book of the Prophet Micah] ה' ה' אל רחום חנון | א מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ ב נוֹשֵׂא עָוֹן ג וְעוֹבֵר עַל פֶּשַׁע | ארך אפים | ד לִשְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ ה לֹא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ ו כִּי | ורב חסד ואמת נוצר חסד | חָפֵץ חֶסֶד הוּא: ז יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ ח יִכְבּוֹשׁ עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ | לאלפים נושא | ט וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם כָּל חַטֹּאתָם: י תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת | עון ופשע וחטאה | לְיַעֲקֹב יא חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם יב אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ | ונקה | יג מִימֵי קֶדֶם: Transliteration Adonai Adonai El rachum ve-chanun Mi El kamokha nosei avon ve-oveir al pesha, erekh apayim, li-she'erit nachalato lo hechezik la'ad apo ki ve-rav chesed ve-emet notzeir chesed chafetz chesed hu yashuv yerachameinu yikhbosh avonoteinu la-alafim nosei avon ve-tashlikh bi-mtzulot yam kol chatotam. Titein emet le-Yaakov chesed le-Avraham asher nishbata la-avoteinu ve-nakeh mimei kedem. Translation: The L-rd, the L-rd, G-d, compassionate and gracious, who is like You, forgiving iniquity and pardoning transgression, restraining anger toward the remnant of His heritage. He does not retain His anger forever; for He desires lovingkindness. Great in lovingkindness and truth, He preserves lovingkindness. He will again have compassion on us and subdue our iniquities. You will cast into the depths of the sea all their sins. You will show faithfulness to Jacob, lovingkindness to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days of old. [The following chapter of Tehillim is then recited] Tehillim 33 רַנְּנ֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּֽיהוָ֑ה לַ֝יְשָׁרִ֗ים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה׃ ב הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה בְּכִנּ֑וֹר בְּנֵ֥בֶל עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר זַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ׃ ג שִֽׁירוּ־ל֭וֹ שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ הֵיטִ֥יבוּ נַ֝גֵּ֗ן בִּתְרוּעָֽה׃ ד כִּֽי־יָשָׁ֥ר דְּבַר־יְהוָ֑ה וְכָל־מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָֽה׃ ה אֹ֭הֵב צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט חֶ֥סֶד יְ֝הוָ֗ה מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ו בִּדְבַ֣ר יְ֭הוָה שָׁמַ֣יִם נַעֲשׂ֑וּ וּבְר֥וּחַ פִּ֝֗יו כָּל־צְבָאָֽם׃ ז כֹּנֵ֣ס כַּ֭נֵּד מֵ֣י הַיָּ֑ם נֹתֵ֖ן בְּאֹצָר֣וֹת תְּהוֹמֽוֹת׃ ח יִֽירְא֣וּ מֵ֭יְהוָה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מִמֶּ֥נּוּ יָ֝ג֗וּרוּ כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י תֵבֵֽל׃ ט כִּ֤י ה֣וּא אָמַ֣ר וַיֶּ֑הִי הֽוּא־צִ֝וָּ֗ה וַֽיַּעֲמֹֽד׃ י יְֽהוָ֗ה הֵפִ֥יר עֲצַת־גּוֹיִ֑ם הֵ֝נִ֗יא מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת עַמִּֽים׃ יא עֲצַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה לְעוֹלָ֣ם תַּעֲמֹ֑ד מַחְשְׁב֥וֹת לִ֝בּ֗וֹ לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹֽר׃ יב אַשְׁרֵ֣י הַ֭גּוֹי אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו הָעָ֓ם ׀ בָּחַ֖ר לְנַחֲלָ֣ה לֽוֹ׃ יג מִ֭שָּׁמַיִם הִבִּ֣יט יְהוָ֑ה רָ֝אָ֗ה אֶֽת־כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָֽם׃ יד מִֽמְּכוֹן־שִׁבְתּ֥וֹ הִשְׁגִּ֑יחַ אֶ֖ל כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָֽרֶץ׃ טו הַיֹּצֵ֣ר יַ֣חַד לִבָּ֑ם הַ֝מֵּבִ֗ין אֶל־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם׃ טז אֵֽין־הַ֭מֶּלֶךְ נוֹשָׁ֣ע בְּרָב־חָ֑יִל גִּ֝בּ֗וֹר לֹֽא־יִנָּצֵ֥ל בְּרָב־כֹּֽחַ׃ יז שֶׁ֣קֶר הַ֭סּוּס לִתְשׁוּעָ֑ה וּבְרֹ֥ב חֵ֝יל֗וֹ לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּֽט׃ יח הִנֵּ֤ה עֵ֣ין יְ֭הוָה אֶל־יְרֵאָ֑יו לַֽמְיַחֲלִ֥ים לְחַסְדּֽוֹ׃ יט לְהַצִּ֣יל מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וּ֝לְחַיּוֹתָ֗ם בָּרָעָֽב׃ כ נַ֭פְשֵׁנוּ חִכְּתָ֣ה לַֽיהוָ֑ה עֶזְרֵ֖נוּ וּמָגִנֵּ֣נוּ הֽוּא׃ כא כִּי־ב֭וֹ יִשְׂמַ֣ח לִבֵּ֑נוּ כִּ֤י בְשֵׁ֖ם קָדְשׁ֣וֹ בָטָֽחְנוּ׃ כב יְהִֽי־חַסְדְּךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ כַּ֝אֲשֶׁ֗ר יִחַ֥לְנוּ לָֽךְ׃ Transliteration Ranenu tzadikim ba-Adonai, layesharim navah tehillah. Hodu la-Adonai be-khinor, be-nevel asor zamru lo. Shiru lo shir chadash, heitivu nagen bi-teruah. Ki yashar devar Adonai, ve-khol ma'asehu be-emunah. Ohev tzedakah u-mishpat, chesed Adonai mal'ah ha-aretz. Bi-dvar Adonai shamayim na'asu, u-ve-ruach piv kol tzeva'am. Kones ka-ned mei ha-yam, noten be-otzarot tehomot. Yiru me-Adonai kol ha-aretz, mimenu yaguru kol yoshvei tevel. Ki hu amar va-yehi, hu tzivah va-ya'amod. Adonai hefir atzat goyim, heni machshevot amim. Atzat Adonai le-olam ta'amod, machshevot libo le-dor va-dor. Ashrei ha-goy asher Adonai Elohav, ha-am bachar le-nachalah lo. Mi-shamayim hibit Adonai, ra'ah et kol bnei ha-adam. Mi-mekhon shivto hishgiach el kol yoshvei ha-aretz. Ha-yotzer yachad libam, ha-mevin el kol ma'aseihem. Ein ha-melekh nosha be-rov chayil, gibor lo yinatzeil be-rov koach. Sheker ha-sus li-teshuah, u-ve-rov cheilo lo yemaleit. Hinneh ein Adonai el yerei'av, la-meyachalim le-chasdo. Le-hatzil mi-mavet nafsham, u-lechayotam ba-ra'av. Nafsheinu chiktah la-Adonai, ezreinu u-maginnenu hu. Ki vo yismach libeinu, ki ve-shem kodsho batachnu. Yehi chasdekha Adonai aleinu, ka-asher yichalnu lakh. Translation Sing joyfully, righteous ones, to the L-rd; praise befits the upright. (2) Give thanks to the L-rd with the lyre; sing praises to Him with a ten-stringed harp. (3) Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully amid shouts of joy. (4) For the word of the L-rd is upright, and all His deeds are faithful. (5) He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the L-rd. (6) By the word of the L-rd the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth. (7) He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He places the depths in storehouses. (8) Let all the earth fear the L-rd; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (9) For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. (10) The L-rd frustrates the counsel of nations and thwarts the designs of peoples. (11) The counsel of the L-rd stands forever; the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations. (12) Happy is the nation whose G-d is the L-rd, the people He chose as His inheritance. (13) From heaven the L-rd looks down; He sees all the children of man. (14) From His dwelling place He watches all the inhabitants of the earth. (15) He who fashions the hearts of them all, who understands all their deeds. (16) A king is not saved by a great army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. (17) A horse is a false hope for victory; despite its great strength, it cannot save. (18) Behold, the eye of the L-rd is upon those who fear Him, upon those who await His lovingkindness, (19) to save their souls from death and sustain them during famine. (20) Our soul waits for the L-rd; He is our help and our shield. (21) For in Him our heart rejoices, because we trust in His holy Name. (22) May Your lovingkindness, O L-rd, be upon us, just as we have placed our hope in You. Tehillim 24 לְדָוִ֗ד מִ֫זְמ֥וֹר לַֽ֭יהוָה הָאָ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֑הּ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ ב כִּי־ה֭וּא עַל־יַמִּ֣ים יְסָדָ֑הּ וְעַל־נְ֝הָר֗וֹת יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ׃ ג מִֽי־יַעֲלֶ֥ה בְהַר־יְהוָ֑ה וּמִי־יָ֝קוּם בִּמְק֥וֹם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ ד נְקִ֥י כַפַּ֗יִם וּֽבַר־לֵ֫בָ֥ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹא־נָשָׂ֣א לַשָּׁ֣וְא נַפְשִׁ֑י וְלֹ֖א נִשְׁבַּ֣ע לְמִרְמָֽה׃ ה יִשָּׂ֣א בְ֭רָכָה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה מֵאֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעֽוֹ׃ ו זֶ֭ה דּ֣וֹר דרשו [דֹּרְשָׁ֑יו] מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י פָנֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃ ז שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְ֝יָב֗וֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ ח מִ֥י זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְ֭הוָה עִזּ֣וּז וְגִבּ֑וֹר יְ֝הוָ֗ה גִּבּ֥וֹר מִלְחָמָֽה׃ ט שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם וּ֭שְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם וְ֝יָבֹא מֶ֣לֶךְ הַכָּבֽוֹד׃ י מִ֤י ה֣וּא זֶה֮ מֶ֤לֶךְ הַכָּ֫ב֥וֹד יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֑וֹת ה֤וּא מֶ֖לֶךְ הַכָּב֣וֹד סֶֽלָה׃ Transliteration Le-David mizmor, la-Adonai ha-aretz u-meloah, tevel ve-yoshvei vah. Ki hu al yamim yesadah, ve-al neharot yekhoneneha. Mi ya'aleh ve-har Adonai, u-mi yakum bi-mekom kodsho. Neki khapayim u-var levav, asher lo nasa la-shav nafshi, ve-lo nishba le-mirmah. Yisa verakhah me-et Adonai, u-tzedakah me-Elohei yisho. Zeh dor dorshav, mevakshei fanekha, Yaakov selah. Se'u she'arim rasheikhem, ve-hinase'u pitkhei olam, ve-yavo Melekh ha-kavod. Mi zeh Melekh ha-kavod? Adonai izuz ve-gibor, Adonai gibor milchamah. Se'u she'arim rasheikhem, u-se'u pitkhei olam, ve-yavo Melekh ha-kavod. Mi hu zeh Melekh ha-kavod? Adonai Tzevaot, hu Melekh ha-kavod selah. Translation A psalm of David. The earth is the L-rd's, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it. (2) For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. (3) Who may ascend the mountain of the L-rd, and who may stand in His holy place? (4) One with clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted his soul to vanity and has not sworn deceitfully. (5) He shall receive blessing from the L-rd and righteousness from the G-d of his salvation. (6) Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your countenance—Jacob, Selah. (7) Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, eternal portals, that the King of glory may enter. (8) Who is this King of glory? The L-rd, mighty and powerful; the L-rd, powerful in battle. (9) Lift up your heads, O gates; lift up, eternal portals, that the King of glory may enter. (10) Who is He, this King of glory? The L-rd of Hosts—He is the King of glory. Selah. A Prayer for Parnassah “May it be Your will, Adonai our G-d and G-d of our fathers, the great, mighty, and awesome G-d, that You be filled with compassion for us, for Your sake and for the sake of the holiness of this psalm and the Holy Names mentioned in it, and for the holiness of its verses, words, intonations, allusions, and secrets, and for the holiness of the Holy Name formed from the verse: ‘And I will pour out a blessing for you beyond measure.’ And from the verse: ‘Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O L-rd.’ Inscribe us in the book of good livelihood and sustenance this year and every year, us and all the members of our household, all the days of our lives, with abundance and prosperity, through permitted means and not forbidden ones; with happiness and not distress; with tranquility, peace, and security, without any evil eye. May we merit engaging in sacred service without hardship, and may You grant us a livelihood without shame or disgrace, so that we will not need the gifts of flesh and blood, but only from Your full and generous hand. May You enable us to prosper and benefit from all our learning, from all the work of our hands, and from our business. May our homes be filled with the blessing of the L-rd, with an abundance of bread and goodness, and may we be worthy. Compassionate, Gracious, Guardian, Supporter and Savior, Upright, Redeemer, have mercy on us and hear our prayer, for You hear the prayer of every mouth. Blessed is He Who hears prayer.” Translation May it be Your will, the L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, the great, mighty, and awesome G-d, that You be filled with compassion for us, for Your sake and for the sake of the holiness of this psalm and the Holy Names mentioned in it, for the sake of the holiness of its verses, words, intonations, allusions, and secrets, and for the sake of the holiness of the Holy Name formed from the verse: “And I will pour out a blessing for you beyond measure.” And from the verse: “Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O L-rd.” Inscribe us in the book of good livelihood and sustenance this year and every year, us and all the members of our household, all the days of our lives, with abundance and prosperity, through permitted means and not forbidden ones; with happiness and not distress; with tranquility, peace, and security, without any evil eye. May we merit engaging in sacred service without hardship. Grant us a livelihood without shame or disgrace, so that we will not need the intervention of flesh and blood, but only from Your full and generous hand. May You enable us to prosper and benefit from all our learning, from all the work of our hands, and from our business. May our homes be filled with the blessing of the L-rd, with an abundance of bread and goodness, and may we be worthy. Compassionate, Gracious, Guardian, Supporter and Savior, Upright, Redeemer, have mercy on us and hear our prayer, for You hear the prayer of every mouth. Blessed is He Who hears prayer. יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי והֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה צוּרִי וְגאֲלִי - “Yihyu le-ratzon imrei fi, ve-hegyon libi, lefanekha Adonai tzuri ve-go'ali” - (May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O L-rd, my Rock and my Redeemer.) Tehillim 130 שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃ ב אֲדֹנָי֮ שִׁמְעָ֪ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אָ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃ ג אִם־עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמָר־יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד׃ ד כִּֽי־עִמְּךָ֥ הַסְּלִיחָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן תִּוָּרֵֽא׃ ה קִוִּ֣יתִי יְ֭הוָה קִוְּתָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י וְֽלִדְבָר֥וֹ הוֹחָֽלְתִּי׃ ו נַפְשִׁ֥י לַֽאדֹנָ֑י מִשֹּׁמְרִ֥ים לַ֝בֹּ֗קֶר שֹׁמְרִ֥ים לַבֹּֽקֶר׃ ז יַחֵ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֶל־יְה֫וָה כִּֽי־עִם־יְהוָ֥ה הַחֶ֑סֶד וְהַרְבֵּ֖ה עִמּ֣וֹ פְדֽוּת׃ ח וְ֭הוּא יִפְדֶּ֣ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִ֝כֹּ֗ל עֲוֺנֹתָֽיו׃ Transliteration Shir ha-ma'alot, mi-ma'amakim keratikha Adonai. Adonai shim'ah ve-koli, tihyenah ozn akha kashuvot le-kol tachanunai. Im avonot tishmor Yah, Adonai mi ya'amod? Ki imkha ha-selichah, lema'an tivare. Kiviti Adonai, kivtah nafshi, ve-lidvaro hochalti. Nafshi la-Adonai, mi-shomrim la-boker, shomrim la-boker. Yachel Yisrael el Adonai, ki im Adonai ha-chesed, ve-harbeh imo fedut. Ve-hu yifdeh et Yisrael mi-kol avonotav. Translation A Song of Ascents. From the depths I call You, O L-rd. (2) O L-rd, hear my voice; may Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. (3) If You were to keep a record of iniquities, O G-d, O L-rd, who could stand? (4) For forgiveness is with You, that You may be revered. (5) I hope in the L-rd; my soul hopes, and I await His word. (6) My soul longs for the L-rd more than watchmen long for the morning, watchmen for the morning. (7) Let Israel hope in the L-rd, for lovingkindness is with the L-rd, and abundant redemption is with Him. (8) He will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. [At the conclusion, recite seven times] Tehillim 119:89 – “Le-olam Adonai, devarekha nitzav ba-Shamayim” – (Forever, O L-rd, Your word stands firm in the heavens.) After reciting the “Order of Tashlich,” it is customary to turn out one's pockets and shake out the hems of one's clothing, as a sign that we are casting off the sins of the past that clung to us throughout the previous year. (Based on material from the Imrei Noam website and a lesson by Rabbi Alexander Tzvi Sypkov)

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Tags: Tashlich, Prayer for Parnassah During Tashlich, Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah

30 Sep 2024

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