Taschlich

[wbreitman]

Sometime between Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Jewish day of repentance -- the highest holy day in the Jewish religion), it is customary among Ashkenazim (the name given to Jews from Eastern Europe) to throw breadcrumbs into a body of water as a symbolic act of repentance, called Taschlich. Most Jews do Taschlich the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah. Family and friends gather together at the waterfront of a body of water to “cast away” the sins of the past year and resolve to be a better person in the year to come.

Occasionally, people ask what kinds of breadcrumbs should, (or might) be thrown. Here are some suggestions for breads which could be appropriate for specific sins and misbehaviors...

For ordinary sins - White bread

For erotic sins - French bread

For particularly dark sins - Pumpernickel

For complex sins - Multi-Grain

For sins of indecision - Waffles

For sins committed in haste - Matzos

For sins of chutzpah (loosely translated, having some nerve/brashness/rudeness) - Any fresh bread

For substance abuse - Stoned wheat

For committing auto theft - Caraway

For timidity/cowardice - Milk toast

For ill-temperedness - Sourdough

For silliness, eccentricity - Nut bread

For excessive irony - Rye bread

For taking unnecessary chances - “Hero” bread

For war-mongering - Kaiser rolls

For dressing immodestly - Tarts

For lechery and promiscuity - Hot buns

For promiscuity with Gentiles (non-Jews) - Hot cross buns

For racist attitudes - Crackers

For being “holier-than-thou” - Bagels

For overeating - Stuffing

For indecent photography - Cheesecake

For raising your voice too often - Challah (the "ch" is pronounced like an "H" -- don't worry, I didn't get it at first, either)

For pride and egotism - Puff pastry

For sycophancy, “ass-kissing” - Brownies

For being overly smothering - Angel food cake

For trashing the environment - Dumplings