MCJC Tashlikh Sin Buffet
It is the custom of the Mendocino Coast Jewish Community (MCJC) to take part in the ritual of Tashlikh at the end of Rosh Hashana. Around sunset, the community heads down to Caspar Beach and casts bread crumbs from their pockets into the Pacific Ocean and performs Havdalah. The crumbs symbolize sins.
Tashlikh is a custom of uncertain origin, but dates back at least to 1425 when it was mentioned by the Maharil (Rabbi Jacob Ben Moses Moellin) in Sefer Maharil. It is usually performed with living water (bodies of water in which fish live). The turning out of ones pocket, symbolizes the casting away of sins. Some say that going to water reminds us of Abraham crossing the stream that The Adversary (Satan) created to deter him on his way to sacrifice Isaac (Tanh. Va-Yera, 22), others say that the fish remind us of God's eyes which are never closed or that the uncertain fate of fishes reminds us of the uncertainty in our own lives..
It is our custom that before leaving the shul, we gather around a "sin buffet" where bowls of bread crumbs have been labeled with sins. Crumbs are taken from those bowls labeled with sins that each individual finds particularly resonant. Over the years the number of bowls have increased, as members of the community have suggested more sins. I hope that this does not mean that we have become more sinful, but instead that we are more heartily embracing Teshuvah. :o)
(Bob Evans)
List of Sins for 5762
(In No Particular Order)
- Not Developing Intimate Relationships
- Complaining Unconstructively
- Not Helping When You Could Have
- Not Giving Tzedaka
- Addictive Behavior (Including Workaholism)
- Saying Things You'll Do Things You Never Attend To Do
- Stressing Out
- Fighting
- Fear Of Limit Setting
- Spiritual Laziness
- Arrogance
- Being Irresponsible For Creation
- Acting Out Of Panic
Telling Lies
- Obsessiveness
- Not Respecting The Limits Of Others
- Letting Injustice Slip By
- Not Taking Old People Seriously
- Telling Secrets
- Lack Of Tact
Not Thinking The Important Things Important
- Buying More Shoes (Or Other Things) Than You Need
- Stealing
- Annoying Your Siblings
- Inflexibility
- Racism
- Homophobia
- Taking Other People's Stuff
Disrespecting Children
- Not Celebrating
- Losing Patience
- Taking Professional Liberties
- Separation From God
- Being Sexually Inappropriate
- Using Other People As An Excuse
- Speaking Ill Of People
- Retaliation
- Being Defeated, Giving Up
- Losing Your Temper
- Putting Cold Feat On Someone's Tummy
- Sexism
- Not Taking Care Of Yourself
- Holding Grudges
- Not Pulling Over On The Highway To Let Other Drivers Pass (Or At The Sin Buffet)
- Acting On Pre-judgements
- Self-Pity
- Procrastinating
- Not Going Out Of Your Way To Include People You Are Not So Close To
- Laying Guilt Trips
- Disobeying Parents
- Lack Of Moral Courage
- Self Deception
- Being Wasteful
- Putting Yourself In A Separate Category
- Not Minding Your Own Business
- Not Listening
- Withholding Cuts (?)
- Denying My Sexuality
- Staying Where You Are Unhappy
- Refusing To Forgive
- Cruelty
- Laziness
© MCJC 2002
updated 10/02/2002 - rge
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