Wonderful High Holiday Traditions

Rosh Hashanah comes early this year! It seems like Elul has come and almost gone and before we know it, it’s time for Rosh Hashanah celebrations, for ushering in the new year, for apples and honey and joy, as well as introspection and taking stock of our lives that follows the Rosh Hashanah and precedes the Yom Kippur.

There is a wonderful tradition of Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah, which I have mentioned in my last column. On the first day of the new year, after services and celebratory Kiddush, we will go out to the stream of water and join together in symbolically (and physically) emptying our pockets, disposing of the little crumbs that represent a myriad of little sins and transgressions that often remain out of sight, just like those little crumbs in our pockets…I know that in the years past there have been groups of congregants doing Tashlich in different places, but this year we have decided to be a little more organized and go together after the Kiddush. I am hoping you and your family will join us!

High Holy Days are serious. We ponder matters of life and death, look at our lives, ask forgiveness from people around us and from God. But even at this season, there should be a little time for humor. I’m sure you have seen this list before, but even if you have — it’s worth a smile or two!

Here are suggestions for breads which may be most appropriate for specific sins and misbehaviors, to be used at Tashlich:

For ordinary sins ………………………..White Bread
For complex sins …………………………..Multigrain
For twisted sins ……………………………….Pretzels
For sins of indecision …………………………Waffles
For sins committed in haste………………….Matzoh
For sins of chutzpah …………………….Fresh Bread
For particularly dark sin ……………..Pumpernickel
For dressing immodestly ………………………..Tarts
For racist attitudes …………………………..Crackers
For causing injury to others …………………..Tortes
For sophisticated racism ………………Ritz Crackers
For being holier than thou ……………………Bagels
For substance abuse…………………..Stoned Wheat
For use of heavy drugs………………….Poppy Seed
For petty larceny……………………………….Stollen
For committing auto theft ………………….Caraway
For timidity/cowardice ……………………Milk Toast
For tasteless sins…………………………..Rice Cakes
For ill-temperedness………………………Sourdough
For silliness, eccentricity………………….Nut Bread
For not giving full value…………………Shortbread
For unnecessary chances ………………..Hero Bread
For war-mongering ………………………Kaiser Rolls
For jingoism, chauvinism ………….Yankee Doodles
For excessive irony ………………………..Rye  Bread
For erotic sins …………………………..French Bread
For abrasiveness ………………………………….Grits
For dropping in without notice ……………Popovers
For overeating ………………………………..Stuffing
For impetuosity ………………………….Quick Bread
For indecent photography ………………Cheesecake
For raising your voice too often ……………Challah
For pride and egotism……………………Puff Pastry
For sycophancy, brown-nosing …………….Brownies
For being overly smothering …….Angel Food Cake
For laziness……………………………..Any long loaf
For trashing the environment……………Dumplings
And my personal favorite:
For telling bad jokes/puns ……………..Corn Bread

Wishing you all a sweet, happy and above all healthy new year 5771. May we all be blessed with peace! I look forward to seeing you all at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services, as well as during Sukkot and Simchat Torah. Please check the calendar for services and come celebrate ALL the festivals of Tishrei, not just the biggest ones. Shanah Tovah!☺
— Rabbi Farbman