Cast Off Your Stereotypes

Many cultures have symbolic ways for people to distance themselves from past sins.

During the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people visit rivers or other naturally flowing water to take part in the ritual called tashlich — to cast off.

Throwing breadcrumbs, leaves or pebbles into the water, Jewish people symbolically cast off harmful thoughts and actions from the previous year. In Jewish tradition, tashlich is part of the High Holidays, a period of reflective self-examination and repentance.

מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ, נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וְעֹבֵר עַל פֶּשַׁע,
לִשְׁאֵרִית, נַחֲלָתוֹ: לֹא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ, כִּי חָפֵץ
חֶסֶד הוּא.
יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ, יִכְבֹּשׁ עֲוֹנֹתֵינוּ; וְתַשְׁלִיךְ
בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם, כָּל חַטֹּאותָם.

Who is like You, Adonai (Lord)? You forgive immorality and pass over transgressions in all your people. You do not retain anger forever, for You delight in kindness. You again show compassion and help us overcome human injustices. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)