Students Find Tashlich a Meaningful Experience

Brandeis third through eighth grade students participated this past week in the ancient Rosh Hashanah custom of Tashlich (symbolically casting away undesirable behaviors). All of our students walked down to Lake Merced, where they ritually cast off things they wanted to throw away in the coming year. Third graders combined the ritual with a tikkun olam activity: equipped with gloves and trash bags, they collected trash along Brotherhood Way on their way to the lake. Middle school students took part in this ritual by preparing index cards where they wrote down things they wished to "cast away" in the new year. At Lake Merced, they shared out what they wrote in their advisory groups and placed their cards in a tin to burn. As they walked back to school from the lake, middle schoolers reflected on how much they like this ritual—coming together as a community and physically seeing the things they would like to rid themselves of in the coming year burn away.

 

“I heard students reading some important and personal notes,” reflects Dr. Tarle, director of middle school. “I am so grateful that we can take the time to partake in these small moments together. The simple act of walking with someone and talking can be very powerful, and seeing how many students were reveling in their time outside made my week!” MORE PHOTOS