This may have been posted before, but….. it is the season.
On the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, there is a ceremony called Tashlich. Jews traditionally go to the ocean or a stream or river to pray and throw bread crumbs into the water. Symbolically, the fish devour their sins.
Occasionally, people ask what kind of bread crumbs should be thrown. Here are suggestions for breads which may be most appropriate for specific sins and misbehaviors:
For ordinary sins
White Bread
For particularly dark sins
Pumpernickel
For complex sins
Multi-Grain
For twisted sins
Pretzels
For tasteless sins
Rice Cakes
For sins of indecision
Waffles
For sins committed in haste
Matzoh
For sins of chutzpah
Fresh Bread
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 ill-temperedness
Sourdough
For silliness, eccentricity
Nut Bread
For not giving full value
Shortbread
For jingoism, chauvinism
Yankee Doodles
For excessive irony
Rye Bread
For unnecessary chances
Hero Bread
For telling bad jokes/puns
Corn Bread
For war-mongering
Kaiser Rolls
For dressing immodestly
Tarts
For causing injury to others
Tortes
For racist attitudes
Crackers
For sophisticated racism
Ritz Crackers
For being holier than thou
Bagels
For abrasiveness
Grits
For dropping in without notice
Popovers
For over-eating
Stuffing
For impetuosity
Quick Bread
For raising your voice too often
Challah
For pride and egotism
Puff Pastry
For being overly smothering
Angel Food Cake
For laziness
Any long loaf
For trashing the environment
Dumplings
For those who require a wide selection of crumbs, we suggest a Tashlich Mix available in three grades (Taslich Lite, Medium, and Industrial Strength) at your favorite Jewish bookstore.