What has happened with תשליך?
In recent years it seems that more and more people, more and more places, are adopting newfangled (per)versions of this ancient מנהג. It didn't start last year, or the year prior, but it seems to have snowballed, gotten way out of hand among some. Some of the following I have seen myself, otherwise I have heard of.
For example:
Taking a large plastic container, filling it with water, plopping in goldfish, setting it in courtyard of Shul, presto, instant Tashlich location.
One guy I heard online was advertising that his Shul would be having an aquarium for Tashlich.
Open fire hydrants for a while to make a stream in the street (possible violation of דינא דמלכותא).
Open the sink inside, let it run, and start reading from siddur.
Is it that people are loath to walk a while to reach a regular body of water? Perhaps don't want to pass through certain areas? Walking is healthy.
I think people should not go for these new ways, but should rather hold out for a more old-fashioned תשליך experience, as in days of yore. If they can't do it on ראש השנה, some do it on following days, when travel is easier.
Make Tashlich great again!
P.S. Yes, it is brought that Tashlich should be said at a body of water that has fish. Okay. But that is not the only consideration. It is also brought that there is a remembrance involved of אברהם אבינו ע"ה, that en route to the Akeidah he passed through water up to his neck, and the זכות העקידה is being invoked. A small bucket of water with goldfish plunked in doesn't necessarily conjure up such an image, such a memory. So how about trying a natural body of water, and/or a permanent one. As in the proverbial good old days.
It should be noted that although legitimate poskim did allow the use of these "alternative" methods of fulfilling Tashlich, they were only meant bdi'eved. They were not meant to offer creative ways of doing Tashlich from the comfort of one's own home, or for rebbes to do tashlich in their own shteiblach.
ReplyDelete