Everett Jews cast away sins with ‘tashlich’ ceremony

EVERETT — The Hebrew word “tashlich” means “to cast away.”

Members of Temple Beth Or, a Reform synagogue in Everett, came to the 10th Street boat launch Thursday afternoon to cast away their sins, errors and transgressions.

Led by Rabbi Jessica Marshall, they threw pieces of bread int

o the waters of Port Gardner to symbolize letting go of all the times they missed the mark in the past year.

That’s the purpose of the Tashlich service, held on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Marci Zainwel, 14, of Mukilteo, came with her parents, Debbie and Leon. She stood on the boat launch reflecting on the past year and thinking of how she wants to improve in the new year.

“It’s easy to say ‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ but it’s not so easy to say ‘I won’t do it again’ and to keep the promise,” she said. “When you are in a community, you feel responsible before others and it’s easier to follow through.”

Ron Heiman of Mukilteo watched his 6-year-old daughter Annabelle grab a handful of bread crumbs and joked that she must have had a bad year. The girl smiled as she threw the little pieces as far as she could into the waves, where a few seagulls were waiting for the offering.

Heiman said he always takes the day of Rosh Hashanah off.

“Growing up in Tacoma, our parents never let us go to school on Rosh Hashanah, which was fine,” he said.

He said he cherishes memories of a beloved Rosh Hashanah tradition — eating slices of apple dipped in honey, to symbolize a sweet year ahead.

Rosh Hashanah this year began at sundown Wednesday, marking the beginning of the High Holy Days. The holidays will culminate 10 days later with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

Jews spend most of the day on Rosh Hashanah in synagogue. One of the day’s most important traditions is blowing the shofar, a trumpetlike instrument traditionally made from ram’s horn.

“It’s a wake-up call that urges us to do better in the coming year,” Marshall said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.

Services

Yom Kippur and Sukkot services are planned at Temple Beth Or, a Reform synagogue in Everett, and Chabad of Snohomish County, an Orthodox congregation in Edmonds.

•Chabad of Snohomish County: www.jewishsnohomish.org or 425-967-3036.

Temple Beth Or: templebethor.org or 425-259-7125.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Cars move across Edgewater Bridge toward Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, in Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edgewater Bridge redo linking Everett, Mukilteo delayed until mid-2024

The project, now with an estimated cost of $27 million, will detour West Mukilteo Boulevard foot and car traffic for a year.

Lynn Deeken, the Dean of Arts, Learning Resources & Pathways at EvCC, addresses a large gathering during the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Cascade Learning Center on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
New EvCC learning resource center opens to students, public

Planners of the Everett Community College building hope it will encourage students to use on-campus tutoring resources.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

Lynnwood
Fatal 2-car crash closes Highway 99 in Lynnwood

Police closed off Highway 99 between 188th Street SW and 196th Street SW while they investigated.

Mike Bredstrand, who is trying to get back his job with Lake Stevens Public Works, stands in front of the department’s building on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Bredstrand believes his firing in July was an unwarranted act of revenge by the city. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lake Stevens worker was fired after getting court order against boss

The city has reportedly spent nearly $60,000 on attorney and arbitration fees related to Mike Bredstrand, who wants his job back.

Chap Grubb, founder and CEO of second-hand outdoor gear store Rerouted, stands inside his new storefront on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Gold Bar, Washington. Rerouted began as an entirely online shop that connected buyers and sellers of used gear.  (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Used outdoor gear shop Rerouted finds a niche in Gold Bar

Seeking to keep good outdoor gear out of landfills, an online reselling business has put down roots in Gold Bar.

Naval Station Everett. (Chuck Taylor / Herald file)
Everett man sentenced to 6 years for cyberstalking ex-wife

Christopher Crawford, 42, was found guilty of sending intimate photos of his ex-wife to adult websites and to colleagues in the Navy.

Most Read