26 | SEPTEMBER 17 • 2020
I
n recent years, The Well,
Metro Detroit’
s nationally
recognized organization
for Jewish young professionals,
organized large public Tashlich
services leading up to and during
Rosh Hashanah.
Tashlich, the custom of cere-
monially throwing one’
s sins into
a body of water as a way of start-
ing with a clean slate for the New
Year, is a ritual that has evolved
over the centuries and is one that
is easily accessible to Jews of all
observance levels.
The Well previously has drawn
thousands to the banks of the
Detroit River for creative obser-
vances.
In 2017, Jews gathered on
Belle Isle to watch drones drop
hundreds of biodegradable
papers containing handwritten
reflections into the Detroit River.
Because of the pandemic, The
Well has scaled back into a pro-
gram called “
A Tiny Tashlich.
” It
will take place over 15 sessions
in Royal Oak between Sunday,
Sept. 20, and Saturday, Sept. 27.
Each session is limited to 10 par-
ticipants and COVID distancing
rules will be strictly adhered to.
Tickets are available at a subsi-
dized price of $15.
The Well’
s Marissa Meyerson
said the service will be a “cus-
tomizable, immersive experi-
ence” making use of high-tech
enhancers such as headphones,
which will introduce partici-
pants to the origins of this Rosh
Hashanah ritual. Participants
will also receive a potted herb or
vegetable and a gift bag of snacks
that are symbolic of the High
Holiday season.
The Well’
s Executive Director
Rabbi Jeff Stombaugh said inte-
grating the traditional readings
like Micah and Psalms into the
program while taking advantage
of today’
s latest sound technology
makes for a “100 percent kosher”
interpretation on Tashlich.
“Tashlich is a ritual that is built
on customs that have evolved
over time, versus a holiday that
is mandated to look a partic-
ular way built from Torah,
”
Stombaugh said.
“This year, by using technolo-
gy and safe-gathering practices,
we are bringing this ritual to life
as an immersive shared experi-
ence.
”
Stombaugh added that the
program is consistent with The
Well’
s mission of connecting
Jewish ritual to young adults.
Though smaller in scale,
organizers say it will still be the
type of meaningful and trans-
formative experience that people
expect from The Well.
To assure everyone’
s safety,
masks will be worn while enter-
ing and exiting the program or
coming within 6 feet of another
person. Program supplies will
either go home with the partici-
pant as takeaways or be sanitized
between use.
For more information, go to
meetyouatthewell.org.
A ‘Tiny
Tashlich’
The Well has a new way to
celebrate the custom.
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
This year will be nothing
like in years past where
hundreds gathered for
Tashlich on the Detroit River.
JN FILE PHOTO
Rosh Hashanah 5781