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