Types of Bread for Tashlich

Date Received: Monday, September 23, 2002

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 sinsWhite Bread
For erotic sinsFrench Bread
For particularly dark sinsPumpernickel
For complex sinsMulti-Grain
For twisted sinsPretzels
For tasteless sinsRice Cakes
For sins of indecisionWaffles
For sins committed in hasteMatzoh
For sins of chutzpahFresh Bread
For substance abuseStoned Wheat
For use of heavy drugsPoppy Seed
For petty larcenyStollen
For committing auto theftCaraway
For timidity/cowardiceMilk Toast
For ill-temperednessSourdough
For silliness, eccentricityNut Bread
For not giving full valueShortbread
For jingoism, chauvinismYankee Doodles
For excessive ironyRye Bread
For unnecessary chancesHero Bread
For telling bad jokes/punsCorn Bread
For war-mongeringKaiser Rolls
For dressing immodestlyTarts
For causing injury to othersTortes
For lechery and promiscuityHot Buns
For promiscuity with gentilesHot Cross Buns
For racist attitudesCrackers
For sophisticated racismRitz Crackers
For being holier than thouBagels
For abrasivenessGrits
For dropping in without noticePopovers
For over-eatingStuffing
For impetuosityQuick Bread
For indecent photographyCheesecake
For raising your voice too oftenChallah
For pride and egotismPuff Pastry
For sycophancy, ass-kissingBrownies
For being overly smotheringAngel Food Cake
For lazinessAny long loaf
For trashing the environmentDumplings

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.

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