Rosh Hashanah
justice renewal
Rabbis Josh Stanton (l.) and Amichai Lau-
Lavi explain the meaning of the Tashlich at
Stuyvesant Cove Park on Oct. 1.
BY TEQUILA MINSKY
PHOTO BY TEQUILA MINSKY
The idea percolated among some Jewish congregations
and organizations in Manhattan to come together
for a communal multi-faith shedding ritual.
So on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, at the far
reaches of Stuyvesant Cove Park, on the East River
near East 20th Street, faithful members of the community
joined with those who wanted and needed a
casting off of social and political compromises and
wrongs. Young and old, all assembled, committed to
social justice.
The participants included Rabbis Josh Stanton of
East End Synagogue and Amichai Lau-Lavi and Emily
Cohen of Lab/Shul and Ravi Ragbir of the New
Sanctuary Coalition (Sanctuary).
After Naomi Less brought together all through music
and song, Ravi, who faces permanent exile, introduced
two friends.
One mother described the pain of separation and
support from her son who, having lived in the U.S.
since he was 14 for almost 19 years was deported to
Bahamas, knowing no one.
“I am not young, he was my helper,” she said.
Testimony from another friend, Celia, shared how
being a Latina and a member of the LGBTQ community
gave her two strikes.
Supporters with the New Sanctuary Coalition accompany
friends and provide moral support when
they have to report to Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), usually at the Federal Building
downtown, but sometimes other locations.
Rabbi Lau-Lavi reminded all, “These are the days
we remember the creation of the world and we are
responsible for all members of the world. All of us
are refugees. This is one of the biggest challenges on
the planet.”
He held up a bagel explaining the Tashlich to the
untutored. Bread crumbs are thrown into the water
used symbolically in order to cast transgressions and
unwanted baggage away — shame, guilt, lack of stepping
up.
The shredding ritual is a time to pause, refl ect,
mediate, pray, and cast bread into the water. Those
attending cast off jealousy, prejudice, racism, apathy,
injustice, homophobia, baseless hatred, littering.
They shared what they were taking up and committing
to: being bold and stepping up, bearing witness,
universal love.
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