Tashlich Part 4-When & How

A. When is it recited?

Tashlich is recited after Mincha[1], on the first day of Rosh Hashanah[2], prior to sunset[3].

B. The order and Kavanos:[16]

While by the river one is to recite the thirteen Middos that are in the verse “Mi Keil Kamocha” which correspond to the thirteen attributes of “Hashem Hashem Keil Rachum etc”. One is to intend by each attribute to one of the attributes of the verse “Hashem Hashem Keil Rachum etc”. However, they should not be verbalized. Afterwards one recites Min Hameitzar etc which correspond to the nine Middos of Hashem Erech Apayim etc.”

Shaking one’s Tallis Katan:[17] At the conclusion of Tashlich[18] one shakes the ends of his Tallis Katan.[19] [Some[20] emphasize that one is to shake the Tallis specifically over the body of water.]

Carrying the Siddur: On Yom Tov we are not particular against carrying items that have a need for Yom Tov even in an area without an Eruv.[21] Thus we carry the Siddur to say Tashlich. Some of the Rabbeim however were particular against doing so.[22] This is not meant as a directive for the public.[23]

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[1] Admur 583:7 and Siddur; M”A 583:5; Shaar Hakavanos 90b; Peri Eitz Chaim 26:5; Mishnes Chassidim 9:14; M”B 583:8; M”E 583:4; Kaf Hachaim 583:30

Other Poskim: Reciting after Mincha is omitted from the Levush; Rama ibid and other Poskim; Minhagei Mahril writes to go after the meal.

[2] 583:7; Siddur; M”B 583:8; Sefarim listed in Otzer Minhagei Chabad 346; The Rama does not write when it is to be said, neither which day or the time of the day.

Other Customs-Tashlich on Yom Shlosh Esrei Middos: Many of the Chassidic communities are accustomed to even initially say Tashlich on the day before Erev Yom Kippur which is referred to as “Yom Shlosh Esrei Middos” and not on Rosh Hashanah. [Likkutei Mahrich 77a; Darkei Chaim Veshalom 741; Shaar Yissachar Shuva Yisrael 22 in name of many Tzaddikim; Piskeiy Teshuvos 583:9; See Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 145] Some bring a proof for this from the Shemoneh Shearim of Rav Shmuel Vital that his father once said Tashlich and saw a frog in the area of which bystanders threw rocks at it to chase the frog away. Rav Chaim Vital chastised them for doing so being the frog contained an incarnated soul searching for a Tikkun. From the fact they threw stones which are Muktzah hence shows that they did not say Tashlich on Yom Tov. [Shaar Yissachar ibid] [Vetzrauch Iyun as they could have kicked the stones which is allowed.] The simple reason for not saying it on Rosh Hashanah is because there is very little time available after the prayers and the conclusion of the Yom Tov meal. It is therefore delayed until the day of Shlosh Esrei Middos which corresponds to the 13 Middos mentioned in Tashlich. [ibid] This day is also special being that the Temple was inaugurated on that day in the times of Shlomo and it is therefore a day of Teshuvah and Tefila. [Derech Pikudecha Hakdama 8; Shaar Yissachar Tishrei 5:1] Others say it was not said on Rosh Hashanah due to fatigue. [Likkutei Mahrich] In any event, this custom was followed by many Tzaddikim, and their Chassidim follow this custom even if they have the ability to say Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah. Nevertheless, if delaying Tashlich will make them miss saying it with a Minyan, then they are to say it on Rosh Hashanah. [Shaar Yissachar ibid; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 583 footnote 58] If Yom Kippur falls on Monday then those that follow the above custom say Tashlich on Thursday. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos 583 footnote 60]

The custom of the Rebbe Rayatz: In one year, when the Rebbe Rayatz was visiting N.Y city, he recited Tashlich twice, on Motzei Rosh Hashanah and on Gimel Middos. [Sichas R”H 1931; Igros Kodesh 2:252; Reshimos 4:14; Hamelech Bemisibo 2:20; Otzer p. 145]

[3] Admur 583:7 and Siddur; M”A 583:5; Shaar Hakavanos 90b; Peri Eitz Chaim 26:5; Mishnes Chassidim 9:14; M”B 583:8; M”E 583:4; Kaf Hachaim 583:30

[4] Mateh Efraim 598:7; Kaf Hachaim 58:34

[5] Mateh Efraim 598:4; Piskeiy Teshuvos 583:9

[6] Birkeiy Yosef 583:6; Kaf Hachaim 583:33; Mateh Efraim 598:6

[7] Ben Ish Chaiy in Torah Leshmah, brought in Kaf Hachaim ibid

[8] Likkutei Mahrich

[9] Piskeiy Teshuvos 583 footnote 54

[10] For a list of Poskim on this matter see: Piskeiy Teshuvos 583:9; Kaf Hachaim 583:31; Sdei Chemed R”H 2:1; Shaareiy Teshuvah 583:2

[11] Kitzur Shlah; Birkeiy Yosef 583:6 in name of Ramaz; Yosef Ometz 17:3; P“M 583 A”A 5; M”Z 3; M”B 583:8; opinion in Mateh Efraim 598:6; Alef Hamagen 583:11 [that so is the custom]; Yabia Omer 4:47 rules one should say it on Sunday in an area that the Tashlich location is outside the Eruv.

[12] The Reason: We suspect that one may come to carry his Siddur to the river and a river is usually by a public area of which it is forbidden to carry into. [P”M ibid; M”B ibid] There are likewise Kabalistic reasons mentioned as for why Tashlich should not be said on Shabbos. [Alef Hamagen ibid; Piskeiy Teshuvos 584]

[13] Shvus Yaakov 3:42; Implication of Drashos Mahril and Teshuvos Mahril 136; Machazik Bracha 583:4 in name of Mekubal; [however in Yosef Ometz 17:3 the Chida writes it is better not to follow this opinion]; Shaareiy Teshuvah 583:6 [that so is the custom]; M”E 598:5; Ben Ish Chaiy Netzavim 12 [in name of Rashash]; Torah Leshma 145; Ruach Chaim 583:6; Kaf Hachaim 583:31 [Custom of Beis Keil Jerusalem]; Yabia Omer 4:47 rules one should say it on Shabbos only in an area that the Tashlich location is included within the Eruv.

Beware not to carry: Those that are accustomed to recite Tashlich on the first day of Rosh Hashanah even when it falls on Shabbos must beware to avoid transgressing the carrying prohibitions. [M”E ibid]

[14] Sichas 6^th Tishrei 1970 that so was the custom of the Rebbe Rayatz and Rebbe Rashab, although the Alter Rebbe and previous Rabbeim and Chassidim did go on Shabbos.

Opinion of Shulchan Aruch Harav: The Rebbe ibid implies from the wording of Admur in the Siddur [that does not differentiate] that one is to say Tashlich on Shabbos. The Rebbe suggests that in the later generations our custom in Chabad changed due to that people would stumble with carrying on Shabbos.

[15] Birkeiy Yosef ibid; Reshimos 4:9; Otzer p. 146

[16] Siddur Admur; Shaar Hakavanos 90b; Peri Eitz Chaim 26:5; Kaf Hachaim 583:30

[17] Sefer Haminhagim p. 120; Hagahos Hasiddur of Rebbe Rashab; Peri Eitz Chaim Shaar Hashofar 5; Mateh Efraim 598:4; Kitzur SH”A 129:21 Likkutei Mahrich; Kaf Hachaim 583:30

The reason: This is done as a mere hint towards the person that he must shake off his sins and have clean garments from now on. [Kitzur SH”A ibid; M”E ibid] Alternatively this is done in order to shake off the Kelipos, as just like he is shaking the dirt off his clothing into the river so too above they will shake the Kelipos off his soul and throw them into the supernal sea. [Kaf Hachaim 583:30]

[18] When to shake the Tallis: In Peri Eitz Chaim ibid it states to shake it upon saying the words “Visashlich Bemetzulos Yam..” However the Siddur Shlah states to shake it at the conclusion of Tashlich and so is our custom. [Rebbe Rashab ibid]

[19] What to shake: In Peri Eitz Chaim ibid it states to shake the ends of the clothing. However, the Siddur Arizal of Rav Shabsi, as well as Siddur Shlah, it states to shake the ends of the Tallis Katan, being it is a clothing of the Shechina. This too is our custom, to shake the ends of the Tallis Katan. [Rebbe Rashab ibid; So rules also Likkutei Mahrich; Piskeiy Teshuvos 583:8]. The following Poskim however mention shaking the clothing and not specifically the Tallis Katan. [Darkei Chaim Veshalom 741; Mateh Efraim 598:4; Kaf Hachaim 583:30]

[20] Kaf Hachaim ibid

[21] See 518:1-4

[22] The Rebbe Rashab and Rebbe Rayatz were particular to never carry on Yom Tov. [See Otzer Minhagei Chabad 359 that the Rebbe Rashab did not carry on R”H and by Tashlich he would give his Siddur and glasses to one of the Bochurim to carry. Likewise, in Reshimos Devarim p. 180] it states that the Rebbe Rayatz once saw a member of Anash carrying his Tallis on Yom Tov and he chastised him for doing so. I also heard from Harav Eli Landau, R.Y. of T.T. Kfar Chabad that his father, Harav Yaakov Landau, would walk to the Mikveh together with the Rebbe Rashab on Yom Tov and the Rebbe Rashab would ask him to carry his towel for him to the Mikveh. Thus, the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbe Rayatz were particular not to carry. However, the Rebbe was accustomed to carry on Yom Tov as was witnessed on various occasions [i.e. removing keys to open door etc].

[23] So is evident from the story of Rav Yaakov Landau with the towel, that the Rebbe Rashab asked him to carry it, and so was the Rebbe’s custom to carry for a need.