Invite for all to join Thanet and District Reform Synagogue beach clean for reverse Tashlich ceremony

Thanet and District Reform Synagogue

Thanet and District Reform Synagogue, a small Jewish community based in Ramsgate, is joining other environmentally conscious Jewish communities around the world to reverse the tradition of Tashlich.

Tashlich – literally translated from the Hebrew as “casting off” – is a ceremony performed on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year). During this ceremony, Jews symbolically cast off the sins of the previous year by tossing pebbles or breadcrumbs into flowing water.

Founded by Repair the Sea, an environmentally conscious Jewish organisation in Florida, Reverse Tashlich seeks to remove human ‘sins’ (marine debris) from the water in a collaborative waterfront clean-up. This year Reverse Tashlich takes place on the first Sunday after Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) with the community removing debris and rubbish from the seashore.

By teaming up with Cllr Raushan Ara, the Mayor of Ramsgate, who is Muslim, it has now become an event open to all faiths and none to show that caring for the environment has no cultural or religious boundaries.

On Sunday (September 12) at midday at Ramsgate Main Sands, TDRS will be meeting for its inaugural Reverse Tashlich event.

Cllr Raushan Ara is attending and donating litter pickers for people to take away with them as well as rubbish bags to assist with the clean-up.

Because of the kind support of the Muslim Mayor of Ramsgate, TDRS is making this a multi-faith event to celebrate the area’s cultural diversity and cooperation. People from any and all backgrounds are invited to register their interest in the event.

TDRS say they seek to come together with people of all backgrounds to clear the beaches of debris and rubbish.

Chairman of TDRS Tim Spurrier said: “The combination of recent disastrous environmental problems and ongoing significant conflicts around the world, it felt right that as a Jewish community we should look outwards on our New Year to forge new friendships and partnerships with the support of Cllr Raushan Ara, the Mayor of Ramsgate, who happens to be a Muslim.

“By sharing this event with people of all backgrounds we believe we combine messages of collaboration and tolerance with practical environmental action. We urge people to register and take part.”

Cllr Ara added: “”I am so happy to join with Thanet District Reform Synagogue, to celebrate Rosh Hashanah , the Jewish New Year. This a wonderful opportunity for people of all faiths, or none, to come together to clear up our environment. I look forward to meeting you all on the day.”

For more information on Reverse Tashlich and to register visit https://www.repairthesea.org/reverse-tashlich or contact TDRS via its website www.tdrs.org.uk to find out more.

6 Comments

  1. So this lot want people to clean up the mess they make by throwing things into the sea, to appease their imaginary beings, who then forgive their imaginary sins? Here’s an idea-give up silly superstitions from the dark ages & stop throwing crap into the sea in the first place. Why does their supreme being want them to litter & pollute exactly & maybe they should think about that?

    No matter how much they & the employed beach cleaners clean up crap a bunch of drunken/lazy idiots will be along to dump another lot there within hours. Then you have Southern Sewage dumping tons of fecal matter in the sea to save a few bob & not have to spend on updating their equipment.

  2. Steve – before you start your rant – ensure you get you read the article correctly…..
    “During this ceremony, Jews symbolically cast off the sins of the previous year by tossing pebbles or breadcrumbs into flowing water.” They are are not creating any “mess”. And every religion and culture has superstitions – may not matter to you but if more people can learn to accept others beliefs, then there wouldn’t be as much hatred and as many wars in this world. And I am not in the least religious as believe religion is the cause of so many of the world’s problems today – but I do accept other’s right to believe what they wish – provided they do the same.

    And I commend Raushan and all others who has organised this initiative and wish her and everyone who participates much success – good weather – and an enjoyable day meeting others.

    • Yes, I agree with you-religion causes most of the conflict & problems in the world today.

      I also accept their right to believe what they want-as long as they don’t force it on their children & use emotional blackmail or disown them if they don’t go along with it, onto others by door knocking & handing out leaflets in the streets/forcing them into your hand, using religion to get preferential treatment enshrined in law in the workplace-the ridiculous prayer rooms for instance, use it to avoid paying taxes & abusing children-things they seem unable to do.

      What is the Greek one where every year they force young children into freezing cold seas-including here around January time? Anybody else did that it would be child abuse, they do it & it gets feted as some cultural wonder & gets a one or two page spread in the local rags.

      • “So this lot want people to clean up the mess they make by throwing things into the sea, to appease their imaginary beings, who then forgive their imaginary sins? Here’s an idea-give up silly superstitions from the dark ages & stop throwing crap into the sea in the first place. Why does their supreme being want them to litter & pollute exactly & maybe they should think about that?”

        The article clearly states the local Jewish community (with cooperation from the Mayor and others) is CLEANING UP the beach. The only things anyone ever throws into the sea are pebbles or crumbs. These are symbolic gestures, and part of a personal moment of reflection.

        “No matter how much they & the employed beach cleaners clean up crap a bunch of drunken/lazy idiots will be along to dump another lot there within hours. Then you have Southern Sewage dumping tons of fecal matter in the sea to save a few bob & not have to spend on updating their equipment.”

        There is a very famous phrase from the Jewish book the Pirkei Avot (the Ethics of the Fathers) that goes “it is not up to you to finish the task, but you are not free to avoid it”. In other words, we may not see the end of this sort of pollution but we are still obligated to try to make it better in every way we can.

        “…also accept their right to believe what they want-as long as they don’t force it on their children & use emotional blackmail or disown them if they don’t go along with it, onto others by door knocking & handing out leaflets in the streets/forcing them into your hand”

        You do realise that Judaism doesn’t knock on doors or hand out leaflets in the street, right? That it doesn’t proselytise or actively seek converts (although happily accepts those who come to them of their own free will).

        I think it is important to note that every example you have described in your comments appears to come from the more unpleasant varieties of Christianity. If you yourself have in some way been hurt by Christianity or any other religion I am sorry to hear that and I hope that at some point you will find the space to heal. But please do not direct that anger at others, particularly those of often persecuted and minority religious groups collaborating to make their local area a better place to live in.

        Shabbat shalom and have a good weekend.

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