[Heb. ‘thou shalt cast,’ future Hiphil to cast.] A symbolical custom, popularly in vogue among Jews, of repairing, on New Year’s Day, to a stream of running water, and repeating certain biblical verses indicative of sin and forgiveness, specially Micah vii. 19, ‘Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.’
1871. New Era, II. Nov., 35. On last Rosh Hashana a number of Jews, for the most part Russians and Poles, collected at the foot of one of the East Side streets and went through the unseemly and senseless performance [of Tashlich].
1880. Jewish World, 30 Sept. Tashlich … a simple fad of mediæval rabbinism, of late date and origin, and wholly unknown to our ancient sages.
1902. Daily Chron., 2 Oct., 7/1. They have imported with them from their native ghettos the singular practice known as ‘Tashlikh,’ which is performed by the side of a stream of running water or on the seashore…. A favourite resort for the purpose of ‘Tashlikh’ is the Custom House Quay, and the front walk of the Tower.
