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What does the tashlich ceremony symbolize during Rosh Hashanah?

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Circular diagram of the Jewish religious year showing Hebrew months around the outer ring and Gregorian months inside, with major holidays and fasts such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Passover, and Purim labeled with their dates. — Jewish religious year The months and holidays of the Jewish religious year.

The tashlik ceremony, typically performed on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, serves as a symbolic act of casting off sins to facilitate spiritual renewal.12

The ritual involves visiting a body of water and reciting verses from the Book of Micah, specifically Micah 7:19: "You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Historically, the practice included tossing bread crumbs into the water, which were sometimes intended to be eaten by fish to represent the wiping away of past iniquities. In contemporary practice, some individuals may turn their pockets inside out and brush particles into the water instead.132

Interpretations of the ceremony vary:
* Repentance: It acts as a physical manifestation of the desire to discard sins during the High Holy Days.2
* Protection: Some rabbinic sources view the ritual as a safeguard against the evil eye.3
* Remembrance: Others interpret it as a way to remind God of the holiness of Abraham and Isaac.3