Rosh Hashanah Prayer Customs Debated as Holiday Falls on Shabbat

The Jewish New Year holiday, Rosh Hashanah, which begins on Friday evening, September 15, 2023, will this year fall on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. This unique occurrence raises questions regarding traditional religious observances, specifically the 'Tashlikh' prayer ceremony.

Tashlikh, a custom where congregants symbolically cast away their sins by throwing breadcrumbs into flowing water, is traditionally performed on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. However, performing this ritual on Shabbat is a matter of halakhic (Jewish law) debate. Some rabbinic authorities permit it, while others advise against it due to concerns about carrying breadcrumbs, which is prohibited on Shabbat, or potentially violating other Sabbath laws.

Rabbi Yaakov Sinai addresses these halakhic questions in his daily "Seder Halakha" segment. He explains the differing opinions on whether Tashlikh should be postponed to the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Sunday, September 17, when it does not fall on Shabbat. The discussion also touches upon alternative practices for those in areas without an 'eruv,' a symbolic boundary that permits carrying items within a defined area on Shabbat.

Additionally, the article briefly mentions other related discussions, including whether sleeping is permitted on Rosh Hashanah when it coincides with Shabbat, and a separate political item concerning the 'Degel HaTorah' party and a legal advisor's insistence on postponing an event honoring Rabbi Ovadia Yosef until after elections.