By Rabbi Ed Rosenthal

During the Tashlich service every Rosh HaShana, we symbolically cast our “sins” into the water, preparing for the New Year with a clean heart. At Tikkun HaYam, we recognize that the waters are already filled with human-made “sins”—plastic pollution and other kinds of debris that are harming the Ocean and waterways worldwide. This environmental crisis calls for urgent action.

That’s why we invite you to join the 7th Annual “Reverse Tashlich” on Sunday, September 29th. This unique environmental experience reimagines the traditional Tashlich service, transforming it into a global effort to clean our waters. Last year, over 4,000 participants across 23 countries gathered to clear waterfronts as part of their High Holiday preparations.

With so many challenges facing the Jewish people today, few of us are thinking much right now about the plight of the Ocean. And yet, the health of the Ocean is inseparable from the health of the planet; if the Ocean dies, we all die…regardless of our faith. Because the Planet cannot sustain life with a dead Ocean.

That is why we created Tikkun HaYam. We seek to raise awareness within the Jewish community about the threats to our marine environments and the spiritual significance of the sea.

With an environmental approach to Tikkun Olam, we at Tikkun HaYam understand that we are partners with God in repairing the world, and we must come together and work NOW to collaborate on the big issues of the day, including repairing the sea, to make the world a better place for all of us.

When Jews unite around a cause, we make a difference. Even as we deal with other existential threats, we must also act to heal the seas. We believe that together, we can restore the Ocean and protect the planet for future generations.

That is why we are a proud partner of Global Jewry. Tackling the dangers posed by polluted waterways is a global challenge and will require unprecedented collaboration within the Jewish ecosystem. We stand at a critical moment for both Jewish life and the environment, and it is up to us to act.

We invite you to join us at this year’s Reverse Tashlich. For more information, or to register as an individual or a team, visit Repair the Sea’s website. You can check out pictures of past events below.

Let’s come together, not just to cast away sins, but to cleanse the world’s waters and heal the sea.

Shabbat shalom and may this be the week the hostages return home,

Rabbi Ed Rosenthal

To connect with me directly, reach out to rabbied@repairthesea.org.

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