Join us for a trash cleanup around Shannon Beach in honor of the 7th Annual Reverse Tashlich!
7th ANNUAL REVERSE TASHLICH CLEANUP
What is Reverse Tashlich?
Reverse Tashlich is an innovative approach to Jewish environmental stewardship. In the ritual of Tashlich on Rosh HaShanah, we go to a body of water and symbolically cast our "sins" into the water to begin the New Year with a clean heart. With Reverse Tashlich, we’re turning symbolism into action by removing human "sin" from the water.
Reverse Tashlich provides an opportunity to come together and engage in a hands-on effort to clean up our beaches, rivers, and shorelines, removing the plastic, trash, and other debris that threaten marine ecosystems and our planet's health.
Why Reverse Tashlich?
The Ocean is in crisis. Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste find their way into the water, suffocating marine life and polluting our planet. We cannot sit idly by while this destruction unfolds. Reverse Tashlich empowers individuals, families, and communities to take part in an immediate, tangible action to help restore the health of the Ocean and waterways of the world.
This is our chance to not only reflect on our responsibility as stewards of the Earth, but also to act. The Mitzvah of Bal Tashchit is the Jewish prohibition against needless waste and destruction. By removing the waste we have allowed to accumulate, we can protect marine life and the very ecosystems that are essential for life on Earth to survive, while also fulfilling a Mitzvah.
Reverse Tashlich 2025 is open to anyone and everyone. Whether you're participating alone, with your family, or with a group of friends; whether it's with your synagogue, Hillel, federation, JCC, Moishe House, AEPi, youth group, school or camp; whether you're Jewish or a non-Jewish ally... ALL are welcome.
In addition to throwing sins into a body of water, as is customary for the High Holidays in September, we would like to promote a "Reverse Tashlich" where people improve their local watershed by removing trash.
Gather your friends, family or a group from your Temple and help us remove trash from the Mystic River watershed on September 20th from 9:00 am to 12: 00 pm at Shannon Beach - Parking Lot, Medford MA.
By collecting this litter from your backyard, you will both improve your environment and stop litter from getting into our oceans. A majority of litter found in the ocean comes from rivers. By cleaning up your local watershed, you not only benefit your community, you also help prevent this litter from going downstream and ultimately ending up in the ocean.
“How to” of cleanups:
1) Wear long pants, closed toed shoes, and sun protection
2) Bring a water bottle
3) Refrain from picking up sharp items
4) Gloves, bags, and trash pickers will be provided
Want to learn more about Reverse Tashlich, check out these resources:
Tikkun HaYam-the national organization that launched Reverse Tashlich
Earth Etude for Elul 3: Joining 50 Years of Mystic River Watershed Environmental Advocacy-written by MyRWA volunteer and President of Friends of Spy Pond Park, Karen L. Grossman
What more can you do about trash in our waters?
Keep your yard and local street storm water drain clean of all debris, especially trash. Leaves and dirt are also important to remove from the street storm water drains. These clog the drains and impede drainage. They also contain phosphates from inorganic fertilizers and poisons. Avoiding use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides also protect our environment from toxins. These toxins are flushed into our waterways via street storm water drains.
Refuse plastics and polystyrene (Styrofoam). Easy first steps include bringing your own reusable shopping bags. Nylon bags fit easily in your life. Usually, a local butcher will wrap meat or fish in wax coated paper and a plastic bag. But, that plastic bag can be used for containing trash properly disposed. Ask for paper containers for left-overs from restaurants. You can bring your own take home containers.
Reduce your waste by changing your habits. There are simple ways and more extensive efforts to create change. Use reusable containers for hot drinks. Use reusable bags for shopping vegetables and fruits. Every reduction makes a difference.
Reuse your “disposables”. Be creative, save money and protect the environment! Purchase second hand items. Share decorations and tools with your neighbors. Bring your own utensils and cups to work for meals.
Recycle and compost properly. Review your city recycling policies. Plastic bags and polystrene (#6 Styrofoam) are not accepted in curbside recycling pickups. Clean white foam can be deposited inside the Save Your Stuff trailer at the City Yard. There are commercial composting companies that service Malden: Bootstrap Compost and Black Earth Compost
Learn more about the zero waste movement and tips at EcoWatch.
