The Denver Jewish news., 1923-09-06
Tashiich
BY MORRIS sAREMsKY

My father used to take me along
whenever he went to- Shool, Chassina,
to Il Briss, to Bar Mitzya. to 'Pidion
Hoben. and everywhere where there
was any connection with Judaism or
Jewish religion. Father always would
say To me that If 4 want to be II good
Jew .mustl he acquainted with every
particular about Judaism, because
Judaism has not big mitzves or small
mitzves, big nevaires or small uevaires.
Every little detail in Judaism is law
and to be a righteous living Jew /
have to observe all things, big or little.
found everything interesting that
me. One thing impressed me partic-
ularly more than anything else. On
Roshashona .you go to n lake and cast
your sins away-and yOu are certain
that you have not any more sins-that
you are Indeed n clean man. OF course,
my father told me these things but he
never saw the Importance of making
me observe thenl. ms IN to the time
was thirteen I.was not yet responsible
for myself for u was not yet II man.
Father waited impatiently for me to
reach the age of thirteen as he felt
then that i would become a man in
the sense as regards the age limit of
responsibility set forth according to
the Jewish Law. I,tmyself looked for
ward eagerly to that day when would
assume the responsibility of my cell
duct and behavior.
The time came at last for cele-
brating the occasion Of my thirteenth
anniversary, and my father bought me
the THillim. Then he told me,
Now you are n man according to Juda-
ism. with the full knowledge of your
self and Judaism, and hereafter what
ever words you utter. shall be record
ed against ycu for had or good.
Many years have passed since, but
there still remains vividly before me
the picture Of that day. The thrills
shall ever remain. That day felt the
Importance Of the great responsibilities
which were placed upon me. thru bccom-
Ing my own keeper. Well do / rcmen-
Der ns my father gave me the Tfiillen
and my mother handed me II beautifully
embroidered Tfllen bag of her own
making. how proud l was Of my possess
sions and again how my father warned
me not to drop my Tfillen under pain
of punishment from the Great one above
that it was unforgiveable.
/ was so overcome with enthusiasm
to show my friends the symbol of my
new change In life. from n boy to a
real man. that i ran out of the house.
Unfortunately. and TO my dis,nay. the
Thillcn bag and its precious contents
| fell out of my hands. You can Imagine
my grief on realizing that according to
Judaism u sin such as l had committed
should bcfall me when my fathers $
warning had not yet died from my
hearing. For some time l was afraid
to confidc my terrible sin to anyone
| and INV conscience bothered me dread
fully, hut luckily for me this occur
renee had happened II few days before
lRoshusllona. In this i found imE1e-
diate solace, for knew that Tashlich
could relieve me. i would wend my
way to the lake and ! would empty
my great sin, then come away again
"a clean man. Great was my sorrow
and fear when learned of an an
nouncement in Shecl. warming the Jew
ish people not to go TO Tashlich be-
cause of threatened pogram which
was imminent i'm that town.
You can readily see how greatly
disaster prevented me from going tc
the lake to cast off my sins. In fact
my conscience is still tormenting me.