Rulings about Rosh Hashana Afternoon and Tashlich are based on the Mishna Berura reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
Tashlich on Rosh Hashana
- In line with the symbolic actions we carry out on Rosh Hashana, the custom is to go to a river on Rosh Hashana afternoon, preferably after Mincha and before shkiah (sunset), and say Tashlich. We go to water to symbolise our request that, per the pessukim in Micha 7, Hashem will ‘throw our sins into the depth of the sea’ and as a hint to the Akeida, as the Medrash describes that Avraham had to pass through deep water the Satan placed in his way to block him.
- The Pessukim in Micha are a key part of Tashlich; the full text of Tashlich and tefillos customarily added can be found in the machzor (Rema 583:2, MB8).
- Where possible, it is preferable to go to flowing water outside of the town and which contains fish, the latter as a sign that we should be protected from ayin hara (as the fish are covered from the eye by water) and that we should be fruitful and multiply like fish (MB8).
- One who does not have access to flowing water should try and say Tashlich by a standing body of water; where even this is not possible one may even say tashlich by bodies of water that have dried up. The poskim also debate whether one may say it by a fish tank (Dirshu 13).
Sleeping on Rosh Hashana
- Many have the custom to avoid sleeping during the daytime on Rosh Hashana, which would symbolise a certain lethargy for the year ahead. Nonetheless, where this is necessary to enable one to focus on one’s learning or davening one may sleep a little, particularly if it is after Chatzos, halachic midday, when some are lenient in any event. In relation to this custom, one who is simply sitting around unproductively is also considered to be sleeping (Rema 583:2, MB9).
Learning Torah, Saying Tehillim
- After the Rosh Hashana meal one should learn Torah; some also have the custom to recite the entire Sefer Tehillim (MB9).
