By MARGI SIGLER, For The Capital

In their brightly colored rain gear, the children busily threw crumbs to the ducks at Truxtun Park.

This wasn't just a trip to the park for the students of Aleph Bet Jewish Day School in Annapolis.

The children on Wednesday were celebrating Tashlich, a Hebrew tradition of repentance practiced as the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana, approached at sundown.

After meditating and recalling their misdeeds from last year, the children then tossed bread crumbs into Spa Creek, symbolically tossing away those deeds.

"Having these hands-on activities really helps the kids understand their traditions and prepares them for the new year," said Nan Jarashow, head of Aleph Bet. "It gives them a chance to reflect on the way they live their lives."

The children began the school day with a prayer service, then headed to the park with parents and teachers. Even the morning deluge couldn't dampen their spirits. For some of the older students it added a deeper meaning to the day.

Hannah Polster, a 9-year old fourth-grader, told how she and Marilyn Fine, a Judaic studies teacher at the school, had discussed the heavy rain.

"We decided that the rain was a good reminder that we weren't going just to feed the ducks. We were going to think about what we did wrong last year," said Hannah.

The students assembled under the pavilion near the water, where they sang as they waited for their turn to walk to the water. Class by class each grade level walked out on one of the two piers. Accompanied by umbrella-wielding parents and teachers, the children flung crumbs as far as they could.

Brian Klam, father of first-grader Sadie, was grateful for the opportunity to attend the ceremony.

"I think it's a powerful ritual. Afterwards, it made me feel a lot lighter," he said.

For Sadie it was a good way to introduce her to an important facet of Judaism. As a 6-year-old, she had a more basic outlook on the day.

"I liked it because we got to throw the bread crumbs," she said. Her classmate, Cody Doll, was equally happy to toss them.

"I hit a duck in the head while I threw the breadcrumbs," said Cody. "I said sorry to God and to the people I said bad things to this year."

Following the field trip the students, parents and teachers returned to the school, where they dried out as they ate apples, dipping them in honey, to give a sweet beginning to the Jewish new year, 5765.

---

Margi Sigler is a freelance writer in south county.

Published 09/17/04, Copyright © 2006 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.