Rosh Hashanah at Home - Tashlich

(2) Eat a head of a lamb saying: Let us be as a head and not a tail. It is also a remembrance of the ram of Isaac. Rema: There are those who are careful not to eat nuts, as the word "egoz" in gematriah [is equal to the value of] chet (sin). They also cause a lot of excess saliva and phloem and cause abrogation of prayers. They also go to a river and say the verse: And Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). There are also those who do not sleep during Rosh Hashana during the day, and this is the correct thing to do.

After the Minchah service²¹This should be done before sunset. (Ibid) you should go to a river [or stream] (to recall the merit of the Akeidah, [the binding of Yitzchak] for the Midrash relates that when our Father Avraham went to the Akeidah with his son Yitzchak, Satan transformed himself into a river to deter him. But our Father Avraham, peace be upon him, walked into the river until [the water reached] his neck and said, "Deliver me, O God, for the waters have reached until my soul." (Psalm 69:2) There is another reason [for this custom]; for on this day we proclaim the kingship of the Holy One, blessed is He, over us, and it was the custom to anoint kings near a river bank as a sign that their kingdom may endure without end.)²²Maseches Horayos 12a. It is preferable that [this river] should be outside the city limits and it should contain fish (as a reminder that we are compared to living fish who are caught in a net. We too, are caught in the net of death and judgment, and as a result [we will be inclined] to think more of repenting. Another reason is to symbolize that the evil eye shall have no power over us, just as [it has no power] over fish, and that we may be fruitful and multiply as the fish. Others say the reason is that fish have no eyelids, and their eyes are always open, the purpose is thus to arouse the compassion of the All-Seeing Eye above us.) But if there is no river that contains fish you may go to any river, or to a well, and you should recite the verses, Mi keil kamocha [Who, Almighty, is like you] etc. as it is written in the prayer books in the text of Tashlich. You should then shake the ends of your clothes, symbolizing your resolve to cast away your sins, and to examine and scrutinize your ways, from now on; so that your "clothes" will be white and innocent of all sin. If the first day of Rosh Hashanah is on Shabbos you go [to the stream for Tashlich] on the second day.

(19) He will again have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; And Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

...and in the responsa of the Geonim I found that they used to make mats from palm leaves, and fill them with dust and cow manure. Then 22 or 15 days before Rosh Hashanah each and every person would make one for each young boy or girl in their house, and plant inside them Colocasia (the Egyptian bean) or small beans and call it Purpisa (a kind of flower pot) and a sprout. Then on the day before Rosh Hashanah each person takes their own, spins it round their head seven times, and says "this one in place of this one", and "this one is my exchange" and "this one is my substitute" and throws it in the river.

Who is an Almighty like You Forbearer of iniquity, and forgiver of transgression for the remnant of His heritage? He does not maintain His wrath forever, for He desires to do kindness. He will again show us compassion, He will suppress our iniquities; and You will cast into the depths of the sea all their sins. You will grant truth to Yaakov, kindness to Avraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old. From the narrowness [of distress] I called [to] God; He answered me with the breadth of Divine relief. Adonoy is with me, I will not fear, what can man do to me? Adonoy is with me, to help me, and I will see my enemies’ [defeat]. It is better to take refuge in Adonoy than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in Adonoy than to trust in nobles.

Joyfully exult in Adonoy, [you] righteous ones, for the upright, praise is fitting. Thank Adonoy with the harp, with the ten-stringed lyre sing to Him. Sing Him a new song, play skillfully with jubilation. For upright is the word of Adonoy, and all His deeds [are done] with faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice, the kindliness of Adonoy fills the earth. By the word of God, the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth, all their hosts. He gathers like a mound the waters of the sea, He places in vaults the deep waters. Fear Adonoy, all the earth, of Him, be frightened all dwellers of the inhabited world. For He spoke and it became; He commanded and it stood. Adonoy annuls the counsel of nations, He disrupts the intention of peoples. The counsel of Adonoy will stand forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations. Fortunate is the nation for whom Adonoy is their God, the people He chose as His heritage. From the heavens, Adonoy looks [down], He sees all mankind. From His dwelling place, He watches intently all the inhabitants of the earth. He forms their hearts all together; He perceives all their doings. A king is not saved by a great army; a mighty man is not rescued with [his] great strength. A horse is deceptive [assurance] for deliverance, and with its great strength it provides no escape. Behold, the eye of Adonoy is on those who fear Him, on those who wait for His kindliness. To rescue their soul from death, and to keep them alive during famine. Our soul yearned for Adonoy, our help and our shield is He. For in Him our heart will rejoice, for in His Holy Name we trust. May your kindliness, Adonoy, be upon us, as we have waited for You.

May it be Your will Adonoy, our God, and God of our fathers, most High Almighty Who is crowned with thirteen attributes of mercy, that this be a time of favor before You, and may it ascend before You our recitation of the Thirteen Attributes of mercy, [which are contained in the verses: “Who is an Almighty like You” which correspond to the Thirteen Attributes, “Almighty, Merciful, Gracious etc.,” that we have recited before You. Consider it as if we had comprehended all the esoteric meanings and the combinations of the Holy Names that are formed from them. And the joining of their attributes, which, one by one, shall approach [You] to sweeten the severe judgments. And so, cast into the depths of the sea all our sins. And You, with Your goodness, arouse Your mercy, that we may be cleansed from all forms of impurity. And may there ascend [before You] all the sparks of holiness which have been scattered. And may we be refined and purified through Your goodness. You Almighty, are our deliverance, the Keeper of kindness for thousands [of generations.] And with Your abundant compassion grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of good sustenance, a life of bodily vigor, a life in which there is fear of Heaven and fear of sin, a life in which there is no shame or disgrace, a life of prosperity and honor, in order that we may serve You, a life in which there will be within us love of Torah and fear of Heaven, a life [in which] You will fulfill the wishes of our hearts for goodness. And remember us for life O King, Who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life, for Your sake, Living God. And tear up the evil [parts] of our sentence, and may our merits be stated before You.

Aaron shall take the two he-goats and let them stand before the LORD at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; and he shall place lots upon the two goats, one marked for the LORD and the other marked for Azazel. Aaron shall bring forward the goat designated by lot for the LORD, which he is to offer as a sin offering; while the goat designated by lot for Azazel shall be left standing alive before the LORD, to make expiation with it and to send it off to the wilderness for Azazel.