What is Tashlikh? Citing Wikipedia, "Tashlikh (the Hebrew...‎ meaning "casting off") is a long-standing Jewish practice usually performed on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The previous year's sins are symbolically "cast off" by throwing pieces of bread, or a similar food item, into a large, natural body of flowing water (such as a river, lake, sea or ocean)."

For humanists, our adapted ritual is a communal opportunity to think about the year past, resolve to change for the better, and begin anew.

This year, Kol Hadash will hold several outdoor events at Tilden Park in Berkeley to observe Tashlikh, at no charge; though there is no registration form to submit, we would like you to RSVP only for the morning optional tour.

You are welcome to come to all or part of the day's activities, listed below. There will be a morning walk/tour, as well as a short service and potluck following. If you are coming to the tour and would like to drop off food to share at the picnic site beforehand, feel free, as there will be someone there from 10 am on.

*2 (Sunday): 10:30 AM — (Optional) Pre-Tashlikh Walk at Tilden Park- PLEASE RSVP for walk
If you like to walk in nature, join us before our Tashlikh service for a group tour of the beautiful Tilden Park Botanical Garden. There is a terrific article titled Botanic Magic written by Sue Rosenthal, one of our docents last year, about the history and significance of this amazing preserve. Originally printed in Bay Nature in 2007, it is available to read here. Be aware that this is NOT the UC Botanical Garden, which you pass if you take Campus Drive up through the UC Campus to get to Tilden Park. Please RSVP to 510-428-1492 or email us so we'll know how many docents we'll need. If you are a slow walker, let us know so we can accomodate you with a slower-paced group.

The paths in the Garden are well marked, but it is located on a hillside surounding Wildcat Canyon, so expect some grades, both up and down. Please wear walking shoes suitable for unpaved paths that can get dirty or wet. When the weather is cool, lawns can stay moist all day. Bring warm layers (sweater/jacket) just in case, as weather is changeable there. FYI, cell phones don’t work reliably east of Grizzly Peak Blvd. The duration of walk: about an hour.

Our tour will begin at the SIDE ENTRANCE to the garden on ANZA VIEW ROAD. Please follow the directions below to the Anza View Road parking location. Restrooms for the garden are located in the parking lot on Wildcat Canyon Road and S. Park Drive, which is 1/10 mile east of Anza View Road. If you want to stop at the restrooms before your tour, we ask that you walk or drive to the parking lot and then drive back to the Anza View Road parking area.

Here are Directions to Tilden Park Botanical Garden from any place in the Bay Area.

* 2 (Sunday): Noon — Tashlikh and Picnic at Willows Picnic Site, TIlden Park in Berkeley
Join us for a member-led Tashlikh service followed by a potluck picnic, both held at the WIllows Picnic site located on South Park Drive, two thirds of the way to Grizzly Peak Boulevard near the south end of Tilden Park. There is a barbecue grill and we'll have the coals going for your meat or vegetables.

DIRECTIONS FROM HWY 24: take Fish Ranch Rd to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Turn right on South Park Dr and drive to the site on your left.

DIRECTIONS FROM HWY 80: take University Ave exit in Berkeley. Follow University to the end, and turn left at Oxford St. Turn right at Hearst Ave, right at Gayley R into the campus, left at Stadium Rim Way and left at Centennial Dr. Centennial becomes Golf Course Rd as you cross Grizzly Peak Blvd, take sharp right at Shasta Rd, right at S Park Dr and drive to the site on your right. Upper South Park Dr, Berkeley, CA 94563 GPS: 37.88585N/122.23033W