Shofar & Tashlich

A ram's horn, and a walk to the water.

Next year

October 2 – October 3, 2027

1 Tishrei 5788

The Shofar next year. The first day of Rosh Hashanah is Shabbat, so the Shofar is not blown that morning. It is sounded on Sunday, October 3, the second day, only. It is a rabbinic safeguard, not a shortened holiday — the second day of Rosh Hashanah is a full part of it everywhere.

Tashlich is said on the afternoon of Sunday, October 3, moved with the Shofar to the second day.

The Shofar is sounded during Rosh Hashanah services as a wordless cry — a call to wake up and reflect, heard before words were needed. Listening to it is the central Mitzvah of the day.

Tashlich is a custom of walking to a body of flowing water on Rosh Hashanah afternoon and symbolically casting away the past year’s mistakes, often by emptying your pockets or tossing breadcrumbs into the water.

We gather for Tashlich at Almaden Lake — join us for a short walk, a few words, and a fresh start.

We meet by the sandy lakeside area, using the Almaden Expressway entrance to the park — 6099 Winfield Blvd, San Jose. Come straight there rather than to the Shul; the time is confirmed with the Rosh Hashanah schedule each year.

When to come

Erev Rosh Hashanah

Friday, October 1

Friday night services	6:30 PM

Rosh Hashanah

Saturday, October 2

Shabbat morning services	10:00 AM

Get ready for Tashlich

353 days to go

It is a short walk and a few words. This is all you need.

Hear the Shofar at services first. Rosh Hashanah services
Wear shoes for a short walk on sand and grass.
Go straight to the lake rather than the Shul.
Do not bring bread to throw. We shake out our pockets instead.
Bring the children. It takes about a quarter of an hour.
Check the time and parking in the flyer on this page, and on the calendar. Calendar

Tick each as you go. Ticks stay on this device only.

Directions to Almaden Lake Park

Questions people ask

What is Tashlich?

A short ceremony said beside a body of water with fish in it, in which we symbolically cast away the past year’s wrongdoing. It takes about fifteen minutes, it happens outdoors, and it is one of the easiest Jewish things there is to bring somebody to for the first time.

Where do you go for Tashlich?

Almaden Lake Park. We walk or drive over on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah — or on the second day when the first falls on Shabbat — and everyone is welcome to join, including people who did not come to the service.

Do I have to bring bread?

No, and in fact please do not throw bread into the lake — it harms the fish and the park asks people not to. The words are the ceremony. We shake out the corners of a pocket instead.