Ok, you whiner … here’s a story for the blog, if you think it’s suitable … note: I have to go back 15 years to think of a good story …

But it comes to my mind each year at this time, when Rosh Hashanah begins.  As you know, we are not Jewish (not anything really), but when young son was 3 or 4, and his friends were celebrating, he was asking many questions. Which, like the fool that I am, I tried to answer.  On the lovely September Saturday when Rosh Hashanah began, we were taking a family walk along Crane’s Beach.  Because of all the questions, I was telling Chris a few of the stories and traditions surrounding this “new year” holiday … including the tradition of Tashlich. This lovely custom, I told him, involves taking bits of bread and throwing them into a river or ocean to symbolize throwing away one’s sins … which led to a very short explanation of “what is a sin”!  Yikes, I was in too deep now – but the best I could do was to say that a sin is something that you do that you feel really bad about, that you know is wrong.

Young son was quiet for awhile, then as we watched the ocean waves, he started running around gathering shells… creating a pile.
Very serious. 

“What are you doing,honey?”

“I have to throw these in the water” (he starts furiously throwing shell after shell, into the waves.)

“Why do you have to do this?”

“I have to throw away my sins.”

(I admit, I start to laugh) “Honey, you could not possibly have any sins …”

“YES I DO” (more furious throwing).

“What do you think is a sin?”

“When I get mad at you and think bad thoughts…..”

oh….. he collects more shells …