Returning To The River

(Picture courtesy of Slavuta.info)

A teaching of Rebbe Yechiel Meir of Ostrovtze cited in Birchas Chaim:

Two times a year, the Jewish people go down to the river. On Rosh Hashana they go to cast away their sins during Tashlich. And before Pesach they go to draw water for baking of matzos. The actions and the times are significant.

On Rosh Hashana we repent because of fear, fear of the imminent judgment, and we throw our sins away from us. But on Pesach we are chosen as a nation against a background of miracles. Then is the time for teshuva from love. And when one does teshuva from love, the intentional sins are changed into worthy acts in his favor. Then we return to the river to gather up the sins which we had cast away and transform them into shining deeds of merit.