When Rabbi Ed Rosenthal talks about the ocean, he doesn’t mince words: “If the ocean dies, we die.” Hard to argue with that. It’s this sense of urgency — and hope — that pushed the St. Louis native to create Tikkun HaYam – Repair the Sea, a nonprofit that blends Jewish tradition with marine conservation.

Rosenthal grew up in landlocked St. Louis, attending Parkway Central High School, and spent much of his childhood at Temple Israel, where he blew the shofar on the High Holidays. “Rabbi Alvin Rubin used to tell me I was going to be a rabbi,” Rosenthal says. “My dream was to be a musician, but I realized in college that I wasn’t good enough to do it professionally. I came home for spring break and went to speak with Rabbi Rubin. His response was, ‘See? I told you you’d be a rabbi.’ And he was right.”

While his rabbinic path was taking shape, so was another passion: the sea. Like many kids of his generation, Rosenthal grew up glued to “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and reruns of “Sea Hunt.” At 16, he asked his parents if he could take scuba lessons. His mom famously said, “If God meant for humans to be underwater, He would have given us gills.” It wasn’t until a hiking trip in the Sinai during his first year at Hebrew Union College that Rosenthal finally snorkeled for the first time — and that was it. Hooked for life. Back in Cincinnati, he earned his scuba certification and discovered a new way to live his Judaism: by repairing the sea.

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“I believe that when Jews get involved in an issue, real change follows,” Rosenthal says. Repair the Sea was born to make that happen, blending Jewish education, environmental advocacy, and hands-on conservation.

What is Reverse Tashlich?

One of Repair the Sea’s signature programs is Reverse Tashlich, launched in 2016. Traditionally, Tashlich invites us to cast our sins into the water on Rosh Hashanah. Reverse Tashlich flips that idea: instead of casting something in, participants take something out — trash, plastic, and debris that pollute local waterways.

What began with a handful of volunteers has grown into the largest Jewish-led environmental cleanup in the world. Last year, Jewish communities in more than 30 countries took part, cleaning rivers, lakes, and shorelines as a way to start the Jewish New Year with action.

How does it work?

This year marks the eighth annual Reverse Tashlich, taking place on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. Rosenthal hopes St. Louisans will join the global effort by cleaning up along the Mississippi River, Forest Park’s lakes, or even neighborhood creeks. “Imagine if the entire St. Louis Jewish community came out to remove debris,” he said. “We’d be making a difference and making a statement.”

And if you can’t get to a waterfront? No excuses — Repair the Sea offers a “Reverse Tashlich from Home” guide, showing how to clean up storm drains, alleys, and city blocks. Because let’s face it: that litter ends up in the water eventually.

Here’s how to work with Repair the Sea, straight from the source:

• Register a team or join solo at RepairTheSea.org and get counted on the global map.

• Host a cleanup with their easy toolkit — perfect for synagogues, youth groups, or just your neighborhood WhatsApp group.

• Do a home-based cleanup if you’re landlocked or short on time.

• Track your trash haul with the Marine Debris Tracker app and contribute to real research.

• Bring Rabbi Ed or a Repair the Sea educator to your community to talk about “Water Torah.”

• Support the mission with a donation or by buying upcycled Judaica from their online shop.

Keep It Going Year-Round

Reverse Tashlich is the kickoff — but St. Louis offers plenty of ways to stay involved the other 364 days of the year:

• Open Space STL: Join public cleanups or register your own private event.

• MSD Project Clear: Don’t miss the River des Peres Trash Bash — it’s practically a St. Louis fall tradition.

• Missouri River Relief: Volunteer for a giant Missouri River cleanup or a “Trash Mob” pop-up event.

• Missouri Stream Team: Adopt a stream and check on it all year long.

• Volunteer Opportunities : Check out the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation or the Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative for volunteer days.

Register, sign waivers, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and show up ready to haul. Most groups supply gloves and bags — you just bring the muscle.

Why it’s a mitzvah

Reverse Tashlich isn’t just a cleanup — it’s a statement. It’s a chance to live out the mitzvah of Bal Tashchit, the Jewish prohibition against needless waste and destruction. Every piece of trash you pick up is an act of tikkun olam — repairing the world — and a way to start the High Holidays with a cleaner heart and a cleaner city.