Chabad of Orange County offering free High Holiday Services
Monroe. Services for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, will be held outdoors in a 7,200 square-foot pavilion at Rosmarin’s Day Camp, located at 12 School Road in Monroe.
| 30 Aug 2021 | 11:31
Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, pictured with their son Ziggy in front of the giant outdoor pavilion at Rosmarin’s in Monroe, will lead a variety of High Holiday Services for adults, children and families. All services will be held outdoors. The family service will feature the practice of the holiday highlights including Shofar (ram’s horn) and apples dipped in honey. Photos courtesy of Chabad of Orange County.
Rabbi Pesach Burston teaches Sofia Greenberg of Goshen, 8, how to sound the Shofar during a “Pre-High Holiday in the Park” event.
Rabbi Pesach Burston and Hudson and Ethan Mendelovitz of Central Valley sound the Shofar during a “Pre-High Holiday in the Park” event.
Chabad of Orange County, led by Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, are once again offering outdoor and free High Holiday Services to the community.
“As COVID is still a concern, holding services outdoors seems to be the safest choice, and we look forward to providing a festive and meaningful holiday experience for all,” Chana Burston said.
All services will be held outdoors in a 7,200 square-foot pavilion at Rosmarin’s Day Camp, located at 12 School Road in Monroe. Chabad offers its High Holiday Services free of charge, is open to all and no membership is required to join.
“Chabad, as well as the community, is deeply grateful to the Rosmarin family for their generosity in hosting these services and providing this mitzvah of kindness to the community,” said Chabad Gabbai Dr. Ira Kanis.
Chabad is offering several options for services:
The two-hour traditional service offers interactive and engaging prayer services. Rabbi Pesach offers commentary and instructions throughout the service. Hebrew/English prayer books are provided. On Rosh Hashanah, snacks and bottled water is provided during the services, and a Kiddush lunch is offered after the services.
The Youth Service offers interactive and exciting games, prayers, songs and snacks to engage youth in the services. This is a separate program, also held outdoors at Rosmarins, and is held simultaneously to the traditional services.
The 45-minute family-style service will include the sounding of the shofar – the central observance of the holiday – as well as selected prayers from the High Holiday liturgy. It will also include prayers for the wellbeing of all humanity—a key theme of Rosh Hashanah. While not a substitute for the complete Rosh Hashanah prayer service, the service will enable everyone to hear the shofar, and bring a heightened sense of community during this difficult time. There will also be a buffet with Rosh Hashanah traditions including apples and honey as well as honey cake.
Registration and information
“Our goal is to make experiencing High Holidays as accessible as possible and not make finances a condition of joining,” Rabbi Pesach said.
There is no charge for seats, but reservations are required. Donations are greatly appreciated. For more information, registration for services, for holiday resources contact Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston at 845-782-2770 or visit www.ChabadOrange.com
High Holiday Schedule:
All services will be held in the outdoor Pavilion at Rosmarin’s, 12 School Road, Monroe.
· Traditional Rosh Hashanah Services Day 1 & 2 – Tuesday, September 7, & Wednesday, September 8, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm. Interactive and engaging services led by Rabbi Pesach. Children’s program led by Morah Esther. Books, packaged snacks and masks provided.
· Youth Program Rosh Hashanah Day 1 & 2 – Tuesday, September 7, & Wednesday, September 8, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. Children’s program led by Morah Esther. Books and snacks provided.
· 45-Minute Shofar Service & Holiday Highlights – Day 1 & 2 – Tuesday, September 7, & Wednesday, September 8, 12:00 pm. Holiday Highlights including: Shofar sounding, Rosh Hashanah Traditions (apples & honey, honey cake), and Holiday lunch with songs and stories. Geared for all ages. Families may sit together in pods.
· Tashlich Ceremony – Sunday, September 12, 6:00 pm at Monroe Millponds (near Park & Ride lot). Short, interactive ceremony for all ages. (Tashlich is a customary Jewish atonement ritual where we symbolically “cast away” our sins in the water). Special packages distributed to participants.
· Feast Before the Fast & Yom Kippur Eve – Wednesday, September 15, 6:00 pm dinner feast before the fast. Yom Kippur even Kol Nidrei: 6:45 pm. Traditional Yom Kippur Services: Sept. 28 10am-12pm. Yizkor Memorial Service: 12:00 pm. Evening & Closing Service 5:30 pm.
· Outdoor Yom Kippur Services – Thursday, September 16: Traditional Yom Kippur Services 10am-12pm. Yizkor Memorial Service: 11:30 am. Evening & Closing Service 5:30 pm, followed by buffet break-the-fast.
· Yom Kippur Youth Program – Thursday, September 16, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. Children’s program led by Morah Esther, followed by a variety magic show with a professional entertainer. Snacks and drinks provided.