Did you know that there is a Jewish holiday during every single week of October? First, we’ve got Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, followed by Yom Kippur, and then the fun, outdoorsy, and family-friendly holiday of Sukkot. We’ve put together a super-sized list of ways to celebrate with kids in the New York area ranging from traditional synagogue services to nature walks, cookie baking, and drumming.
Still don’t know where to go for services? Check out our list of free family-friendly Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur services in New York, Long Island, and Westchester.
Rosh Hashanah begins on Sunday evening, Oct. 2 and ends on Tuesday evening, Oct. 4
Yom Kippur begins on Tuesday evening, Oct. 11 and ends on Wednesday evening, Oct. 12
Sukkot begins on Sunday evening, Oct. 16 and continues through Sunday evening, Oct. 25.
The Kveller team wishes you a sweet, happy, and healthy New Year.
Brooklyn | Long Island | Manhattan | Staten Island | Westchester
Brooklyn
Rosh Hashanah
Sensory Sensitive Rosh Hashanah Service
A small, quiet, sensory-sensitive holiday celebration with songs, stories, shofar blowing, and a treat. RSVP requested all ages.
Park Slope Jewish Center, 1320 8th Ave.
Monday, Oct. 3, 3 p.m.
Tashlich & Musical Shabbat Service
Wash away your sins with the tashlich ceremony and celebrate Shabbat with a musical service by the water, organized by the Bay Ridge Jewish Center.
79th St. Promenade @ Shore Rd.
Friday, Oct. 7, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Sukkot
Raise the Roof at the Reliquary
Decorate a sukkah at the City Reliquary Museum with your own original crafts, have a snack, and listen to the Sukkot story, “A House on the Roof.” Organized by the Museum at Eldridge Street, RSVP requested.
City Reliquary Museum, 370 Metropolitan Ave.
Sunday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Pizza in the Hut
Learn about the holiday of Sukkot and enjoy a slice of pizza in the synagogue sukkah.
RSVP requested, all ages.
Bay Ridge Jewish Center, Fourth Ave & 81st St.
Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Sukkah Decorating Party
Make decorations and hang them in the synagogue sukkah followed by a Sukkot-themed sing-along. Crafts are geared toward little hands, for children ages 4 and under.
Kane Street Synagogue, 236 Kane St.
Sunday, Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
PJ Library/Fridays @ 4 Sukkot Party 
Celebrate Sukkot with music, sukkah decorating, and a pizza dinner. For children ages 5 and under, RSVP requested.
Union Temple of Brooklyn, 17 Eastern Parkway, 4th fl
Friday, Oct. 21, 4 – 6 p.m.
The Great Sukkot Search
Go on a virtual journey and learn about the harvest festival of Sukkot. Organized by the JCH of Bensonhurst Kibbutznik program for Russian-speaking families, RSVP requested.
Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West
Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Simchat Torah
Pizza dinner followed by singing and dancing with the Torahs. RSVP requested.
Congregation Mount Sinai, 250 Cadman Plaza West
Monday, Oct. 24, 6:15 – 8 p.m.
Shabbat
Out of the Shabbox
A cross-cultural, interfaith drop-in program for children ages 5 and under and their families. Explore unifying Shabbat themes like peace and charity with singing, dancing, and stories, and finish up with a snack.
Union Temple of Brooklyn, 17 Eastern Parkway, 4th fl
Saturdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
It’s Friday! PJ Library Music Class
A music and movement class with singing, dancing, and challah, for children ages 1-3 years and a grown-up.
Park Slope Jewish Center, 1320 8th Ave. @ 14th St.
Fridays, Oct. 7 – Dec. 16, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
First Friday Family Shabbat
A lively Friday night Shabbat service for children of all ages and their families, followed by a potluck dinner. Attendees are asked to contribute to the potluck with an item/dish containing enough food for eight people.
Union Temple of Brooklyn, 17 Eastern Parkway, 4th fl
Friday, Oct. 7, 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Long Island
Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
A holiday service geared toward children ages 2-7 and their families, featuring music and movement, crafts, and stories.
Temple Judea of Manhasset, 333 Searingtown Rd., Manhasset
Monday, Oct. 3, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Children’s Services
Celebrate Rosh Hashanah with stories, songs, shofar blasts, and apples and honey. Open to all.
Central Synagogue of Nassau County/Congregation Beth Emeth, 430 DeMott Ave., Rockville Centre
Monday, Oct. 3, 2 – 2:45 p.m.
Apples on the Bima
A brief Rosh Hashanah program for children ages 4 and under with stories, songs, and apples and honey.
Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, 1001 Plandome Rd.
Monday, Oct. 3, 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Jewish Celebrations at Family Playtime
Celebrate the fall holidays with bagels, games, Jewish crafts, and stories, for children ages 7 years and under.
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., Greenvale
Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 – 11:15 a.m.
Yom Kippur Children’s Services
Observe the holiday of Yom Kippur through stories and songs. For families with children ages 2 and under, open to all.
Central Synagogue of Nassau County/Congregation Beth Emeth, 430 DeMott Ave., Rockville Centre
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.
Yom Kippur Family Service
A Yom Kippur service for families with children ages 2-7 years.
Temple Judea of Manhasset, 333 Searingtown Rd., Manhasset
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
No Apples on the Bima, it’s Yom Kippur
A Yom Kippur experience for children ages 4 years and under.
Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, 1001 Plandome Rd.
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Sukkot
Whole Family Pre-Sukkot Event
Rotate through activity stations and help decorate the synagogue sukkah.
East Meadow Jewish Center, 1400 Prospect Ave., East Meadow
Sunday, Oct. 9, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Family BBQ/Sukkot Service
Help decorate the synagogue sukkah and have a BBQ dinner followed by a family service to welcome Sukkot. RSVP requested
Temple Judea of Manhasset, 333 Searingtown Rd., Manhasset
Sunday, Oct. 16, 5:15 – 7:30 p.m.
Simply Super Sukkot
Welcome Sukkot with an interactive musical experience, songs, crafts, and a dairy dinner.
Plainview Jewish Center, Kirschner Room, 95 Floral Dr.
Sunday, Oct. 16, 5 – 6:15 p.m.
Israeli Fun in the Sukkah
Make your own pita and help decorate the JCC sukkah.
Camp Jacobson, 340 Wheatley Rd., Old Westbury
Sunday, Oct. 16, 10 – 11:15 a.m.
Sukkah Decorating and Sukkot Service
Help decorate the synagogue sukkah, followed by a short holiday service.
B’nai Israel Reform Temple of Oakdale, 67 Oakdale Bohemia Rd., Oakdale
Sunday, Oct. 16, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Sukkot Family Dinner
Enjoy a family-friendly meal in the synagogue sukkah along with activities for kids and adults. RSVP requested, all ages.
Jericho Jewish Center, 430 N Broadway
Sunday, Oct. 16, 6 – 8 p.m.
PJ Library Celebrates Sukkot
Celebrate the holiday of Sukkot with PJ Library stories, crafts, and songs, for children ages 8 and under.
Central Synagogue of Nassau County/Congregation Beth Emeth, 430 DeMott Ave., Rockville Centre
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Pizza in the Hut with PJ Library
An interactive musical experience with Drum Tales followed by pizza in the sukkah, for families with children ages 4 and under, RSVP requested.
Hewlett East Rockaway Jewish Centre Nursery School, 295 Main St., East Rockaway
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Pizza (Bagels) in the Hut
Celebrate Shabbat and Sukkot with songs and dinner in the sukkah. For families with children ages 5 and under, RSVP requested.
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr., Greenvale
Friday, Oct. 21, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat
Tot Shabbat
A family-friendly Shabbat service followed by pizza and crafts for the kids and wine and cheese for the adults. RSVP requested 631-643-1200 ext 4.
Temple Beth Torah, 35 Bagatelle Rd., Melville
Friday, Oct. 14, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
PJ’s & Prayer
Welcome Shabbat with age-appropriate prayers, songs, a PJ Library story, snacks, and a craft. RSVP requested.
Temple Chaverim, 1050 Washington Ave., Plainview
Friday, Oct. 28, 6 – 7 p.m.
Manhattan
Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur
Erev Rosh Hashanah Family Service
JCC Harlem and Lab/Shul are collaborating to lead a service in the JCC Manhattan’s newly acquired Harlem location. The service will be co-led by Naomi Less of Lab/Shul and Rabbi Joy Levitt from JCC Manhattan. Open to all ages and backgrounds. RSVP required.
JCC Harlem, 318 West 118th St.
Sunday, Oct 2, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
A Tashlich to Remember
Celebrate the New Year with other families from the Upper East Side with a shofar blast, story time, and snacks. Organized by Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun and Or Zarua.
Carl Schurz Park. East 86th St. & East End Ave.
Monday, Oct. 3, 4 p.m.
Shananah Young Family High Holiday Services
Sing, dance, drum, and play to welcome the New Year and Yom Kippur as a family. Advance registration required, for families with children ages 7 and under.
92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave.
Rosh Hashanah: Monday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.
Yom Kippur, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10 – 11 a.m.
Shofar Blowing 101
Take a lesson from a veteran shofar blower and learn about the shofar and how to produce sound. Bring your own shofar; there will also be several shofars on hand for sharing. Advance registration requested, all ages.
JCP Downtown, 146 Duane St.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 3 – 3:45 p.m.
Conscious Cookies: A Tzedakah Baking Project
Bake cookies to take home and for people in the neighborhood, and discuss where food comes from and how we can be thoughtful about what we eat. Advance registration requested, for ages 6 and up accompanied by a parent.
JCP Downtown, 146 Duane St.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Storytime at Barnes & Noble
A Rosh Hashanah story time followed by a holiday-themed craft project, organized by Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.
Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th St.
Sunday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – Noon
Sukkot
Bim Bam Sukkah Breakfast
Help create decorations for the BJ sukkah, sing along with Shira Kobren, listen to a story, and nosh on a late breakfast. Limited space available, for families with children ages 5 and under, RSVP requested.
B’nai Jeshurun, 270 West 89th St.
Sunday, Oct. 16, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sukkot Family Celebration
Make your own edible sukkah and help decorate the sukkah at the Y, part of the PJ Library Cooks & Creates series. RSVP requested.
YM&YWHA of Washington Heights & Inwood, 54 Nagle Ave.
Sunday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Sukkah Decorating Party
Help decorate the Y’s rooftop sukkah, and learn about the holiday of Sukkot with crafts, singing, and a snack. For families with children ages 4 and under, siblings welcome.
92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave.
Sunday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sukkah Building and Decorating
Help build and decorate the Jewish Community Project sukkah.
JCP Downtown, 146 Duane St.
Sunday Oct. 16, 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Family Sukkot Experience
Two different age-appropriate sessions including singing, crafts, stories, and snacks in the sukkah.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd St. btw Columbus & CPW
Sunday, Oct. 16, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. (ages 0-3), 4:30 – 6 p.m. (ages 3 and up)
Sukkot Family Celebration
Celebrate the harvest holiday of Sukkot in the JCC’s rooftop sukkah with art, stories, and music. Best for ages 4 and under, RSVP requested.
JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave.
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Pizza in the Hut
A warm and accessible Sukkot and Shabbat experience for the whole family with songs, prayers, movement, stories, and a pizza dinner—all held in a sukkah. RSVP requested.
Central Synagogue, 123 E. 55th St.
Friday, Oct. 21, 5 – 6 p.m.
Sukkot & Me
Families with children in pre-K and under will sing, pray, learn, and play in the synagogue sukkah.
RSVP requested.
Congregation Or Zarua, 127 East 82nd St.
Friday, Oct. 21, 5 – 6 p.m.
Simchat Torah Central
Decorate flags, eat dinner, and celebrate with the Torah for the holiday of Simchat Torah, for ages 4 and under accompanied by an adult, RSVP requested.
Central Synagogue, 652 Lexington Ave. (Enter on East 55th St.)
Sunday, Oct. 23, 5:15 – 6 p.m.
Ice Cream at Sinai
Join Rabbi Bolton and learn about Simchat Torah, sing songs, read stories, and eat ice cream followed by the synagogue’s Simchat Torah celebration. Children will also get to open the ark and take an up-close look at the Torahs. RSVP requested.
Congregation Or Zarua, 127 East 82nd St.
Monday, Oct. 24, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Shabbat Celebrations & Other Fun
RU TOTS @ Museum of Jewish Heritage
A new program for Russian Jewish toddlers ages 18-36 mos. Featuring visual arts, storytelling, dramatic play, and a Shabbat celebration including candle lighting, challah, and grape juice. RSVP requested.
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
Friday, Sept. 30, Oct. 14, 21, 28, 10 – 11 a.m.
PJ Fridays at the J: Tot Shabbat Classes
A weekly class for babies and toddlers 6-24 mos. Participants will celebrate Shabbat with stories, puppet shows, songs, art, and challah baking. RSVP requested.
Edith and Carl Marks JCH of Bensonhurst, 7802 Bay Parkway
Fridays, Oct. 7 – Dec. 16, 9:45 – 10:30 a.m.
PJ Library Challah for Hunger Community Baking Experience
Families with children ages 2-7 are invited to come and braid two challahs, one to bring home and one to give away, followed by nosh, story time, and Shabbat activities.
Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd St.
Saturday, Oct. 8, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
KOMPOT: Swing Makes You Sing!
Join other Russian Jewish families with children ages 0-6 for an interactive jazz performance by Svetlana & The Delancey Four, a family art workshop, and other activities. RSVP requested.
Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place
Sunday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.
Picture This!
This new four-part family series includes a gallery program with activities, art, and a PJ Library story followed by creating original art in the art studio and a snack. The program concludes with a concert by Josh & the Jamtones. Best for children ages 4 – 10 years accompanied by an adult.
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave.
Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Shababa Kids in the Kitchen
A new Shabbat-flavored cooking class for children and grown-ups together. Make Shabbat and holiday favorites and creative snacks, sing Shababa songs and blessings, and set a beautiful Shabbat table together. For children ages 3-5 years and their favorite grown-ups, advance registration required, limited space available.
92 St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave.
Friday, Oct. 14, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
A Taste of Shabbat
Welcome Shabbat with songs, open play, stories, and blessings, for children ages 4 years and under and a caregiver, advance registration requested.
JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave.
Friday, Oct. 14, 3:15 – 4 p.m.
Storytime with Shira
Enjoy a PJ Library story and snack with Rabbi Shira Epstein, the Executive Director of the Y, drop-in.
14th St. Y, 344 East 14th St., Lobby
Friday, Oct. 21, 1:15 – 1:45 p.m.
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Staten Island
Music in the Sukkah
Families are invited to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot with music and crafts.
Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, 1466 Manor Rd.
Thursday, Oct. 20, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Marks JCH Family Sukkot Celebration
Learn about the harvest holiday of Sukkot with nature-based art projects and snacks and take a turn at shaking the lulav and etrog, which are traditionally used during this holiday. Organized by the JCH of Bensonhurst, RSVP requested.
Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, 1131 Manor Rd., Staten Island
Sunday, Sept. 23, Noon – 2 p.m.
Westchester
Gan Shabbat Services
An interactive Shabbat celebration with songs, stories, and prayers followed by a kid-friendly Kiddush. For toddlers through early elementary school age-children and their families, meets the first Saturday of every month.
Beth Torah, 60 Smith Ave., Mt. Kisco
Saturday, Oct. 1, 10:30 a.m. – Noon
Young Families’ High Holiday Services
Free Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur services for families with two different age-appropriate services one for ages 0 – 5 years and another for K – 2 grade, RSVP requested.
Greenburgh Hebrew Center, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry
Rosh Hashanah: Monday, Oct. 3 & Tuesday, Oct. 4, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Yom Kippur: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Nature Walk & Tashlich
Continue the Rosh Hashanah celebration with a nature walk and a brief, family-friendly tashlich ceremony on the beach. RSVP requested.
Edith Read Sanctuary, Playland Park, 1 Playland Pkwy, Rye
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 10:15 a.m. – Noon
Story and Snacks in the Sukkah
Learn about the holiday of Sukkot, shake a lulav and etrog, and have a healthy snack in the sukkah.
Greenburgh Hebrew Center, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry
Sunday, Oct. 23, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Shabbat Rocks & Family Night
A musical, family-friendly Friday night service, all ages.
Congregation Sons of Israel, 1666 Pleasantville Rd., Briarcliff Manor
Friday, Oct. 14, 7 – 8 p.m.
Simchat Torah Evening Celebration
Simchat Torah celebration for families with preschool-age children.
Greenburgh Hebrew Center, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6 – 7 p.m.
Read More:
Free High Holiday Services for Families in the New York Area
