The fall holidays are upon us and there are so many ways to celebrate in the metro Detroit area. You can celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the river with The Well, learn how to make round challahs, and celebrate Sukkot on a farm. And be sure to mark your calendars for PJ Library’s fall family event at Bowers farm.
Still looking for somewhere to go to synagogue on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur? We’ve compiled a list of free, family-friendly services in the area.
Rosh Hashanah 2016 begins on Sunday evening, Oct. 2 and ends on Tuesday evening, Oct. 4
Yom Kippur 2016 begins on Tuesday evening, Oct. 11 and ends on Wednesday evening, Oct. 12
Sukkot 2016 begins on Sunday evening, Oct. 16 and continues through Sunday evening, Oct. 25.
Kveller Detroit wishes you a sweet, happy and healthy new year.
Holiday Programs
High Holiday Challah Bake
Learn how to make round challahs for the High Holidays and bring your own challah home ready to bake. Advance registration requested.
Aish Detroit, 25725 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park
Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
Family Tashlich Service & Potluck Picnic Lunch
Celebrate the second day of Rosh Hashanah with Congregation Shir Tikvah in the great outdoors with a tashlich service followed by a potluck picnic lunch. All are welcome, RSVP required for the picnic.
Jaycee Park, Long Lake btw Rochester Rd & John R.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah on the River
Celebrate the new year with The Well with live music, food trucks, interactive art, and family activities. Take part in the biggest tashlich ceremony in the state of Michigan, advance registration requested but not required.
Chene Park, 2600 Atwater St, Detroit
Sunday, Oct. 9, 3:30 – 5 p.m.
Hillel Hanging & Hayride
Fun at Adventure Park with Sukkot crafts, snacks, face painting, hayrides, and other holiday-themed activities, organized by Hillel Day School.
The Adventure Park, 6600 West Maple Rd, West Bloomfield
Sunday, October 9, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Fresh Cider, Fresh Start, Family Tashlich
Start the New Year off with the hands-on tashlich ritual and then enjoy cider and donuts. Advance registration requested but not required. Organized by Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Franklin Cider Mill, 7450 Franklin Rd, Bloomfield Hills
Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m.
Sundaes in the Sukkah
Help decorate the sukkah at Jewish Family services and make your own ice cream sundae. For bar/bat mitzvah students.
Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple Rd, West Bloomfield
Sunday, Oct. 9, 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Sukkah Decorating Party
Help build and decorate the Temple Israel sukkah and enjoy a pizza lunch and craft activities for the kids. RSVP requested, 248-661-5750.
Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Rd, West Bloomfield
Sunday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – Noon
Sukkah Tour
Families are invited to travel around town in a sukkah party bus to visit three different sukkahs, with different activities in each sukkah.
Aish Detroit, 25725 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park
Sunday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – Noon
Fall Family Fun on the Farm with PJ Library
Celebrate fall on the farm with other PJ Library families. Take a hay wagon ride, visit the animals in the barn, explore the corn mazes and enjoy apple cider and donuts around the camp fire.
Bowers Farm, 1219 E. Square Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2 – 4 p.m.
Free High Holiday Services
Sunday, Oct. 2, Rosh Hashanah Eve
Birmingham Temple Erev Rosh Hashanah Services
Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 3, Rosh Hashanah – First Day
Rosh Hashanah Musical Celebration
A joyful music and dance experience to celebrate the holiday, for children ages 0 – 5.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Family Service with Rabbi Yonatan Dahlen
For Children ages 6 – 9 and their parents.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
Congregation Beth Shalom, 14601 West Lincoln Rd, Oak Park
10:30 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Programs for Families with Infants & Toddlers
Two different age-appropriate activities with play-based learning centers, singing, story time and a snack. The infant program for newborns through 13 months will be led by Lindsay Mall of the Bubble Club and Deborah Cymerint will run the toddler program for ages 14 – 36 months.
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills,
Infants: 10 – 10:45 a.m., Toddlers: 9:45 – 11 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
An interactive holiday service with Torah reading, led by Lisa Soble Siegmann, cantorial soloist and Director of JFamily at the Jewish Federation. For families with children in grades 1 – 6, service will be followed by a family tashlich at the pond.
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Family High Holiday Service – Birthday Party for the World
Family-friendly high holiday services with songs, stories, and games.
Aish Detroit 25725 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park
11 a.m. – Noon
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile Rd,. Farmington Hills
2 – 3 p.m.
Temple Kol Ami Multi-Generational Rosh Hashanah Service
A music-filled family-friendly service for families with young children, open to all.
Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Kids’ Service
A lively afternoon service led by Lisa Soble Siegmann, cantorial soloist and Director of JFamily for the Jewish Federation. Best for ages 8 – 12, siblings and other family members are welcome.
Congregation Shir Tikvah 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy
2:30 p.m.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
Learn about Rosh Hashanah in a brief, 30-minute service lead by Rabbi Aura Ahuvia, for children up to age 7, siblings and family members welcome.
Congregation Shir Tikvah 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy
4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 4, Rosh Hashanah – 2nd Day
Happy Birthday to the World Rosh Hashanah Experience
An interactive, play station based Rosh Hashanah experience.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Family Service with Rabbi Yonatan Dahlen
For Children ages 6 – 9 and their parents.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
Congregation Beth Shalom, 14601 West Lincoln Rd, Oak Park
10:30 a.m.
Family High Holiday Service – Birthday Party for the World
Family-friendly high holiday services with songs, stories, and games.
Aish Detroit 25725 Coolidge Hwy, Oak Park
11 a.m. – Noon
Rosh Hashanah Programs for Families with Infants & Toddlers
Two different age-appropriate activities with play-based learning centers, singing, story time and a snack. The infant program for newborns through 13 months will be led by Lindsay Mall of the Bubble Club and Deborah Cymerint will run the toddler program for ages 14 – 36 months.
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
Infants: 10 – 10:45 a.m., Toddlers: 9:45 – 11 a.m.
Rosh Hashanah Family Service
An interactive holiday service with Torah reading, led by Lisa Soble Siegmann, cantorial soloist and Director of JFamily at the Jewish Federation. For families with children in grades 1 – 6, service will be followed by a family tashlich at the pond.
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Yom Kippur Eve, Tuesday, Oct. 11
Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur Eve
Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile Rd,. Farmington Hills
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Yom Kippur, Wednesday, Oct. 12
Musical Yom Kippur Service
A joyful, musical service for children ages 5 and under and their families.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
10:10 – 11:30 a.m.
Yom Kippur Family Service with Rabbi Yonatan Dahlen
For Children ages 6 – 9 and their parents.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Yom Kippur Family Service
Congregation Beth Shalom, 14601 West Lincoln Rd, Oak Park
10:30 a.m.
Yom Kippur Family Service
Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile Rd,. Farmington Hills
2 – 3 p.m.
Multi-Generational Yom Kippur Service
A music-filled family-friendly service for families with young children, open to all.
Temple Kol Ami, 5085 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield
2 – 2:45 p.m.
Yom Kippur Kids’ Service
A lively afternoon service led by Lisa Soble Siegmann, cantorial soloist and Director of JFamily for the Jewish Federation. Best for ages 8 – 12, siblings and other family members are welcome.
Congregation Shir Tikvah, 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy
2:30 p.m.
Yom Kippur Family Service
Learn about Yom Kippur in a brief, 30-minute service lead by Rabbi Aura Ahuvia, for children up to age 7, siblings and family members welcome.
Congregation Shir Tikvah 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy
4 p.m.
It’s a Blast – Neilah
Conclude Yom Kippur with a glow stick parade, Havdalah, and the sounding of the shofar, bring your own shofar.
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
7:30 p.m.
Sukkot/Simchat Torah
Sukkot Youth Activities
A Sukkot experience for children ages 3 – 12.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
Monday, Oct. 17, 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.
PJ’s & Stories in the Sukkah
Join Rabbi Aaron Bergman in the sukkah for a story, holiday-friendly craft, and a snack. Come in PJ’s!
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
Monday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.
Sukkot Fun
Sukkot games, music, stories, and more
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. – Noon
Sukkot Celebration
A bring-your-own picnic dinner, crafts, and singing, followed by a Sukkot holiday service.
Congregation Shir Tikvah 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy
Friday, Oct. 21, Dinner & Activities @ 5:45 p.m., Service @ 7:15 p.m.
Simchat Torah
A morning of celebration including crafts and a bagel breakfast followed by musical and fun-filled services concluding with a sweet treat. RSVP requested.
Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Rd, West Bloomfield
Sunday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – Noon
Simchatoberfest Service and Celebration
Joyful, musical services, food, and fun for all ages. RSVP requested.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
Monday, Oct. 24, 5:45 – 8:30 p.m.
Erev Simchat Torah Celebration
Festive Torah parade and Torah reading for all ages followed by treats and a raffle.
Adat Shalom Synagogue, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills
Monday, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Simchat Torah Celebration
Tot Simchat Torah program followed by a Torah parade, singing, dancing, and ice cream
Congregation Beth Ahm, 5075 West Maple Road West Bloomfield
Monday, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Simchat Torah Fun
Games, stories, and music for children ages 3 – 7 years.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. – Noon
Simchat Torah Celebration
A fun and educational family-friendly service, all are welcome.
Congregation Shir Tikvah 3900 Northfield Parkway, Troy
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 6:30 p.m.
