Beth Israel Chabad of Westport/Norwalk

09/07/2026

🕍Join us for a family-friendly and inspiring Rosh Hashanah bethisraelchabad

🌐RSVP, submit a name for the Yizkor memorial book, and see our schedule of services on our website, linked below and in our IG bio👇

https://www.bethisraelchabad.org/holidays/highholidays/

🎟There is no cost to attend services because we believe everyone should be able to join a warm, welcoming, community synagogue that values tradition. Donations are always welcome 😊

🗓Rosh Hashanah begins Friday evening, September 11th
🙏Services @6:30 PM
🕯Light Shabbat & Yom Tov Candles @6:52 PM

🍎Rosh Hashanah Day 1: Saturday, September 12th
📖Services at 9:00 AM
👩‍👦‍👦Kids Shul Program at 10:30 AM (games, stories, prizes & snack)
🐟Grand Kiddush Following Services
🕯Light Candles after 7:49 PM
📖Evening Services at 7:00 PM

🍎Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Sunday, September 13th
📖Services at 9:00 AM
👩‍👦‍👦Kids Shul Program at 10:30 AM
🐏Shofar Sounding at 11:30 AM
🍯Kiddush Collation Following Services

🕖Rosh Hashanah ends at 7:47 PM

09/06/2026

Our outreach extends to senior homes, assisted living, wherever you are. Start your Year on a High Note!

09/04/2026

On the first night of Rosh Hashanah, we have the tradition of eating a round challah (raisins optional) with honey. Afterwards, we dip an apple in the honey and say, "May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year." 🍯

🍰Apple Streusel Cake

Ingredients:

For the Cake:
1¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup (113 g) coconut or avocado oil
¾ cup (150 g) cane sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup (120 g) applesauce or plain coconut yogurt

Apple mixture:
3 medium honeycrisp or pink lady apples, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch pieces
1 tbsp lemon juice
1½ tbsp cane sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp flour

Streusel topping:
1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (100 g) cane sugar
¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup (170 g) avocado oil
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F
2. Prepare the apple mixture and set it aside
3. In a separate bowl, mix the streusel ingredients until you have large, irregular crumbs. Place the mixture in the refrigerator while you make the cake
4. Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper
5. Make the cake batter. Beat the sugar with the wet ingredients before mixing with the dry ingredients
6. Spread about ⅔ of the cake batter into the bottom of the pan.
7. Add half of the apples over it and then add the remaining batter and gently spread it over the apples
8. Add the remaining apples, then layer on the entire streusel mixture
9. Bake for an hour or until a toothpick inserted into the cake portion comes out mostly clean
10. Once the cake has cooled, use a sifter to sprinkle a thin layer of powdered sugar over the top

09/04/2026

Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht blowing shofar for Maplewood Senior Living residents during their weekly erev Shabbat program.

09/04/2026

https://conta.cc/4xDQUNb

Email from Beth Israel Chabad of Westport/Norwalk It's Prep Time for the New Year 5787 HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES RSVP   B"H Friday, September 4, 2026 ELUL 22, 5786 SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING at 7:03 PM Torah

09/03/2026

It wouldn't be Rosh Hashanah without pomegranates! This fruit is said to contain 613 seeds aligned to the 613 commandments in the Torah. It also symbolizes our wish for a New Year filled with abundant blessings. Here’s one delicious way to incorporate this traditional fruit into your Yom Tov meal.

Zaatar Pomegranate Chicken 🍗

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken, cut into eighths
5 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons zaatar
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
Zest of 1 lemon
1 sweet potato, chopped
6-10 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
6 tablespoons red w**e
Salt & pepper
2 tablespoons pomegranate syrup (see syrup ingredients below)
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds, for garnish

For the pomegranate syrup:
1 cup of pomegranate juice
1 tablespoon of sugar or honey
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Make the syrup. Simmer pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice in a pot over medium heat until it reduces into a thick syrup
2. Mix together garlic, two tablespoons of oil, zaatar, rosemary, and lemon zest. Coat the chicken well, making sure to go under the skin, and place on a roasting pan.
3. Mix sweet potatoes with oil and spread the potatoes and dates around the chicken
4. Sprinkle salt and pepper all over the pan and pour the w**e around the chicken
5. Roast uncovered for 25 minutes before adding more of the garlic/spice mixture over the top of the chicken. Roast for another 25 minutes
6. Drizzle chicken with pomegranate syrup and return to oven for another 10 minutes (1 hour and 10 minutes total). Check for doneness with a meat thermometer
7. Garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds before serving.

Credit: Adapted from Kosher.com

09/02/2026

With Rosh Hashanah just over a week away, we're bringing a taste of tradition to your Yom Tov table. 👩🏻‍🍳First up is this delicious crumble that can be enjoyed as a side or a dessert.

📌Stay tuned for more recipes to welcome a sweet new year!

🍎Apple Cherry Crumble

Ingredients:

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 and 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh pitted cherries or berry mix
4 honeycrisp apples, peeled and cubed

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine the oil, flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon to form the crumble.
3. Press 1/3 of the crumble mixture into a nine-inch pan
4. Mix the apples and cherries/berries together, then sprinkle half of the mixture over the crust
5. Layer 1/3 of the crumble over the fruit
6. Add the other half of the fruit and sprinkle the remaining crumble over the top to finish
7. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes

To make ahead, let the crumble cool completely before freezing. Defrost completely in the fridge before heating uncovered to ensure even heating and a crispy crumble.

09/01/2026

🍯Go ahead and test your knowledge of Rosh Hashanah. Answers are in the caption below each question. 💬Comment below how many you got right!



Answer: B
The literal translation of Rosh Hashanah is "Head of The Year". It's the birthday of the universe, the day G‑d created Adam and Eve, and it’s celebrated as the start of the Jewish year. The holiday is also known as The day of sounding the Shofar (Yom Teruah), Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance), and Yom Hadin (Day of Judgement), since this is the day when G‑d recalls all of His creations and determines their fate for the year ahead.

Answer: C
Hearing the Shofar, a ram's horn, is the key observance of the holiday. The shofar blowing contains a series of different blasts, representing the trumpet blast that is sounded at a king’s coronation and is a cry for repentance. Other important observances are lighting the holiday candles, tashlich, and attending prayer services.

Answer: C
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for 2 days worldwide. The Yom Tov, or holiday, begins at sundown on Friday, September 11th, and ends after sunset on Sunday, September 13th.

For Norwalk, Westport, Weston, Wilton, Fairfield, and Easton, the holiday begins with candle lighting at 6:52 PM on Friday. DM us if you need help with the official start/end times for your area.

Answer: B
Tashlich is performed near a live body of water on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah. With this tradition, we are symbolically evoking the verse, “And You shall cast their sins into the depths of the sea." Some also have the custom to cast breadcrumbs into the river and empty their pockets of misdeeds.

Answer: B
The machzor contains all the prayers and Torah readings for the entire holiday. While praying, we ask that G‑d grant all of His creations a sweet new year. You may notice that the morning services are significantly longer than the evening and afternoon; this is due to the special prayers added and the shofar blowing.

Answer: A
It is also customary to eat round challah bread, apples dipped in honey, sweet carrots, the head of fish, and a new seasonal fruit that hasn't been consumed yet, such as a pomegranate. These foo

08/31/2026

🍎Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Friday, September 11, 2026

📖Let us know if you'll be joining us for inspiring & family-friendly High Holiday services this New Year

🌐 See our schedule of services on our website, linked below, or via Facebook Events

https://www.bethisraelchabad.org/holidays/highholidays/services/