86 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024
J
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Youth
Tashlich
A part of Congrega-
tion Shaarey Zedek’s
High Holiday festivi-
ties is its annual Youth
Tashlich on Oct. 6 at
the Franklin Cider Mill.
Rabbi Yoni Dahlen
and the CSZ com-
munity gather each
year for a morning of
learning and fun, toss-
ing duck food into the
pond as they learn
about the mitzvah and
ritual of tashlich and
celebrate the holiday
season.
“It’s this awesome
juxtaposition of High
Holiday tradition and
good old-fashioned
Michigan autumn tra-
dition,” Dahlen says.
“We sing a bunch of
High Holiday songs,
get everyone up and
dancing and moving,
talk about tashlich
and the tradition and
where it comes from.
And then we spend
time thinking about
what it means to work
on ourselves for the
year ahead, and to try
to be a little bit bet-
ter and do a little bit
better.
“It’s short and sim-
ple, but it’s something
we look forward to
each year because it
keeps the momentum
going that we’ve start-
ed with PrayGround.”
The event is perfect
for kids of all ages
and their parents and
grandparents. There’s
no cost to attend.
C
ongregation Shaarey Zedek
(CSZ) is bringing back its
High Holiday Prayground
once again.
Taking place during Rosh Hashanah
and Yom Kippur, the festival-style
program is a unique twist on tra-
ditional High Holiday
services — happening
outdoors with fun, inter-
active experiences for
congregants of all ages.
Part prayer service,
part music festival and
wholly participatory, the
PrayGround invites families to explore
the High Holidays with a “one size
does not fit all” approach.
PrayGround has proved to be a suc-
cess for CSZ ever since it was born out
the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 as an
alternative to normal indoor services.
Now in its fourth year, the
PrayGround keeps building on its
successes — tweaking what needs to
be tweaked and keeping what’s not
broken.
The main children’s services with
CSZ’s Rabbi Yoni Dahlen and friends
focus on the High Holidays’ great-
est hits while also adding some new
music and other participatory ele-
ments of singing and praying together.
During the PrayGround, the whole
synagogue campus opens up with
people free to wander from station to
station as they see fit.
Stations this year will feature Born
Yoga, leading Jewish meditation and
movement with kids, adults and who-
ever wants to join in; a spiritual drum
circle led by professional drummer
Michael Feld; arts and crafts; and
music. For those who might have
issues with some sensory overload, a
Quiet Corner will be available where
they can relax with therapy dogs and
PJ Library books.
For this year’s PrayGround, a lot of
time and energy is being put into the
Ne’illah service on Yom Kippur night.
“We do this ritual where we give
families the opportunity to stand
before the open Torah scrolls and give
ROSH HASHANAH
Young families enjoy a musical Shabbat
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Rabbi Yoni
Dahlen
The PrayGround invites families to explore the High Holidays
with a ‘one size does not fit all’ approach.
DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
High Holiday