86 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024 
J
N

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