Chabad to celebrate High Holidays

The following are events and services will be presented by Chabad of the Conejo in observance of the Jewish High Holy Days.

Chabad of the Conejo will host High Holiday services at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village, and the Chabad Centers in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park and Calabasas. The services are open to all Jews, and prayerbooks are provided.

The traditional service is blended with contemporary and meaningful insights making the High Holidays a bond with the past and an inspiration for the future. Insights into many of the prayers and customs are explained during services.

A full staff of educators and rabbinical students will conduct Junior Congregation for children. The children’s program includes prayers, stories, songs, contests, prizes and refreshments.

Catered Rosh Hashanah dinners and lunches will be served at the Hyatt following services. Reservations for the catered meals must be made in advance by calling (818) 991-0991.

Rosh Hashanah will be celebrated from the evening of Mon., Oct. 3 through the evening of Wed., Oct. 5. Yom Kippur begins the evening of Wed., Oct. 12 and concludes the following evening. Chabad of the Conejo will host a “Tashlich Walk” on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. The walk will begin at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza at 5 p.m. Tues., Oct. 4 and proceed to

Westlake Lake.

The tradition of

Tashlich consists of visiting a body of water containing live

fish. A special prayer

is recited at the water

at which Jews symboli

cally “cast away” their

sins.

Chabad invites Jews from all synagogues to join them for the Tashlich walk as a sign of Jewish unity and celebration.

In an effort to involve children in holiday awareness and education, Chabad of the Conejo will sponsor “The Shofar Factory.” The factory is a pre-Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) hands-on workshop for children. Participants learn about the ram’s horn which plays a significant part during the High Holiday period. The program also features holiday arts and crafts, and a video and slide presentation.

The Shofar Factory will visit local Hebrew schools, day schools and preschools.

Chabad will also offer Rosh Hashanah services for children with special needs who participate in the Friendship Circle program. Teenage volunteers will be working one-on-one with the children providing games, activities and prayers geared to their special needs. Parents will be able to attend the Chabad service taking place in the same location. Services for the Friendship Circle children will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues. and Wed., Oct. 4 and 5 at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza. For information on these services or the program, call (818) 865-2233.

For more information on Chabad services, call (818) 991