Westborough Prepares for High Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Sept. 16, and Yom Kippur begins at sundown Sept. 25.

An event Sunday in Westborough will offer educational and fun High Holy Day activities, getting the community into the holiday spirit.

The Multi-Synagogue High Holy Day Happening is at 10 a.m. at .

Admission is free at the festivities, which are funded by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts. Organizers are asking guests to bring a donation to support their canned food drive.

"This is not only for people who are affiliated with the synagogues. It's for the community. A lot of people are not affiliated anywhere," coordinator E.J. Dotts says.

The calendar inspired community leaders to bring back the event about three years ago, she says.

"It was one of those years where the High Holy Days were early in the calendar. So, the kids did not have an opportunity to be in Hebrew school before the High Holy Days," Dotts explains.

This year's event will include such activities as Israeli dancing, story telling and music, according to the event flyer.

The hosted the event the first year, she says. hosted last year's festivities.

The three Worcester synagogues -- Temple Sinai, Temple Emanuel and Congregation Beth Israel -- are participating this year to a greater degree, Dotts says. Meanwhile, a scheduling conflict is keeping Westborough's Chabad Jewish Center from participating, she says.

The event has drawn 100 to 120 people, Dotts says.

"B'nai Shalom is much larger synagogue, so we're hoping that it draws more," she says.