Family Programs

Family Programming: The High Holiday Lineup

We warmly welcome your family to join us for the High Holidays!

Temple Israel offers a variety of High Holiday experiences for families with children, including babysitting, family services, and youth and teen programs.

Children are always welcome in the sanctuary, and we encourage their participation throughout the holidays. Registration is required for all youth programs and babysitting to ensure we can provide the proper care for all children. Changing tables are available in both the women’s and men’s bathrooms, and busy bags and children’s books can be found in the sanctuary and library—just ask an usher.

Questions? Contact Erik Martin or Dinah Berch.

Download Rosh Hashanah Day 1 Family Programming Guide

Register Now for High Holiday Family Programming

Babysitting

Childcare is provided in our Preschool Classroom during most services.

Our gentle and engaging babysitting program offers a safe, nurturing space for little ones to play and connect during services. With experienced caregivers, age-appropriate toys, and a holiday-themed snack provided, children can enjoy a calm and cozy High Holiday experience while grownups attend services nearby. Registration is required to ensure we can provide proper care for all children.

Children ages 2½–5 may be dropped off in our babysitting room, where a light snack will be provided. Parents are also welcome to use the space with younger children under 2½, but are expected to remain with them. Please note that diaper changing is the responsibility of parents or guardians, and babysitters will not provide diapering services.

Babysitting will be available on:

  • Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 8:45 am – end of service
  • Rosh Hashanah Day 2, 8:45 am – end of service
  • Kol Nidre, Erev Yom Kippur, 5:30 – 8 pm*
  • Yom Kippur morning, 8:45 am – end of service
  • Neilah, Yom Kippur evening, 4:30 – 7:15 pm or end of service*

We will offer a second childcare classroom for children aged 6-10 specifically during the evening services of Kol Nidre and Neilah if we receive registration for a minimum of four children.

To keep the babysitting room safe and comfortable for our youngest children, we ask that it be used only by kids age 5 and under. Older children are warmly invited to participate in our other youth programs or spend time in the sanctuary, where busy bags are available. For quiet breaks, the library or Shmoozatorium are also great spaces to use. Thank you for helping us create a safe and welcoming environment for all!

Family Services

Families with children ages 6-10 are invited to a lively High Holidays service led by Ilene Kanoff. Please join us for a Family Service on the first day of Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 23) and on Yom Kippur (Oct. 2), 9:30-10:30 am in the Social Hall.

Youth Activities

Explore the lineup below to see what’s planned for each age group, including hands-on activities, games, and interactive services designed to bring the holidays to life.

 

Jump to:  Rosh Hashanah Day 1  |  Rosh Hashanah Day 2  |  Yom Kippur  | Resources

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah Day 1

Babysitting, Ages 2.5-5, ELC Preschool
Beginning at 8:45 am, our gentle and engaging babysitting program offers a safe, nurturing space for little ones to play and connect during services. With experienced caregivers, age-appropriate toys, and a holiday-themed snack provided, children can enjoy a calm and cozy High Holiday experience while grownups attend services nearby. Diaper changing service not provided.

Registration is required to ensure we can provide proper care for all children.

9:30-10:30am Family Rosh Hashanah Service, Ages 6-10
At 9:30am meet us in the Social Hall to celebrate the New Year together with this joyful, musical, and interactive Rosh Hashanah service designed especially for families! With lively singing, storytelling, and age-appropriate prayers, kids and grownups alike will find meaning and connection in this warm and welcoming experience. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian — and we promise it’s just as meaningful for the adults as it is for the kids!

9:30-10:30am The Book of Life: Escape Room Adventure for Teens
Teens aged 14-18, join us in the library for this adventure! Arrive on time to participate.
Teens take on the ultimate New Year’s challenge in this immersive, cooperative escape room! With only 60 minutes before the Book of Life is sealed, players must work together to unlock clues hidden in sacred texts, symbols, and stories tied to Teshuvah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah. It’s meaningful and packed with team-based excitement — can your teen beat the clock and be sealed in the book of life?!

10:30-11:30am Activities by Age Group
All children will be brought to the main sanctuary at 11:30am to join for the shofar service.

Ages 3-7: Apple Necklaces & Shofar Freeze Dance in the Social Hall
Get ready for a sweet and silly start to the year! Little ones will string up their own apple necklaces as a fun Rosh Hashanah keepsake, then jump into the action with Shofar Freeze Dance — a joyful game of movement and listening where kids dance their hearts out and freeze like statues when the “tekiah” sounds. It’s hands-on, high-energy fun with a whole lot of holiday spirit!

Ages 8-11: Wrapping up Resolutions & Jewpardy in the Classroom
Kids will unwrap their best selves this new year! First, they’ll reflect and share personal goals in “Wrapping Up Resolutions,” crafting meaningful intentions with color and creativity. Then, it’s time to test their Jewish smarts in “Jewpardy,” a spirited game-show-style adventure with categories like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and a mystery round that keeps everyone on their toes!

Ages 12-13: Lighting up the New Year & Machzor Mayhem in the Boardroom
Middle schoolers dive into the season of reflection with “Lighting Up the New Year,” where they’ll hand-roll their own beeswax candles as a symbol of hope, light, and new beginnings. Then it’s time to get moving in “Machzor Mayhem,” a hilarious, high-energy Rosh Hashanah charades game where players act out holiday themes, customs, and values — no props, no voices, just fun and full-body expression!

Rosh Hashanah Day 1 – Afternoon Community Tashlich
Join us by the water for one of the most beloved High Holiday traditions—Tashlich! Families will gather to symbolically cast away the mistakes of the past year while taking in the beauty of the season and listening to the blast of the shofar. Bird seed provided. Join us at Prescott Park in Portsmouth (1pm), Henry Law Park in Dover (3:30pm), or Swasey Park in Exeter (3:30pm).

Story Time in the Park with Dinah Berch in Henry Law Park after Tashlich. We’ll read sweet and meaningful tales that spark reflection, laughter, and fresh beginnings.

Registration is required for all youth programs.

Rosh Hashanah Day 2

Babysitting, Ages 2.5–5, 8:45–end of services, ELC Preschool

Our gentle and engaging babysitting program offers a safe, nurturing space for little ones to play and connect during services. With experienced caregivers, age-appropriate toys, and a holiday-themed snack provided, children can enjoy a calm and cozy High Holiday experience while grownups attend services nearby.

Registration is required to ensure we can provide proper care for all children.

9:30-10:30 am 

The Path Forward: A Journey Through Values in the Library – Teens
Get ready to move, think, and reflect! In this active, hands-on values challenge, teens will rotate through a series of interactive stations that bring Jewish middot (values) to life—like courage, kindness, respect, and return. Whether they’re tiptoeing through an obstacle with care, mirroring a friend’s movement in silent teamwork, or sorting out fairness and justice with real-world objects, each stop along the path pushes them to embody the best version of themselves. It’s a physical, meaningful, and totally memorable way to step into the New Year!

10:30-11:30 Youth Activities

Ages 3-7 Apple & Honey Blessings Board & Apple Relay Race in the Social Hall
Little ones will start the year off sweet with two hands-on, heartwarming activities! First, they’ll add their hopes for the new year to our giant Apple & Honey Blessings Board, filling it with sweetness and kindness for all to see. Then it’s time to get moving with the Apple Relay Race—kids will balance apples and race their way to Rosh Hashanah fun in this active, giggle-filled game where teamwork and celebration go hand in hand!

Ages 8-11 Sweet Intentions Blessing Scenes & Middot Match-Up in the Classroom
Your kids will explore the power of intention through creativity and play! In “Sweet Intentions Blessing Scenes,” they’ll create mini holiday tableaus that show what a sweet new year could look like—friendship, family, peace, and fun. Then, in “Middot Match-Up,” it’s a fast-paced values card game where kids race to match Jewish virtues (like kindness, courage, and respect) with real-life actions they can take. It’s thoughtful, meaningful, and full of laughs!

Ages 12-13 Pomegranate Blessing Weave & Teshuva River Run in the Boardroom
Middle schoolers will get hands-on and hearts-full in this creative and energetic combo. First, they’ll weave their blessings into a beautiful Pomegranate Tapestry, symbolizing growth, gratitude, and everything they hope to bring into the new year. Then, it’s off to the races in “Teshuva River Run,” a fast-paced game of reflection and return where each station challenges players to let go of what they don’t want to carry forward—and step boldly into who they want to become!

Registration is required for all youth programs.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur

Babysitting, Ages 2.5-5
Beginning at 8:45 am in the Preschool Classroom, our gentle and engaging babysitting program offers a safe, nurturing space for little ones to play and connect during services. With experienced caregivers, age-appropriate toys, and a holiday-themed snack provided, children can enjoy a calm and cozy High Holiday experience while grownups attend services nearby. This program is intended for children aged 2.5 – 6. Diaper changing service not provided.

Registration is required to ensure we can provide proper care for all children.

9:30-10:30 am Family Yom Kippur Service, Ages 6-10
At 9:30am meet us in the Social Hall to celebrate the New Year together with this joyful, musical, and interactive Rosh Hashanah service designed especially for families! With lively singing, storytelling, and age-appropriate prayers, kids and grownups alike will find meaning and connection in this warm and welcoming experience. Children under 10 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian — and we promise it’s just as meaningful for the adults as it is for the kids!

9:30-10:30 am  Trail of the Soul: A Spiritual Escape Challenge for Teens in the Library

10:30-11:30 am Youth Activities

Ages 3-7 “Heart Helpers” Necklaces & Kindness Movement Circle in the Social Hall

Ages 8-11 Teshuva Ties, Return & Repair Relay in the Classroom

Ages 12-13 Circle of Repair Mobile & Teshuva Shuffle in the Board Room

Additional Resources for Families

Blog: Celebrating High Holidays with Kids