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Holding a match in one hand and her daughter with the other, Michal Mendelow smiled as she lit candles and hoped for a happy new year. About 20 people gathered with her at the New Canaan Nature Center on Wednesday evening for the first Rosh Hashanah services in town held by Chabad of New Canaan.
It is apparently the town's first organized service to begin the holiday in several years. Michal Mendelow and her husband, Rabbi Levi Mendelow, moved to New Canaan six months ago and founded the Chabad of New Canaan. Jewish families in town usually travel to neighboring towns with synagogues or other Jewish centers to observe Rosh Hashanah.
"We're hoping that everyone will have a happy, healthy and sweet new year," Michal Mendelow said. David Harrison, 49, said having local services for Rosh Hashanah is important for the Jewish families in New Canaan.
"It's not an outpost," Harrison said. "It's another option, (and) it's a long time coming."
Rabbi Mendelow led the services for the evening, from saying prayers in English and Hebrew to eating apples, honey, pomegranate juice and cake and encouraging attendees to wish others a good new year. "We are looking forward to a wonderful year ahead," the rabbi said.
The Mendelows are expecting a larger turnout for today's services, which will include the traditional blowing of the shofar. Chabad of New Canaan will have services at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday as well as at 9 a.m. Friday, also at the nature center. Yom Kippur services will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at New Canaan High School. For more information, visit www.chabadnewcanaan.org.
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