Holiday recipes
High Holidays 2025
Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and sweet New Year! Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of Monday, Sept. 22. Yom Kippur begins on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 1. On this page, Chef Melinda shares some delicious recipes for you to welcome the new year!
Challah Factory High Holiday baked goods
Order now for the High Holidays! Products include round challah (plain, poppy seed, sesame seed, raisin, chocolate chip and orange blossom), challah twists, apple cake, honey cake, yeasted chocolate rugelach and – new this year – apple babka.
Give a gift of sweetness with Sweeter Together
Through the Gesher Sweeter Together project, you can send a jar of kosher honey from the Sonoran Desert, along with a Rosh Hashanah greeting, to family and friends. Order now and pick up at the EVJCC on or after Sept. 5.
Words of Wisdom with Pam
Simanim: Starting the New Year with Blessings
Learn more about the holidays
What is Rosh Hashanah and how is it celebrated? Visit My Jewish Learning to learn about holiday customs and foods.
Yom Kippur 101, from My Jewish Learning, explores the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
The Jewish Grandparents Network shares ideas for grandparents to help bring the High Holidays to life with their grandchildren.
PJ Library provides “Everything you need for Rosh Hashanah with kids”
Reads of Awe Bingo
The Reads of Awe Bingo Project, an initiative in memory of its creator Zoe Kaplan, daughter of JCC professional Geri Garfinkel-Gershon, encourages an exploration of Jewish books. Get inspiration from Bookishly Jewish.
Recipes
Soup & Salad
Here are some delicious ways to start your meals (after the challah, apples and honey, of course).
Rosh Hashanah Kale Salad
Kale, apple, dates, pomegranates with a Miso Vinaigrette
Roasted Butternut, Carrot and Apple Soup
Spoonful after spoonful of creamy fall goodness.
Pear and Hazelnut Salad
Pears, greens & grains.
Spinach Salad
Spinach, walnuts, pomegranate seeds
New Meals for new year
Main Courses & Sides
Roasted Kabocha Squash
A simple and delicious side
Jeweled Black Rice
Coconut milk, black (forbidden) rice, with pomegranate jewels
Chicken Marbella
Chicken, prunes, red wine vinegar, green olives, capers, goldenberries
Time for dessert
Here’s to a Sweet New Year
Gluten-free Almond Apple Cake
Apples & Almonds
Coconut Malabi
Coconut, pomegranate seeds and pistachios
Little Chefs series
Recipes for Young Chefs
Do you have a budding chef in your home? Here are recipes for young chefs (adult supervision recommended).
Rosh Hashanah Challah
Baked Apples
A sweet treat
Sukkot Arizona Fruit Salad
Fruit salad featuring fruit grown in Arizona
About Chef Melinda
Chef Melinda McNeil honed her skills as a chef and baker at the Scottsdale Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School and has worked at the Phoenician Resort, Simply Bread bakery and the Olive & Ivy restaurant. She has baked challah and other baked goods at the East Valley JCC’s Challah Factory since fall 2016.