Dough was not the only thing to rise this past month.

The Chabad Jewish Center of Northwest New Jersey rose to the occasion, literally, to prepare children and families for the recent High Holidays with challa baking and family fair.

Students of the Chabad Hebrew School in Flanders were invited to the High Holiday Family Fair on Sun., Sept. 25, at Flanders Country Day School in Flanders where the Hebrew school classes are held weekly. Families were invited to join in at 11 a.m. to enjoy an hour of fun and learning in honor of the High Holidays.

Families got to make apple plates, shofar key chains, play a game and even shape homemade dough for challa baking at home.

In another program, the Jewish Women’s Circle through the Chabad, sponsored a Pre-Rosh Hashana Challa Bake on Wed., Sept. 28. Women were invited to unite with other Jewish women in the area, discover the art of challa making and learn about this “timeless feminine mizva” or good deed.

Whether made with cinnamon, raisins, chocolate chips or plain, challa is traditional bread eaten during Rosh Hashana and then dipped in honey to represent a sweet new year.

The Jewish Women’s Circle brings together Jewish women of all ages and background to learn, laugh, experience and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.