Members of the local and neighboring Jewish communities will have a new place in which to worship the Jewish New Year.

While Chabad of Fountain Hills is scheduled to be dedicated on Nov. 18, Rabbi Mendy Lipskier decided to host services in the center beginning on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The holiday begins at sundown on Sept. 9 and is observed through nightfall on Sept. 11.

The High Holiday service will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Services are free but donations are welcome. The cost for dinner is $25 for adults; children 12 and under are free. RSVPs are required for both at 480-776-4763 or email rabbi@jewishfountainhills.com.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will begin the evening of Sept. 18 and be observed until after nightfall on Sept.19. It is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The holiday is marked by fasting and prayers.

“Rosh Hashana is a time of new beginnings,” said Rabbi Lipskier, the Center’s spiritual leader, “How apropos that it marks the beginning of our new facility, and a new era for Judaism in the area.”

The brand-new Chabad Edelman Jewish Center will serve the needs of the vibrant and growing Jewish community.

“The new Center will cater to a diverse crowd,” said Sheldon Gross who, together with his wife Lauren, dedicated the building. “Chabad has offered so much to our community. We are happy to be a part of this expansion.”

Activities will include Shabbat and holiday services and events, community dinners, men’s and women’s social events, youth programs and more, said Lipskier.

In addition, Chabad offers adult education courses which Lipsker said caters to the wider community, regardless of background or affiliation.

The new Center at 16830 E. Avenue of the Fountains will allow for more people to enjoy the communal, religious and social events.

Dr. Brendan and Dana Levy of Scottsdale dedicated the social hall, a space they said will serve as the new epicenter of Jewish communal life not only for Fountain Hills, but for people who live right over the hill for whom the new center is just a five or ten minute drive away.

“Brendan and I have enjoyed the community Shabbat dinners and social events for years,” she said. “We’re very excited to partner with Chabad to be able to bring that wonderful experience to so many more people.”

The center features a modern kosher kitchen. “Judaism tells us that when the body is nurtured, the soul is nurtured, too,” said Lauren Gross. “That’s why my husband and I chose to dedicate Chabad’s new kitchen in tribute to my late mother, Sarah Goldberg, who exemplified these teachings.”

Chabad-Lubavitch is an international Jewish organization that believes Jewish traditions and customs are the birthright of every Jew, and that every Jew should have access to them.

This was a point of emphasis in the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. In keeping with the Rebbe’s teachings, Chabad of Fountain Hills, among many other Chabad centers, has made High Holiday services available free of charge, recognizing that for many people, the cost of High Holiday services is a barrier.

Lipskier said Chabad’s “user-friendly” services will provide an enjoyable and meaningful experience for the beginner and the advanced.

Concurrent youth services are expected to be popular among children and young adults. Song, commentary and the use of English-Hebrew prayer-books will welcome individuals of all levels to become active participants in the service.

The new sanctuary provides an ideal setting for prayer and introspection, according to Bernardette Donfeld, who dedicated the sanctuary with her husband, Judge Robert Donfeld.

“The friendly, diverse crowd at Chabad has always made us feel welcome at services,” she said. “So the idea of dedicating a space for prayer really resonated with us. And I’m sure the rabbi doesn’t mind the improved acoustics.”