Rosh Hashanah 2026—New Year 5787—in Portland

Rosh Hashanah 2026 kind of snuck up on us this year, seemingly kind of early, starting the evening of Friday, September 11. This also means that Rosh Hashanah falls on the sabbath/shabbos, which for some Jewish communities can mean that the shofar will not be blown on that first night, and will be delayed to the following day of Rosh Hashanah (the holiday lasts until Sunday, September 13).

It’s the Jewish New Year, which means apples and honey, honey cake, and other things to mark the wishes for a sweet year to come. Here are some ways to enjoy a delicious Rosh Hashanah. We will update this as new things come online. Big thanks to Judith for adding her holiday knowledge to this roundup.

Babkush

Babkush, Portland’s Jewish bakery on the east side of Portland offers some fabulous dessert options for the holiday, plus their special raisin challah for High Holidays. “It’s a rich and festive round loaf, made with saffron grown in Washington by Cyrus Saffron (They’re our neighbor at the PSU Portland Farmers Market and the aroma wafting over from their booth is intoxicating. We had to make something with it!!)”

Loaves will be available at the bakery this week and next. Call them to set one aside for you at 971-678-6696 and also to confirm that they are open—they’ll be closed on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They’ll also have plum-almond babka, pomegranate-honey amaretti for the holiday.

Judith says, “Their babkas and rugelach are always a fabulous treat for the holiday. Visit their SE Hawthorne Blvd location and choose from eight varieties of babka and two varieties of rugelach. They will not disappoint.”

935 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland. Babkush website

Baker & Spice

Head to their dedicated Rosh Hashanah holiday page to order your celebration foods. Orders for Rosh Hashanah will be available to pick up on Friday, September 11, between noon and 3pm. Here’s what they are offering this year (same as last year):

Crown Challah (plain or raisin). They start with fresh eggs, local wildberry honey, canola oil, and a 6-hour starter to make this traditional high holiday bread. $12

Spiced Honey Cake. Spiced with coffee, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg studded with almonds and golden raisins. Wrapped in cellophane and ribbon making it a perfect hostess gift. $20

Honey Bee Bundt. Tender buttermilk cake infused with Oregon wildflower honey, and studded with boozy currants. Topped with a brown sugar, butter and honey glaze and lots of toasty almonds! $30

Chocolate Cardamom Bundt. Orange scented brioche filled with a cardamom ganache. Topped with a bittersweet chocolate and cardamom crumb and soaked in a cardamom simple syrup. $22

Rugelach. Flakey cream cheese dough filled with lekvar and filling: Apricot Walnut, Chocolate Cherry Cardamom, or Poppy Walnut. $12

6330 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland. Baker & Spice website

Ben & Esther’s

They are taking pre-orders for Rosh Hashanah challah now via phone at 503-265-8470. You can pick up the loaves on Friday, September 11 or Saturday, September 12.

1800 NE Alberta Street, Portland. Ben & Esther’s website

Dana’s Breads

The good folks at Leikam Brewing (see below) told us about Dana’s Breads, and while checking them out spied a round challah (available on Friday, September 11 only), babkas, and rugelach. Plus regular long challah, pita, bagels, and deli rye.

For the round challah, please place your order by Monday, September 7; pick up on Friday, September 11.

4062 NW Saltzman Road, Portland. Dana’s Bread website

Dream Deli

They are celebrating Rosh Hashanah with apples and honey in the form of apple honey kolaches with Kiyokawa Family Orchards apples. They also promise, “more treats to come…”

3542 SE Division Street, Portland. Dream Deli website

Grand Central

Crown Challah preorders are now live at Grand Central. “A traditional crown shape for Rosh Hashanah. Soft, tender crust and crumb. Rich and mildly sweet made with plump organic flame raisins. “

Place your orders here through Thursday, September 10. You can pick up on Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, with a limited number available in the café from September 10 to 13.

⁠Various locations. Grand Central Bakery website

Leikam Brewing

Head to Leikam Brewing on Wednesday, September 9 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm for Apples & Ales, a Jewish New Year happy hour. “Whether you’re Jewish, Jew-ish, Jewish-adjacent, curious, a longtime friend, or just someone who heard there might be good food and beer involved… you’re welcome here.”

Additionally, they’ll be hosting a Jewish Calendar watercolor class with Debbie Plawner. Attendees will be able to create their own calendar and prepare for the New Year, which sounds lovely. Wednesday, September 16 at 7pm.

And one more activity, which I [Judith] am particularly fond of will be their community Sukkah event, where attendees can help build Leikam’s sukkah, enjoy Klezmer music as well as some delicious Turkish Burekas! This takes place on Thursday, September 24 from 5pm to 9pm.

5812 E Burnside Street, Portland. Leikam Brewing website

Mother’s Bistro

They’ve got Jewish holiday favorites as well as a three-course Rosh Hashanah dinner (feeds four persons) this year. Holiday favorites include chopped liver, house-smoked salmon rillettes, kasha varnishkes, matzoh ball soup, brisket, roast chicken, and apple walnut cake. Details and pricing can be found on the Mother’s Bistro Instagram page.

The three-course Rosh Hashanah prix fixe dinner includes:

• Starters: Salmon Rillettes, Chopped Liver, Matzoh or Crostini, Matzoh Ball Soup
• Dinner: Brisket or Roast Chicken (or 2 orders of each), Braised Potatoes (Brisket) or Smashed Potatoes (Chicken), Seasonal Vegetables
• Dessert: Apple Walnut Cake with caramel sauce & vanilla ice cream

Call them at 503-464-1122 to order.

121 SW Third Avenue, Portland. Mother’s Bistro website

New Seasons

Looking for a nice crown challah loaf? New Seasons typically has these in stock the week of the holiday so do look out for them in most of their locations. And while you are there, take a peek at their Kosher section, which also has a decent selection of goodies.

Multiple locations. New Seasons website

Safeway on SW Barbur Blvd

I [Judith] am a big fan of Safeway on SW Barbur Blvd for all your Kosher needs—not just for Rosh Hashannah but for other Jewish holidays, as well. Their Kosher section is extensive and even includes Kosher meats, which are hard to find.

Last year, I found these cute little honey sticks made by a company called Some Honey. I used them to spruce up my place settings for my holiday meal and guests loved them. They come in a pack of 10 and the honey is delicious.

8145 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland. Safeway website

Yum’s of PDX

Yum’s of PDX, know for their Neo-Neapolitan pizza, is making challah there weekly. They boast the use of Corto Olive Oil, King Arthur Flour (Lancelot), and Mike’s Hot Honey in their egg wash. They are taking orders for Rosh Hashanah, which can be picked up after 5pm. DM them to reserve your loaves.

830 SE 8th Avenue, Portland. Yum’s of PDX website

Zupan’s

Just this week Zupan’s released their High Holidays menu and it’s filled with the classics: honey cake, challah, and crown raisin challah for Rosh Hashanah specifically, but also other Jewish favorites. Those includes some out-of-season delicious things like latkes and applesauce, but also noodle kugel, brisket, chopped chicken liver, brisket, matzoh ball soup, potato knishes, babka, and more.

Order online for in-store pickup on Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12 or Sunday and Monday, September 20 and 21.. Online orders are reservation only and will be paid for at time of pickup. Order on the Zupan’s website. 

2340 W Burnside Street and 7221 S Macadam Avenue in Portland; 16380 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego. Zupans website

Make Your Own Apple or Honey Cake

There are a number of options out there but here are a few worth trying:

Fresh Apple Cake—I [Judith] make this one each year and it’s always a hit. It keeps well too! [The Baker Mama]
Honey Cake [The View from Great Island]
Majestic and Moist Honey Cake [Smitten Kitchen]
Sunken Apple and Honey Cake [Smitten Kitchen]

Smitten Kitchen has a number of other recipes for Rosh Hashanah.

Wishing you a sweet new year!