Jewish Families Across Tri-State Prepare To Celebrate Rosh Hashanah

TEANECK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Wednesday night marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.

The holiday ushers in the year 5775 on the Jewish calendar and will be observed in synagogues across the Tri-State area with services both Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Rabbi Moshe Shapiro, of Chabad-Lubavitch Jewish Center in Hoboken, said Rosh Hashanah is about unity, reflection and renewal.

"Rosh Hashanah is really a time to stop and focus on where have we been the past year and where are we going the next year," Shapiro told 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet.

Rosh Hashanah is also celebrated with festive meals in family homes.

"Sweets are a big part of the holiday, and it wouldn't be Rosh Hashanah without a treat from Butterflake Bakery," said Michael Cohen, of Englewood. "It's always very fresh, it has that hometown feel, that mom-and-pop feel."

Richard Heisler, the owner of the bakery, said since last week, they have been working 24 hours a day for seven days a week baking holiday treats like challah.

Aside from the challah, cakes, pies and cookies are baked with honey.

"I'd say over the period of this whole holiday season, we'll go through about a thousand pounds of honey. Everything's about praying for a sweet new year, a healthy, sweet new year," Heisler said.

Meanwhile, things are cooking over at the Sharp's home in Teaneck -- from Matzoh ball soup to delicious brisket, CBS 2's Cindy Hsu reported.

"Nancy makes a mean brisket," said David Sharp.

There's plenty of challah, pomegranate and "Lots of sweets, because Rosh Hashanah is about bringing on the New Year and we want it to be a sweet new year," Nancy Sharp said.

"You know we all get caught up in our activities and our work lives, our agendas," David Sharp said. "This is the one moment where I get to think about and reflect on life."

The family will join many at synagogue, which Ben admitted he didn't really love when he was younger.

"When I was little that wasn't something that I was very excited for," he siad. "It meant sitting there and listening to a bunch of rambling I didn't really understand."

But now, at 18 years old, Ben said he does understand. His dream of making his first trip to Israel this summer was put on hold when violence broke out. He said it's important for young people to appreciate their roots, Hsu reported.

"It's a really a great time for me to reflect on what happened in the past, what I look forward to in the future," he said.

Two summers ago, Ben attended Seeds of Peace International Camp, where Palestinian, Israeli and other youths from regions of conflict get together to face their fears about each other.

Now, Ben said he has friends throughout the world and of every faith, and has a special wish this New Year.

"For better health, security and happiness for my friends and everyone around the world," he said.

The celebration ends Friday night.

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