Manischewitz Opens Company Headquarters in Newark

That's one big matzo.

Kosher foods company Manischewitz celebrated its corporate headquarters' opening Tuesday on Avenue K in Newark by creating the world's largest matzo at nearly 25 feet long and 41.5 inches wide. It weighs 30 pounds and equals that of 336 regular matzos.

But while workers inside prepared the dough, dignitaries outside hailed the company's move to the city from Secaucus.

"This is a new step in the life of Manischewitz," said Paul Bensabat, one of the company's co-chief executive officers during a roughly 45-minute ribbon-cutting ceremony on the headquarters' front lawn Tuesday. "Great name, great company, 123 years old, but tired. And we're now entering a new venture here by turning this thing around and giving it new life … and making it a new Manischewitz."

Bensabat, flanked by co-CEO Alain Bankier, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, said Newark is becoming more vibrant for businesses.

"This city is what has become so attractive to us," he said to at least 200 workers and community officials. "When you decide to move a company like our's into a place like this, you run into a lot of difficulties, but I must say … this place is so business friendly."

Booker said the company's move gives him "bragging rights" that Newark is a city of diversity and new development.

"In many ways, we are a city that not only does great business, but a culmination of a spiritual right," he said, while attempting some words in broken Hebrew. "We indeed, today … are experiencing a great matchmaking."

Metzger said the company has helped transform the world of kosher food.

"The word 'Manischewitz' is like two words: money and sweat. So, if you want to do money, you have to sweat," he said. "They sweat a lot and they did it. And, now, the company became the biggest, the largest kosher company in the world."

The four men toured the facility with media and attendees to watch the matzo process and measure the monster bread.

Booker said Manischewitz is one of the city's 25 "major groundbreakings" this year. The mayor also said the city will see more than $600 million worth of new development in 2011.