ESSEX COUNTY JEWISH SENIORS ENJOY APPLES AND HONEY PRESENTATION AS PART OF JCHC’S CREATIVE LIVING SERIES

WEST ORANGE, N.J., September 18, 2013 – In celebration of the Jewish High Holy Days, the Jewish Community Housing Corporation of Metropolitan New Jersey (JCHC) recently held its “Sweetness for a Sweet New Year: The History and Tradition of Apples and Honey” at the JCC of MetroWest in West Orange. Participants included residents from two of the JCHC’s senior living communities, Village Apartments of the Jewish Federation in South Orange and Jewish Federation Plaza in West Orange as well as members of the JCC Senior Enrichment program. The program, which was both educational and social in nature, was attended by approximately 60 people.

The presentation opened with a New Year greeting from Harold Colton-Max, CEO of the JCHC. The program was led by COO Laurie Loughney, who developed it as part of the organization’s Creative Living Series of interactive workshops and activities; it covered the history of the apple/honey tradition on Rosh Hashana, trivia and fun facts about apples and honey, and a sampling of various types of apples and honeys. Attendees shared their memories of enjoying the sweet treats with their families over the years, as well as favorite recipes and their hopes for a sweet new year. Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz of Chabad West Orange led a blessing and ended the program by blowing the shofar. Each attendee went home with a goody bag containing several varieties of apples and honey sticks, and three lucky people won chocolate-covered apples in a raffle.

Creative Living programs are available at no charge to local senior groups and non-profit organizations. For more information about Creative Living or to book a presentation, contact Mark Sinclair, Community Liaison Coordinator, at (973) 518-0993.