NJ Volunteers Deliver Rosh Hashanah Meals To Homebound Seniors

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — As another Rosh Hashanah is etched into the history books, volunteers with a nonprofit in North Jersey recently commemorated the 2023 Jewish high holiday season by reaching out to local seniors with a friendly meal.

Last week, volunteers with Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey delivered Rosh Hashanah meals and packages to more than 160 homebound older adults and Holocaust survivors in Essex, Morris and Union counties.

The holiday packages – which included challah, apples, honey, candy and other treats – were donated by Schechner Lifson Corporation. Volunteers including Rickey and Bill Slezak of West Orange and Sandy Ross of Randolph then delivered the tasty payloads to their grateful recipients.

Rosh Hashanah, one of the high holidays for Jews around the world, began before sundown on Sept. 15 and ended after nightfall on Sept. 17. The beginning of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah is a time of reflection on the past year, as well as a time for communal gathering over special foods, traditions and mitzvahs, or commandments.

Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar and the pinnacle of the High Holy Days, is observed from just before sundown on Sunday, Sept. 24, until after nightfall on Monday, Sept. 25. It is a day of atonement and fasting, introspection and prayer for forgiveness of the past year’s mistakes and positive changes in the future.

The High Holidays come to a festive conclusion with the holiday of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, a celebration of unity and joy from Friday, Sept. 29, to Sunday, Oct. 8.

• See Related: Rosh Hashanah 2023 Marks The Start Of Judaism's High Holidays

This article contains reporting by Beth Dalbey, Patch staff

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