LONGMEADOW, Mass (WWLP) - The Jewish Community is beginning their celebration of Rosh Hashanah tonight and students at one local Jewish academy have been preparing for the holiday by creating some crafts, attending a fair with Rosh Hashanah events and activities, and creating their own take-home shofar. "Rosh Hashanah literally means the head of the year," said Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy Rabbi Noach Kosofsky In the Jewish culture, Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and it is sometimes explained in resemblance to a human head. "The head of the year controls and gives direction to the rest of the year, just like the head controls the body, so the Jewish New Year is a day that really has an effect on our entire year" said Rabbi Kosofsky. Rosh Hashanah is typically a festive holiday, but this year's celebration observance comes amid growing tension in the Middle East. It has almost been one year since the October 7th attack on Israel, and this year, Rosh Hashanah may look a little different. "After that attack, people that may have been arguing before politically or other issues in Israel, all came together and united as one. So for me, one of the things that I like to emphasize this year especially is how strong and powerful we can be as a nation when we are united" said Rabbi Kosofsky. Despite the escalating conflict, Rabi Kosofsky said the Jewish community is still coming together to participate in tradition. "The shofar is a ram's horn, and when we blow the shofar, it is kind of like the inner cry from the depths of our heart to connect with God," said Rabbi Kosofsky. The observance and celebration of Rosh Hashanah continues through Friday at sunset. Local News Headlines Leader of catalytic converter theft ring sentenced to 10 years in prison Pittsfield police investigate stabbing incident, victim in critical condition Pumpkins looking great for local farmers after drier summer season Congressman Richard Neal condemns Iran’s missile attack on Israel WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.