Jewish families across New York City are preparing for the high holidays in a different format than usual.

Rosh Hashanah started Friday night, and Yom Kippur begins next weekend. Many people who celebrate won't be able to get together with others or go to synagogues due to safety restrictions during the pandemic.

Rabbi Hanoch Hect says it's even more important to focus on symbolic foods like apples and honey to wish for a good and sweat new year.

"The home this year will be the center of the holiday celebration," Hect says. "If they aren't going to temple, the meals of the holiday are the highlight of the holiday."

Hect says he is making an apple cake with honey with his family to include both symbolic ingredients in a sweet treat.

The recipe will appear in his new book "A Kabbalah of Food" that comes out in November.