In what its organizers hope will be the first of many such events, a festival of Jewish music, culture, and food will be held Sunday, Sept. 14, in South Brunswick.

Rejoice: The Central New Jersey Jewish Music & Culture Festival will feature klezmer, Jewish folk, and Israeli music; kosher food; Israeli dancing; children’s acts and activities; a vendors market; and tables dispensing information about synagogues, schools, and Jewish organizations.The free daylong event is the brainchild of Aaron Rosloff of South Brunswick, who got the idea while visiting family in the Syracuse, NY, area.

“They’ve had a central New York Jewish music and cultural festival there for nine years,” he said. “I was there, and I overheard two people behind me talking. The woman said she comes every year. The man said, ‘So do I, and I’m not even Jewish,’ and she said ‘Neither am I.’

“I thought,” said Rosloff, “what a wonderful way to demystify Judaism to the general public.”After returning home, Rosloff mentioned his idea to his friend Danny Greenberg of Kendall Park and to Cantor Bruce Rockman of Congregation B’nai Tikvah in North Brunswick.

Greenberg, who is cochairing the event with Rosloff, said they and the event committee choose Woodlot Park in the Monmouth Park section of South Brunswick as the festival venue because of its central location and proximity to major roadways.“It is right off Route 1 so it will be easily accessible from many areas of the state,” he said. “We hope Jews from every community will come to South Brunswick.”

Greenberg said so far organizers had reached out to about 50 different synagogues and Jewish organizations throughout the state to publicize the festival.Rosloff and his family put up a “significant” initial contribution to stage the event  although he declined to name the specific amount  and the committee solicited other contributions.

“We have a budget of $25,000 and have most of it already,” said Rosloff. “This is my legacy…. I just passed my 87th birthday and I still have my health and most of my marbles. I don’t know what God has in store for me, but this is something I wanted to pass on. If it becomes an annual event I will be very pleased.”