Shana Tovah

This is the time of year when I wish a sweet and happy and healthy new year to all of my Jewish friends and family. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for nothing but good things this year.

We have a new rabbi this year, but as he arrived in August, I think he had little to do with setting up the High Holy Day services. We shall see how long things go this year.

In the meantime, I am with my favorite West End family for dinner tomorrow night, and will be making my once-a-year apple cake. I bake exactly one thing, and that’s it. In fact, I started baking it because my first year in Richmond, a lovely woman named Inge invited me for Rosh Hashana dinner on the first night, and the apple cake was a dessert. I got the recipe and have been making it ever since, mostly at Rosh Hashanah, but sometimes I make an extreme effort and have it twice in one year. (I don’t bake. I buy baked goods. Or get them from Sarah. I cook, but I don’t bake.)

This time next year, I hope to be able to hold my first Rosh Hashana dinner in my own home. Of course, there will be an apple cake.