Spring 2020:

I landed the internship at Cedar Village, a predominantly Jewish Senior Living community in Cincinnati. I had envisioned sitting with residents and learning from them, then cooking a huge meal a the end of the summer.

Then, Coronavirus landed too. I adjusted my plans, cleared them with HUC-JIR and Cedar Village management, and spent the summer on the phone with residents - making over 127 phone calls, as I got to know them and their stories. I also baked approximately 1300 miniature challah rolls, and organized “touchless delivery” with the onsite chaplain. I learned and shared the residents, making true connections. From that, the book, “Footprints and Foodstains”, was created. It is full of stories and resident recipes.

I still speak with a number of the residents to this day.