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As usual, I spent as much time researching what I might create for the Independent’s holiday cover as I did creating it. Lots of themes went through my head, as did lots of possible styles. When I shared with my wife that Rosh Hashanah is not just the new year, but the world’s birthday, she suggested making a cake. To her, a birthday means cake. I couldn’t find a fault in her logic, so I went for it. I made the concepts I’d been mulling more playful and added tons of colour.
So, what you have before you is a four-layer cake, each featuring part of the Creation story: the base is Day 1 (separating light from darkness) and Day 4 (making the sun, moon and stars to mark day and night, the passing of time); the next layer combines Day 2 (creating the sky and waters) and Day 5 (adding the birds and sea creatures to the sky and waters, respectively); and Layer 3 features Day 3 (making dry land, plants, trees, etc.) and Day 6 (creating humans and animals to live off that land). Topping everything off is Day 7 (Shabbat).
Amid these depictions, you’ll find the Seven Species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates), which have multiple symbolisms connected to the land of Israel and Jerusalem, with a few being symbolic for Rosh Hashanah too. There is also some BC pride in there – our magnificent wildlife, sea creatures and landscapes. Happy birthday, World!
