Who Were We in 2022?

by Samuel Milligan / January 3, 2023

The end of the year is always a bountiful time for those of us who love the never-ending scroll of the internet: the pop culture recaps reminding you that, yeah, that happened this year, best-of-_____ lists, Spotify Wrapped, in and out predictions, Twitter threads of unfortunate Main Characters, year-end reflections, pleasantly formatted and hyperlinked fun facts, what-I-got-wrongs, and so on and so on and so on. I’ll read every one I can get my eyeballs on. 

I will also not remember a single thing I read in the final week of December and first few hazy-brained days of the new year by, like, January 10th (apart from, maybe, the prevalence of parrot theft – I cannot imagine ever forgetting that). 

What I won’t forget, though, are the people who made 2022 a distinctly fulfilling and horizon-expanding year. It’s the same pattern over my entire life. There’s no way I can remember exactly what we read and learned in first grade – but I could never forget meeting the lifelong friends I made that year.

Guests at a Happy Hour laugh together.

Take it from Criminal Minds’ Agent Rossi: “[O]nly through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for a moment that we’re not alone.”

Take it from Ben Zoma: “Who is wise? One who learns from every person, as it is said: ‘From all who taught me have I gained understanding’”(Psalms 119:99).

Take it from Rabbi Hillel: “[W]hen I am for only myself, what am I?” (Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Ancestors, 1:14). 

It is the people we gather to ourselves – whether for a moment of eye contact, a conversation, a coffee, a meal, a friendship, a partnership, or whatever else – who define the contours and courses of our lives. So as we embark on our 2023 journeys, let’s remember who we met together last year:

A group smiles, gathered around the GatherDC townhouse dining room table.

  1. A DMV a capella group that loves a good blend.
  2. An arts-lover and proud “Weird Oboe Girl.”
  3. A Rockville-born death doula. 
  4. A former Dracula, now at Theater J. 
  5. A service-focused data scientist.
  6. A card-making Jersey native. 
  7. A jazz-drumming Terp. 
  8. An acrobatic Moishe House resident. 
  9. A historical reenactor and 15th century Spain expert. 
  10. An animal lover and food systems reformer. 
  11. A bar boss and locally-focused mixologist. 
  12. A dedicated Shabbat dinner host. 
  13. A democracy advocate and walkability stan. 
  14. GatherDC’s Engagement Director!
  15. GatherDC’s Digital Content Manager!
  16. A teacher and hiking enthusiast. 
  17. An organizer and theatergoer.  Gather community members arranged in two rows smile at sunset.
  18. A routine-focused marketing strategist. 
  19. An Inbox Zero devotee. 
  20. A trained chef turned comedian. 
  21. An advocate for peanut butter on toast. 
  22. GatherDC’s Administrative Coordinator!
  23. A dog-fostering artist and pickleballer. 
  24. A saxophonist with plans to elevate. 
  25. GatherDC’s summer intern!
  26. A featured actor at Theater J.
  27. A reader and comedian.  Gather community members host a Seder.
  28. A cake architect. 
  29. An HR manager and Shabbat specialist. 
  30. A wild mushroom expert. 
  31. A book-loving, boxing baker. 
  32. GatherDC’s Salesforce Manager!
  33. A canine-loving, kayaking Canadian. 
  34. A law student with a passion for scooters. 
  35. A balloon artist. 
  36. A matzoh ball soup expert. 
  37. An innovative baker. 
  38. A hoops-loving traveler. 
  39. A DMV community support bakery. 
  40. A dog-loving menu creator. 
  41. GatherDC’s Communications Coordinator!
  42. A coffee-lover seeking wisdom. 
  43. A hiker embracing the unknown. 
  44. GatherBay’s Community Director!
  45. A basketball coach who knows the value of picking up the phone. 
  46. A DC-dweller unafraid to take a leap of faith. 
  47. A Gather group of burgeoning leaders in the Jewish DMV.
  48. A reporter settling in on a new beat.

Want to jump in and make a connection (or forty-eight) with your place and people in the DMV? Grab coffee with us! Email us and nominate a JPOW or Spotted feature! Whether you’re looking to meet new people, deepen your personal relationship with Judaism, grow as a community leader, or fill your calendar with all the Jewish DMV has to offer, GatherDC is here to help – after all, if we’re not for community, if we’re not for connection, who are we?

A group photo full of smiles at Gather's Beyond the Tent retreat.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog and on this website are solely those of the original authors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the organization GatherDC, the GatherDC staff, the GatherDC board, and/or any/all contributors to this site.