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Sarah and I grabbed coffee one recent, drizzly morning at Roasting Plant Coffee. We chat about what drew Sarah to Judaism, her work with the National Council of Jewish Women, why ritual plays such a prominent role in her Jewish practice, graduate school in Dublin, NoVA’s best Korean barbecue, and the song of the summer!
Samuel: Thanks so much for joining me this morning, Sarah! I know you’re from the DMV originally – what’s made you stay?
Sarah: I’m from Falls Church, so super close. I was just at my parents’ house for dinner last night. One of the things that was so memorable to me about [growing up in the DMV] was that it was so incredibly diverse; I went to a public high school where there were over 80 different languages spoken, and that was my norm. Having that access to different cultures, and that ability to be politically involved – I remember going to the Occupy Wall Street protests in McPherson Square as a kid – were really big parts of my childhood, and a big part of why I wanted to come back here.
Also, I’ve worked in reproductive justice advocacy for the past six years. The headquarters for many of those organizations are here, and I’m really close to my family, so it was a natural fit to keep living here.
Samuel: How does your work in the reproductive justice space tie into your Judaism?
Sarah: There’s a huge connection. I talk about this really openly: I was raised Catholic, and I felt this strong incompatibility with my deeply held progressive beliefs and my place in the Catholic Church. But, anytime I would go to a protest at the Supreme Court, there would always be a contingent of Jewish people, and it was really inspiring to me that people could use their faith to support all these different rights that I believe are so essential.
Now, I work at the National Council of Jewish Women as their Associate Director of Movement Building, where I support our interfaith abortion access and reproductive rights work. My coworkers have been able to find ways to use Jewish ritual to honor reproductive rights, either to advance [the work] or to mourn what we’ve lost. It gives me a sense of confidence that I’m able to say abortion bans are against my religion, and feel that really deeply, and also share with other Jews that we have this rich tradition of texts that affirm what I believe to be this fundamental right.
Samuel: What else brought you to Judaism?
Sarah: There’s so many different ways I could answer. Seeing Jews proudly showing their Judaism and activism in the same space…when I learned about tikkun olam [Editor’s note: Often defined as “repairing the world”], I was like: This speaks to who I am on such a fundamental level. When talking about God, I feel there is an inexplicable force within me that compels me to be doing mission-driven, social justice work, which I believe is deeply Jewish. And, I love ritual, which is something that Catholicism and Judaism do really well. Jewish ritual feels accessible; I see that in the way we mark Shabbat, by having ritual for something that might feel mundane, but becomes a way to mark the passage of time and special moments.
Samuel: What other rituals have resonated with you?
Sarah: As I was searching for things to do during the pandemic, I learned about mikvah. I remember talking to some Jewish friends who were like “I don’t know if you’re going to like mikvah, it’s sort of outdated” – their opinion – but it is really cool! I got trained as a mikvah guide through Mayyim Hayyim. It gave me this idea that you can go and co-create rituals together, as a community. For me, Judaism oftentimes is about using tradition and wisdom to make meaning out of things that might feel “regular.” But I’m a big believer in adapting Judaism to fit your needs and the needs of your society – Judaism has evolved with its people. Just because some people may see mikvah as an antiquated practice doesn’t mean we can’t reclaim it. You can choose to make something a special occasion if you look for it.
Samuel: I know you went to grad school in Dublin a couple of years ago – what led you there, and what was that experience like Jewishly?
Sarah: It was a one-year program in Dublin on Comparative Social Change. My mom is Cuban, and I had studied abroad in Cuba, and then my dad is Irish-American, so when I was looking at schools I wanted to, you know, appreciate the other side of my family, too. Before going, I was googling so hard trying to figure out what the Jewish community in Dublin was like. There ended up being a small progressive synagogue two blocks from my house, which was pretty cool, and I joined the Jewish Students Association at Trinity College. The first time I ever did an in-person havdalah was with them, in Dublin.
Samuel: Now that you’re home, how have you gone about building your Jewish community?
Sarah: When I came back to DC, it was December 2022, and I wanted to prioritize [building a Jewish community]. When I was applying for jobs, I wondered: What would working at a Jewish nonprofit be like? And then, on my first day at the National Council of Jewish Women, our CEO reached out and helped me apply for a fellowship with Jewtina y Co, and –
Samuel: Is that the same fellowship as Stacy? I had no idea.
Sarah: I did it the year before, yeah. It was a virtual fellowship, but there are six of us in DC who’ve done the fellowship, and that was another way I was able to learn about the cultural aspects and traditions of Judaism outside of a synagogue context, which was really good for me. I go to Sixth & I for some holidays, and I’ve been involved with GatherDC. I love the synagogues that I started off at when I was feeling lost and needing someone to shepherd me through the [conversion] process, but I also need friends my age! There were all of these things about Jewish communal life that I didn’t understand, and Gather’s calendar was a big asset. Gather is able to nurture come-as-you-are Judaism, which I really like.
Samuel: Okay, a few quick ones to close. What is something you’re bad at?
Sarah: I’m bad at being chill. I think on social media I’ve seen the rise of the “chill girl,” and…I’ve kind of just owned that that’s not me. I’m going to be doing the most, and I’m getting to a place where I’m more okay with that.
Samuel: What’s something you’re feeling proud about?
Sarah: One of my goals at the start of the year was to prioritize being more involved in my local Jewish community, and that’s something I’ve been able to do, especially through small friendships. Over the past year, I’ve been able to build out those Jewish friendships, which is something I didn’t grow up with. It’s very nice to have a friend to celebrate holidays with, or go to a Prince of Egypt movie screening with – it’s been panning out.
Samuel: What’s the song of the summer?
Sarah: I feel like everyone is going to say a Chappell Roan song, but they’re just so good. It’s “Pink Pony Club.”
Samuel: What’s something in the DMV that doesn’t get enough love?
Sarah: DC has some of the best food. And I know some people may be hesitant, because it is in Virginia, but I feel like our Asian food in particular is out of this world. Specifically, my favorite Korean barbecue restaurant: Kogiya. More people should venture out to Annandale to check it out.
Samuel: You can invite any three people to Shabbat dinner. Who are they?
Sarah: I’d invite both of my grandmothers, who I never got to share my Judaism with. I think that would be a special way to reconnect and talk about it, over a Shabbat dinner. The other person is Gloria Steinem, who I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. During tumultuous times, I look to people who exude tranquility but can also be fierce. That’s something I and many other people might be looking for in this time of unprecedented moments.
Samuel: Last one. Finish the sentence: When Jews of the DMV gather…
Sarah: We come together over food. We’re talking about our favorite restaurants, happy hour spots, coffee places.
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