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Rachel and I meet one drizzly afternoon at Adams Morgan’s Potter’s House. Amid the bustle of the closing cafe, we chat about Rachel’s intergenerational work in Jewish spaces, coming to the DMV via South Dakota and Cleveland, being “Auntie Rachel,” and our favorite pie-centric musical.
Samuel: You’re in the DMV by way of South Dakota and Cleveland. What brought you here?
Rachel: My sister lives here. She’s got four kids, and being Auntie Rachel is one of my favorite things in the world. I’ve been here 13 years and I’ve gotten to see the kids grow up and be a part of that. My grandparents lived in McLean and my parents were near Richmond, so it was nice to be near family. Everyone, one by one, moved out east, and I did the same.
Samuel: Besides family, what’s kept you here?
Rachel: DC is home now, it really is. I’ve been fortunate – I have a whole group of friends out here, and communities that I’m a part of, and I think there’s just a lot more opportunity in the DC area. That’s been great for me.
Samuel: You started a new job with the Den Collective in April. What brought you there?
Rachel: I worked for another Jewish organization for 11 years, The Association of Jewish Aging Services. So, I went from supporting seniors to young professionals. I was excited to be part of an organization that’s about to reach its 10-year anniversary, which is a big deal, and to have the opportunity to cultivate and help bring together the Jewish community in the DMV.
I really wanted to come to the Den Collective because they’re here in the DMV, they’re growing, and I wanted to be a part of something where I could grow along with it.
Samuel: What’s the transition working with those very different age groups been like?
Rachel: I would say everyone’s looking for the same thing; it’s just connection. A lot of the work even in my previous job was intergenerational, bringing people together to build understanding. The Den works with 20s, 30s, and 40s, and maybe I can’t quite call that intergenerational – maybe with millennials and Gen Z and whatnot – but, at the core of it, everyone’s just looking to connect with other people. I think that’s a beautiful thing about the Den.
Samuel: There’s definitely not as many DMV experiences that are catered specifically to folks in their late 30s and 40s – in your experience, what are people looking for? How do you think the larger DMV Jewish community can better serve them?
Rachel: It’s a good question. I think they just want to keep being involved! Everyone wants opportunities to volunteer, be part of community organizing, be part of the community we’re building. People want to learn – how to lead a Shabbat dinner, how to have a Seder. Or, sometimes people come to us and they have an idea for a learning opportunity or a gathering, and we can empower them to [build] a peer-led event. I think it’s that leadership component that people are excited about. It’s not the Den setting the agenda, it’s building the agenda with [community members]. We see that at all ages, but people really come into that as they get into their 30s and 40s.
Samuel: How has working in the Jewish nonprofit space impacted your own personal Jewish practice?
Rachel: It’s been a big part of bringing me closer to my Jewish identity. I spent my childhood in South Dakota. There was one synagogue – which I loved, and we were very active – but people would drive an hour or two to get there! There were no other Jewish people in my elementary or middle schools, until I moved to Cleveland in high school. [That move] was a big deal.
Then, moving here, I wanted to be connected with Jewish community and figure out what that means to me. I definitely, in my work life, want to support the Jewish community. But then I also found that I have to be at a Shabbat dinner every Friday, I have to light candles, I celebrate or observe every holiday in some way…it’s been really important to find ways to incorporate those traditions and rituals throughout my life.
Samuel: What does your personal practice look like right now?
Rachel: I grew up as the only Jewish kid in my school, and every year my parents would visit my classroom and bring a menorah and some dreidels. They would teach the kids about Hanukkah and it helped me feel less alone. Now, some of those friends of mine have kids of their own and they teach their kids about Hanukkah. That was the example my parents set for me.
So, I always try to bring my non-Jewish friends along with me. Everything that we’re doing, I try to tell them about and involve them. I think I see that as part of my Jewish practice: involving as many people as possible and bringing us together. I think it builds bridges and creates understanding. Sometimes I might be the only Jew someone has ever met, and I’m proud of that – it’s a way of introducing people to our community, who we are, what we stand for.
Samuel: What else is alive for you Jewishly right now?
Rachel: I’ve been making an effort to actively search for joy. I feel like we have a responsibility to do this especially in hard times. I’m a big comedy fan. I recently saw Shahar Cohen. Last year I saw Modi, Fortune Feimster, and Taylor Tomlinson. I think it’s very Jewish to laugh together.
Samuel: Okay, a few quick ones to close. What are you feeling proud about right now?
Rachel: I’m proud that I keep going. The last 22 months have been really hard, and instead of isolating, I’ve continued to go toward people and bring people together. Even on the hard days, I keep finding ways to build connections.
Samuel: Flip side – what are you bad at?
Rachel: I’m bad at relaxing and giving myself a day off. I think I’ve been confronted over the past few years with how short life is. I have a lot of dreams and a lot of goals. I want to see all those things happen, so I’ve been very motivated to keep working on them.
Samuel: You’re hosting Shabbat dinner and can invite any three people. Who are you bringing?
Rachel: I would invite Sara Bareilles. She’s my favorite artist. I was dead broke when Waitress came out, but I put the ticket on my credit card and bought a MegaBus ticket. It was my first Broadway show. She can play piano after dinner.
Then, I would invite Lebron James – because Cleveland. I’m only 5’4” so we couldn’t play one-on-one, but we could talk all things basketball. And then Jerry Seinfeld. Got to have some Jewish humor in there.
Samuel: Last one. Finish the sentence: When Jews of the DMV gather…
Rachel: We can get through anything together.
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