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Aaron and I grab a wobbly table at Sharbat and chat about his time in the Peace Corps, why he’s joining the Navy, Judaism and service, his approach to hosting, and the seltzer secret he’s picked up from working in DC kitchens.
Samuel: What brought you to the DMV?
Aaron: The vibe! I love it out here. I was born in LA and did Peace Corps in Ukraine, but that got cut off by Covid. When figuring out what I wanted to do next, I remembered that I loved international work and had a bunch of friends out here doing just that. Then, it was the classic story of following a job out here, which for most of the time I was here was contracting for USAID Ukraine.
Samuel: What has kept you here for the past few years?
Aaron: I love the friends that I’ve made here. It’s a group of people with shared values, people who care about being a positive part of the world. And, the arts around here are accessible, with so much that’s free. It’s a beautiful city.
Samuel: What’s your Jewish community like?
Aaron: DC is fun because [community] can unfold in so many different directions, all overlapping. We can build something we want. I started in one place that felt familiar and comfortable and grew from there. I started going to Friday night services at Sixth & I – the singing is a lot of familiar tunes.
And, from there, I’ve been able to get involved in other things. I met someone at an event and started standing shift with Community Security Services (CSS). I’ve learned about OneTable and gotten into hosting Shabbats. I found the Russian-speaking Jewish community through Moishe House…it’s been really nice to be able to touch on a lot of these different parts of life. Most recently, I started going to the Monday night lessons with Mesorah. I really enjoy the textually rooted, intellectually rigorous approach their rabbis make accessible.
Samuel: How do you approach being a host?
Aaron: Hopefully, if anyone shows up on time, by doing so they’ve agreed to help prepare. Because dinner won’t be totally ready. Beyond the food, I like to look for ways for everyone to get involved. Some people are more comfortable when their hands are busy and find it easier to talk to new people when helping with dinner. Others come with common interests and backgrounds that take just one well-timed introduction to start a great conversation.
During dinner, I try to balance enjoying any conversation I’m having with finding ways for guests to feel settled or make a new friend. The best feeling is when the room is buzzing and moving on its own, with new friends meeting and long-time friends catching up. Then, for logistical questions I might be less familiar with, like tablescaping and activities, I like turning to OneTable a few days prior to help plan.
Samuel: Do you have a go-to menu?
Aaron: Probably going to be plov – meat and veggies cooked in rice. I love cooking. It’s one of my favorite things to do. And things cooked in rice, with an Uzbek influence…it’s just the perfect dish. I’ve been fortunate to explore that passion professionally recently. After last year’s USAID changes, I started working in culinary full-time, first in the kitchen of a fantastic coffee shop, and then at my favorite restaurant in DC, Ruta. I am learning a lot about working in a kitchen and time management. The chef there is so willing to share, teach, and drop amazing cooking knowledge, which now I’m happy to share.
Samuel: Yeah, what’s the kitchen knowledge we should all be carrying around with us?
Aaron: The power of seltzer water. There are so many applications that I never knew of. Making kebabs, if you sprinkle a little bit of baking soda over the meat after the onions, spices, and all have been mixed together, and then pour some seltzer water, the meat absorbs it all, and it makes it so much juicier.
Samuel: I would have never guessed that! Outside of hosting, what else is feeling alive Jewishly for you?
Aaron: The Jewish events that CSS protects. I’ve loved doing those. I was at a singles dating event down in NoVA over the summer – had a blast – and the phone number I got was from one of the security volunteers working there. I said: This looks really cool, what you’re doing, and he said I should apply because the next cohort was now. I was lucky to sneak in – it’s a long training process. But it feels great to be able to take action and have an impact, and I’ve enjoyed meeting people with similar mindsets.
Samuel: What was it like being in the Peace Corps?
Aaron: I absolutely love the Peace Corps. I think it’s effective in its mission of building friendship and cooperation around the world. If you send enthusiastic people to places they want to be, you don’t have to put in a lot of resources to change a lot of people’s lives. Not infrequently do I run into people who credit a Peace Corps volunteer with inspiring them to continue their education when they might have given up. That’s an amazing investment. I’m biased, because the Peace Corps changed my life for the better and made me more involved in places that are now important to me, but I’m grateful that I got a chance to join.
And midway through, I started thinking about military service. To me, there’s nothing cooler than representing the States abroad. Seeing the strength of our relationships with our allies was really, really powerful to me. I was contracting with USAID Ukraine from moving to DC up until last year’s changes. The break gave me time to think about what I wanted in a career, which I found in joining the Navy. And, just thirty minutes ago, I sent in my final doc and put down my final availability, so that’s a go.
Samuel: Wow! So what are you feeling right now?
Aaron: A sense of openness and readiness. This is something I’ve dreamed of for a while now. It’s exciting seeing it come to.
Samuel: Peace Corps work, the CSS volunteering, the prospect of military service…the throughline I’m hearing from you is that you want to serve your community. Does that feel like a specifically Jewish value for you?
Aaron: Born Jewish, loving God, and finding community in Judaism is part of my self-actualization – just as much as, I’m sure, anyone else born into or choosing another great tradition. From my bar mitzvah, Judaism has given me the language to have these kinds of conversations. Judaism is an amazing tool for working on questions of what service and purpose mean. And, I’ve been influenced by the Jewish heritage in my family – like my Grandfather, whose Judaism influenced his service in WWII. But, I feel that any of the great traditions are going to get you there. My Mom, who is Jewish, as well as my Dad, who is Catholic, are both huge influences on my desire to serve.
When I was about to leave for the Peace Corps, my parents said: If you could just change one person’s life, that would be worth it. I try to focus on that. That’s how real change is made. It’s just one person at a time.
Samuel: Okay, a couple quick ones to close. You’re hosting Shabbat dinner and can invite any three people. Who are you bringing?
Aaron: One, I’d like to invite my Grandpa. I never really got to meet him, and I’d really enjoy that. And then my Dad, and third my Uncle, who recently passed.
Samuel: Last one. Finish the sentence: When Jews of the DMV gather…
Aaron: You’re going to get a wide and varied array of interests and come away wanting to expand your own!
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