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Rachel and I sit down outside Three Fifty Bakery near Stead Park. Amidst hopping sparrows and people taking Zoom calls at full volume without headphones, we chat about her upcoming fellowship at Abrahamic House, what kind of roommate she is, reading for pleasure, living under a rock, yoga, and “nitty gritty Judaism.”
Samuel: What brought you to the DMV?
Rachel: I grew up mostly in South Florida in a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Then I did most of middle and high schoolin Ann Arbor, Michigan. I’d say I’m a Michigander – that’s where my family lives, and I love Ann Arbor so much. I moved to DC for college at American University and definitely feel like coming to DC was a dream come true.
After [graduating from] AU, I went back to Michigan for a summer to work on a campaign, and then came back to DC. I knew I wanted to come back.
Samuel: How did you know you wanted to come back?
Rachel: Definitely my community here. I met so many great folks in college that are my best friends – like, I’m going to be friends with them for the rest of my life. I love living in a big city. I like the hustle and bustle. There’s always something exciting going on, whether that’s Jewishly or just other community events. I’m one of those people who wants to make the world a better place, and I feel like DC is the place I see myself being able to live that out. Coming back was natural for me.
Samuel: You’re one of the newer fellows at Abrahamic House. How’d you find yourself there?
Rachel: Right now, the world is heavy and difficult, and being able to truly make connections with people from different backgrounds, I think, totally dispels any negative stereotypes. Getting to know people on a human level is the best thing you can do to create harmony and build peace and create lasting relationships – and I see Abrahamic House as being the perfect place for that. My Jewish values call for me to be able to build bridges and create meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds.
On top of that, there’s so many practical things where I was like: This was made for me. I love living with roommates. I love hosting. I love cooking. I love this neighborhood. I moved in in mid-August and it’s been so lovely getting to know the other fellows. Making friends as an adult is really exciting because you don’t always have this common thing – it’s not that we all go to this university. It’s like: What’s your life story?
Samuel: What else are you excited about?
Rachel: Selfishly, to learn more about Judaism! I was raised Reform, was involved in youth group, did confirmation, had a bat mitzvah…but there’s so many [other] parts of Torah and nitty gritty Judaism. I love being vindicated by things that I see in Judaism. I love to go to Shabbat and hear the sermon and be like: That’s why I love Judaism. I’m excited to do research and go the extra mile and bring in other folks in the Jewish community.
Samuel: What kind of roommate are you?
Rachel: I’m easy-going and chatty. I think my love language is sharing. I love sharing food, watching TV shows together, sharing stories. I definitely view our house as our house.
Samuel: Without thinking about budget, or space, or any constraints, what’s something you’d love to host or create through Abrahamic House?
Rachel: Something I do in my personal life is yoga. I love wellness and self-care and how it intersects with Judaism, especially Jewish mysticism and that super spiritual side of Judaism. I’d love to host an outdoor yoga class that’s infused with Jewish practices, and also incorporate other aspects afterwards. Maybe a Jewish tarot card reader.
Samuel: Do you read tarot?
Rachel: I don’t. I’d like to learn.
Samuel: Where else have you found your Jewish community in the DMV?
Rachel: Going to AU, I was involved in Hillel. I was involved in our J Street chapter. I got a lot of my Jewish fulfillment through friends, hosting Shabbat dinners, and hosting holiday celebrations. It was a good mix in college of mainstream and alternative Jewish spaces – just that communal aspect. When you graduate college, there’s this space [in which] you’re able to leisurely do things, and I’ve filled a lot of that space with Jewish things. I went on the Beyond the Tent Retreat with GatherDC last year. I love going to Sixth & I. The DMV has endless Jewish event options, so I’ve definitely been able to shop around and go to this happy hour, this learning seminar, and other stuff.
Samuel: Sometimes having all that time and all those options feels paralyzing – how has that landed for you?
Rachel: I’d say it’s definitely a blessing and a curse, but mostly a blessing. How lucky are we to have all this time and space to do things we love? Going back to Abrahamic House, this is literally what I like to do! It’s that kind of third space [where] I want to spend my free time.
Even talking about connecting Jewishly, I didn’t really leisurely read before graduating college. And I suddenly read books! It’s awesome, and a lot of them are Jewish books – I just finished The Future Is Peace, which is a great book co-written by an Israeli and Palestinian about going through the Holy Land and their connections and their vision for the future.
Samuel: A few quick ones to close. You lived in Columbia Heights for a bit. What do you love there?
Rachel: Shout out to El Chucho. I worked there most Saturdays while I was in Columbia Heights.
Samuel: What’s something you’re bad at?
Rachel: Pop culture. I live under a rock. I think I missed a chapter growing up. Or maybe I’m just bad with names, too. There are songs where I know all the words but ask me who it’s by and what it’s called and I’ll have no idea.
Samuel: You’re hosting Shabbat dinner and can invite any three people. Who are you bringing?
Rachel: Okay, despite my lack of fluency in pop culture, I really love “Raindance” by Tems and Dave. It makes the world sparkle a little brighter, and I love the rest of their music too, but I feel like that song in particular helps me connect to the world and Mother Nature and all these beautiful things in life. So I’d love for them to come to Shabbat dinner and do a little R&B Kabbalat Shabbat moment. And then I’m also obligated to bring Bad Bunny. He’s the GOAT.
Samuel: Last one. Finish the sentence: When Jews of the DMV gather…
Rachel: We laugh, we chat, we learn, we think, we love.
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