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Anahi and I sat down recently over Chick-Fil-A milkshakes to chat about the high school trip that destined her for DC living, finding passion in your Jewish practice, vocal cord damage, sports fanaticism, Argentinian club soccer, and what people don’t know about working in political communications!
Samuel: What brought you to the DMV?
Anahi: I went to school at GW. I did the L’Taken program through the Religious Action Center in high school. My temple did a lot of these trips – we’d go skiing, or go to Disney, and it was just travel for fun. But for this week in DC, I didn’t know what I was getting into. I thought I was going to be a journalist. I did this program, and basically all weekend we were taught about all these different social issues: stem cell research, gun control, et cetera. And then at the end of the weekend you write a speech and go lobby on the Hill.
I realized that I liked doing that, and apparently was good at it. So I found the Political Communication major at GW, and I’ve stayed. I worked on the Hill and now I’m at the National Council of Jewish Women. And, I’m very lucky – I have a lot of friends from home, from DC, from college who are here. So I just keep staying.
Samuel: I was going to ask – what’s kept you here, even as you’ve changed jobs?
Anahi: I came here in 2016. My parents are in Miami, and I’ve definitely gone back and forth. During the Covid year, I went back to Miami, and I spent half of 2023 in Argentina, which is where I’m originally from. I was on a campaign there. I’ve bopped around, but I’ve never let go of my lease. For someone working in political communications, it makes sense for me to be here.
And, like I said, I got very lucky with my friends. I live in Pentagon City, and all my friends live within a five block radius. We just all walk to each other’s houses. Why would I leave?
Samuel: How have you built your Jewish community here?
Anahi: It’s just my parents and I here in the US, so we’re very close. I joke that, other than being Italian, I’m every stereotype of someone with protective parents – I’m a girl, I’m Jewish, I’m Latina, I’m an only child, I’m an immigrant. So when my parents dropped me off at GW, I kind of just stood there like: What do I do now?
I walked into the GW Hillel office and Adena, who is the Executive Director, asked how I was doing. I was fully ready to say: I’m fine! But instead I burst out crying, and I’m like: I’m by myself. And she ran to me and hugged me. That type of relationship just stayed through the next three years. I was very involved; it was my work study. But then when I graduated, I lost that type of relationship [with Jewish community]. It wasn’t built-in, and I let myself drift away. What brought me back was that my friend worked for BBYO, and invited me to join a trip, and I fell in love with it. I loved the passion these teenagers had. I ask myself: Why do they have this passion, and I don’t?
I did a [BBYO] trip recently to Spain and Portugal. We were in Cordoba, and it was very intense because we had some teens who got in trouble and were being sent home, which is not a normal thing…it was a very rough moment, and my co-staff were dealing with that, so for all intents and purposes I was by myself with 38 rowdy teens in a museum of Jewish history in Spain. It was very interesting because I was learning about Judaism from a non-Jewish perspective, because the museum was meant for people who are not Jewish.
But in the gift shop, they had this gorgeous candle set. And I was quite literally crying – I was so stressed with the teens, I was by myself, I was very touched by this museum – and through my tears I saw this candle set. I was like: This is my treat. It’s the only thing I bought myself that whole trip, and now I’ve lit those candles every single Friday night.
I don’t have a set Jewish community. But I’ll host Shabbat, or my friends will host, or I’ll go to GatherDC events, or 2239. I’m actively looking for that community because I’m not where I want to fully be – but I’m a lot deeper than I was three years ago, and one day I’ll be able to say: This is it.
Samuel: You mentioned working on the Hill. What’s something that people don’t realize about that kind of political communications work?
Anahi: I’ve found it very amusing how many people don’t realize that there are communications teams. Like, it’s not the actual [House or Senate] member tweeting. One time, my Congresswoman was doing a town hall and I was in the background tweeting and there were people saying: How is she posting? She’s at the town hall! I’m like: Come on.
Samuel: Tell me about your work with NCJW.
Anahi: I worked with Lois Frankel when I was on the Hill – everyone’s always like “Oh, my grandparents!” We used to do a lot of work with NCJW when I was with her, and it’s pretty much the same audience, so it was an easy transition for me. I’m very grateful that the issues are very similar; they’re issues I care about and believe in, which makes your job a lot easier. I hear horror stories from friends on the Hill who have had to, you know, sit there and write speeches about something they very much do not believe in. I’m grateful I never had to do that. It makes it a lot easier to say I’m proud of what I do, proud of the people I’m working with, and proud of the work we’re putting out.
Samuel: A few quick ones to close. What’s something in the DMV that doesn’t get enough shine?
Anahi: Lunas de Buenos Aires. It is my home away from home. The owners are amazing, and I go to watch all my soccer games there, both the national team and my club team.
Samuel: What’s your club team?
Anahi: Boca Juniors.
Samuel: This is so crazy – my middle school soccer coach was a huge Boca Juniors fan, and I don’t remember the song anymore, but he’d make us sing one of their fight songs on the bus to away games.
Anahi: We have chants for everything. For when you’re losing, for when we’re winning, for when we’re up two goals, three goals…you think of it, there’s a chant.
Samuel: As a Philly sports fan, I feel some spiritual kinship with fanbases who have a reputation for being…passionate. Destructive, maybe. Which I feel Boca Juniors fans have, too.
Anahi: I’ve been a Caps fan since even before I came to DC, so I’ve always had some animosity for Philadelphia. But when the Super Bowl was coming up, my friend invited me to her watch party. I’m not a big American football person, but I was trying to read up, know what I was getting into. And they described Philly fans as the American version of Argentinian soccer fans. So now I have a little respect for it.
Samuel: What’s something you’re bad at?
Anahi: Being normal about things. I tend to get passionate. I don’t just watch a TV show – I’m reading the Wikipedia page. I’m not just a Caps fan – I have vocal cord damage from when they won [the Stanley Cup]. If I like a song, I listen to it 40 times. I go all in.
Samuel: What are you feeling proud about right now?
Anahi: The meaningful relationships I have with friends. I’m very grateful. To me, a friend isn’t someone I know, it’s people who show up for me and I don’t hesitate to show up for them. You go that one extra step, and that’s what makes a friendship. I’m very lucky to have a lot of that.
Samuel: You’re hosting Shabbat dinner and can bring any three people. Who are you bringing?
Anahi: My aunt from Argentina. She’s amazing and has been my go-to someone to talk to. She’s super involved in the Jewish world, and her Shabbats are everything. She’s great.
Then, Andy Samberg. I love SNL, Lonely Island, Brooklyn 99, and he’d add a fun touch to the Shabbat while still knowing what’s happening.
Then, I’ll go historic. I’ll say Golda Meir. I grew up hearing my Mom talk about her, and it would be a nice touch to my Mom.
Samuel: Last one. Finish the sentence: When Jews of the DMV gather…
Anahi: It’s conversations up the wazoo. I just love hearing what Jews in DC have to say about everything. Political, fun, controversial. So, you know great conversations happen.
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