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Aliyah and I meet one drizzly late-summer morning at Eclairons. At the tail end of the mid-morning rush, we chat over iced Americanos about Dungeons & Dragons, ‘nerd culture,’ storytelling, meeting new people, food in Jewish ritual, and a kiddie pool full of marinara sauce.
Samuel: What brought you to the DMV?
Aliyah: I was working for a fully remote ad agency that’s here in DC. I wanted to be closer to my coworkers, so I figured: Why not give it a try? I’d never lived outside of Connecticut before. Initially, I was in Capital Hill, but I ended up moving to Virginia, and I’ve been there for two years.
Samuel: What’s kept you in the area?
Aliyah: A big part of it is family – I’ve got aunts, uncles, grandparents in the area. It’s been really important to be able to support them and help out. Also, I’ve created a huge group of friends here that’s completely unlike what I had in Connecticut. There’s this really great community here of people who are nerdy like I am, a lot of people who are passionate about social justice and the environment…to meet likeminded people has been fantastic.
Samuel: I feel like a lot of “nerd” culture is entering a new moment of mainstream appeal. Why do you think that is?
Aliyah: Covid definitely kicked things off – the fact that people were home and couldn’t see folks outside their bubble [played] a big part in it. Personally, what got me through Covid was a Dungeons & Dragons campaign I was playing in at the time. Those were the six people that I was seeing, and once a week we were getting together and ordering pizzas. It was like: Okay, here’s other human beings and a good time.
People are excited to have something else to enjoy. And it’s not just for kids anymore, it’s us adults who are coming into our own money and have the opportunity to spend it on things we want to do. Especially with tabletop games and RPGs, it’s a great opportunity to just get together with friends and connect. You can play and enjoy the fantasy world without reading the news or worrying about other things that are going on.
Samuel: Do RPGs and storytelling feel like particularly Jewish interests to you in any way?
Aliyah: That’s an interesting question. I’m sure that that would be the case, if I were to think more deeply about it. You have such rich storytelling in Judaism coming out of the Torah.
Samuel: What does your Jewish community look like right now?
Aliyah: It needs some building! I wouldn’t say I’m as ingrained in the Jewish community as I’d like to be. I’ve been trying to attend events and meet with folks from GatherDC, from Moishe House, from synagogues. My New Year’s resolution for 2025 is to go out and meet more people.
Being in Connecticut for the first 27 years of my life, it was easier to have that community – the synagogue I was attending and could fall back on with my parents…now I’m figuring out where I belong, and where my people are. It’s been an exciting challenge to figure out for myself what I want it to look like. The High Holidays are coming up, and I want to attend services. I’d like to be attending Friday night services, but there’s definitely more of a social element that’s important to me. I want to find something that fits with my style.
Samuel: What is that style?
Aliyah: Food is the center of everything – I’m thinking about breaking fast on Yom Kippur, and all the different ways that food can bring people together. I love hosting. I enjoy cooking and baking for others. I’d like to build my community in such a way where I can bring a baked good somewhere or host people for a Saturday night dinner. So far, I haven’t broken into the community enough where I feel like I have that, but it’s something I want to work on. Everybody I’ve met is so kind and open, so I just need to continue to put myself out there and find those opportunities.
Samuel: You were an intern on the Jerry Springer show, I understand?
Aliyah: That was my very first job. I was a sophomore in college and submitted an application and the next thing I knew I was running coffee back and forth and picking up dresses for people. It was hectic, and there were definitely some crazy days and stories, but it was a really cool environment. I was hooked on storytelling, and that kickstarted my career in entertainment as a whole.
Samuel: What’s a go-to crazy story from that time for you?
Aliyah: There was one episode we filmed where I was sent out to get a lot of marinara sauce because we had to fill a kiddie pool with it for a bit on the show. I was just like: I can’t believe that this is what I’m doing and getting paid for.
Samuel: Back to Dungeons & Dragons – it’s really hard sometimes for people to commit to doing something with consistency the way that a D&D campaign requires. How do you encounter that problem? Do you?
Aliyah: I think it comes down to the fact that people want that kind of escapism. We want to sit together and play. And it becomes a really tight group of friends. The secret sauce, beyond the escapism of the game, is just looking for connectivity in the community that you build. By showing up every time, you’re strengthening those bonds to each other. People want to be there.
Samuel: A couple quick ones to close. What’s something you’re bad at?
Aliyah: Running.
Samuel: What’s something you’re feeling proud about?
Aliyah: I love to travel. I plan trips all the time, and I can’t sit still. I’m proud of the traveling that I do – I want to expand my horizons, meet new people, have new experiences, try new foods, and put myself out of my comfort zone. It makes me a more openminded, well-rounded person. I’m proud of the places I’ve visited and people I’ve met along the way.
Samuel: You’re hosting Shabbat dinner and can invite any three people. Who are you bringing?
Aliyah: Barack Obama, Rebecca Yarros, and Taylor Swift.
Samuel: What are your expectations for the new album?
Aliyah: Just based on the title, I’m expecting something very flashy, very flapper, very glitzy. Something filled with energy.
Samuel: Last one. Finish the sentence: When Jews of the DMV gather…
Aliyah: There’s great conversation.
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