Gabi Silver loves having an active presence in the Jewish community, whether he’s hosting 45 guests for Shabbat dinner or planning Jewish communal events.
The hospitality management graduate hosts monthly Shabbat dinners with OneTable at the U Street community garden in Washington, D.C.
“I really love creating community, building bridges across both Jewish and non-Jewish communities and really having an active presence amongst Jewish life,” he said.
Silver has been involved in leadership development programs through the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, including Jewish Changemakers and, currently, NEXUS 2025.
After graduating from Johnson & Wales University in 2022, he lived in South Florida for one year working as an operations manager at a Reform synagogue. He then studied abroad in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies until the Israel-Hamas war forced him to return home two months early.
Silver lives in the Logan Circle neighborhood of D.C., where he’s an active member of DC Minyan.
Tell me about your Jewish upbringing and background.
I grew up very involved in the Conservative [Jewish] movement in West Hartford, Connecticut. I went to a Conservative day school until eighth grade. My family belonged to a Conservative temple, [and] I became a bar mitzvah at an Orthodox temple. We went to different synagogues, and [I went] to Ramah Camp for a couple summers.
What prompted you to get involved with Jewish organizations in D.C.?
I was living in Israel before the [Israel-Hamas war and] during the war, and when I realized that I wasn’t going to stay and make aliyah in 2024, that’s when I knew I needed to have a Plan B in terms of what I do next. I knew that D.C. would be the place. First of all, my sister was here, as well as a lot of friends from various Jewish communities [and] previous involvement with Mem Global, owned by Moishe House, and that’s what led me to D.C.
Ever since then, whether it’s DC Minyan, [a] Federation program, OneTable, Moishe House, I really try to get involved and be connected to a lot of different groups and organizations.
How do you have tough conversations with someone who may not share your views?
Obviously, it’s not easy. I would say it’s about finding common ground. The [D.C. Unity Supper organized by Leap Forward and Herut DC] was about the Black community and [the] struggles that they’ve faced, especially now more than ever in D.C. I think that the challenge that we’ve had with people amongst other groups not loving [our] presence and our being is one that we have to keep fighting and work with officials to find common ground and advocate for equality.
You taught Hebrew on the side. How was that?
I taught Hebrew at [Congregation] Etz Hayim, which finished 12 months ago. It was fun; I went into a day school. I was teaching second and third grade. Something that I really believe in is the power of education. Etz Hayim is a nice synagogue in Arlington. Working with kids [and teaching] the basics of Israel [and] the basics of understanding Hebrew, that’s a great experience. I might go back there next year.
How have you stayed on top of learning Hebrew?
It’s a combination of a lot of things, so definitely going to Jewish Day School until eighth grade was a big part of it. In addition, the multiple times I’ve been back to Israel. I was actually in Israel two weeks ago on a fellowship with JNF; it’s tied with JNF as well as Temple Emanuel in Kensington. That fellowship is where we host a happy hour every month for young Jewish adults around the area focused on Zionism. It’s called RAFI, or Reform Movement Alumni for Israel, so we were in Israel for a month.
Whether it’s Duolingo here and brushing up or going to Israeli spaces, I’ve kept up [my Hebrew]. It’s not great, but certainly it’s improved based off of going to Israel and bringing that knowledge here to teach it.
You’re also involved with the Federation’s NEXUS 2025. What are some of your goals in terms of Jewish leadership?
My goals for community building going forward involve a couple of things. First of all, it’s continued involvement in DC Minyan. I love the social events, but also definitely Shabbat experiences, which come out of both OneTable and DC Minyan.
One of my long-term goals is to create a new Jewish spirituality community here in D.C. It comes out of my love for meditation [and] mindfulness, as well as being involved in some of those spaces in Israel. I did another program called Retreatology, where you go to this retreat, and then you get money to host your own retreat. That’s what I’m trying to do now, create a Jewish meditation retreat for 20s and 30s in the DMV. It hasn’t quite gotten off the ground yet.
