Alex Rosenwald wasn’t involved in the Jewish community until he joined Hillel at George Mason University in 2006. He wasn’t connected to his Judaism until the cofounder of the Den Collective invited him to a weekly Torah study with fellow Jewish young professionals. So, he decided to give back to the community that so warmly welcomed him.
Rosenwald is currently an executive board member of Mason Hillel, one of the many communal involvements he took on to help create pathways for other young Jews to find their voices in the community.
A communications leader and strategist, he will soon begin a new job as director of the DCI Group, a public affairs agency in Washington, D.C.
Rosenwald lives in Fairfax with his wife, Maddie, and their two-week-old baby. They belong to Congregation Olam Tikvah.
Tell me about your Jewish upbringing and background.
Growing up, [I didn’t live] in a very religious household. We were living in southern California. We were members of a Reform synagogue. My sister got a bat mitzvah and I was gearing up for a bar mitzvah. I went to Hebrew school, Sunday school, did not finish my studies; we left the synagogue right before I turned 13. So, there was definitely a gap between junior high and probably until I went to George Mason [University] in 2006. There was always a curiosity. I knew I was Jewish, but there weren’t places for connection where I went to high school.
Fast forward, when I transferred to George Mason from a small college in Colorado, I discovered Hillel. That’s where I discovered Jewish peers, birthright, Shabbat dinners. So, I could start to see a path forward for some kind of connection to the Jewish community. I would dabble with things — we were members of [Congregation] Adat Reyim for a couple years — but there was a deep, I think, uncomfortability with synagogues. I didn’t have a good grasp of Hebrew, not a good grasp of what Jewish connection was. It wasn’t until 2019, Rami Schwartzer, the cofounder of the Den Collective, really created a path for me to see what Jewish connection could feel like.
Why did you want to serve on the board of Mason Hillel?
I owe a lot to George Mason Hillel. Personally, it’s where I met my wife. I had a great experience at George Mason. The Hillel led to birthright and fellowships and building connections and understanding more of the northern Virginia Jewish community. And it felt like I could learn. There’s always stuff to learn. I felt joining a board would be a great chance to meet other members of the community. There are a lot of members of Olam Tikvah on the board, so it just felt like the right thing to do at the moment.
I joined the board in the summer of 2023, before Oct. 7. But I’ve always had an affinity [for] giving back to colleges and universities, speaking to students, even with the Jewish journey not jump starting until 2019. I felt like there was no reason not to join in, to give back, to empower. Certainly I really felt that a seat at the table was really important to what the university was doing to protect [Jewish] students, to create safe spaces for them to feel powerful in their Jewish journey and their Jewish community. It’s been an amazing experience.
What are your responsibilities as a board member for Mason Hillel?
We have board meetings, we have executive board meetings. We’re often talking about programming [and] fundraising. I would say a lot of what I do on the board is wear[ing] a lot of different hats. [I] suggest fundraising opportunities, on-campus events, opportunities to meet with students.
How are you involved in the Jewish community?
Recently, I’ve been much more involved with the Jewish National Fund, JNFuture. I sat on a host committee for the Tu B’Shevat wine and cheese event, which has been awesome. That was such a cool experience to meet other 20s and 30s in the D.C. area and to give back to Israel in a way that’s not divisive, not political, but cultivating deep community and bringing people together.
I also volunteer my time for Israel Baseball Americas’ D.C. council, talking about programming, doing events at Jewish day schools like Gesher and Berman. I love baseball.
What are you looking forward to?
Being a dad. It really puts things into perspective. Pre-baby, [I focused on having] a strong work ethic, being a good friend, being a member of the community. Being a dad changes everything and forces you to slow down, just soaking in the moments. [I] also think about [my daughter’s] own Jewish journey. We’re doing a baby-naming ceremony in a couple months, preparing her for a bat mitzvah and being a member of the community. Being a dad is front and center.
And being a supportive husband, being there for my wife. She’s my hero, just the best woman in the world. [I also look forward to] this adjustment in my career, of going back to work and finding balance. I’m embracing this place in life.
