Alicia Rosenbaum enjoys connecting with fellow Jewish community members as a recent Washington, D.C., transplant.
She began her role as program manager at Kesher Israel Congregation in August, and has found her place in a community new to her.
Rosenbaum is no stranger to the Jewish community, having taught preschool and third grade Hebrew school, worked as an English teaching fellow with Masa Israel, planned retreats for Moishe House Philadelphia and served as the Birthright coordinator for Rutgers Hillel.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Jewish studies from Lafayette University and a master’s degree in Jewish experiential education from Jewish Theological Seminary. Originally from New Jersey, Rosenbaum lives in the NoMa neighborhood of D.C.
Tell me about your Jewish upbringing and background.
I grew up going to a Reform synagogue; I would say that I really connected with my Jewish identity when I joined BBYO in eighth grade and I was involved in that all throughout high school. I started learning about Judaism when I was a baby — I went to Jewish preschool and Hebrew school and all of that — but I would say I really connected with my Jewish identity through BBYO and after that.
You’ve been involved in teaching and the Jewish community. Why do you do what you do?
I’ve gotten a lot out of being part of Jewish communities and Jewish organizations. Whether it’s through my connection to Israel, all the friends I’ve made through Jewish organizations or being able to spend the holidays with other people, I think I’ve gotten a lot out of the Jewish communities I’ve been a part of. It’s amazing to see other people get a lot out of these communities as well, and that I can be a part of that.
What are your responsibilities as program manager at Kesher Israel?
It’s a few different things. When I first started, I was doing a lot of one-on-ones just meeting people from the shul, getting to know people and hearing what they wanted to see and what they wanted to continue in the shul. A lot of times, people come to me [with] an idea that they really like and either I’ll help them with the logistics or with everything from start to finish. [I’m] assisting board members or someone from the shul [who] is interested in a type of event. It’s helping to make those things happen.
I also help with some of the flyers for advertising and oversee the kids’ Shabbat club. I interviewed the new person we just hired to run the Shabbat club for kids. We have a very small staff, like a lot of Jewish organizations. If something needs to be done or something comes up, I step in and do it.
What are your goals and aspirations in this new role?
I’ve definitely been doing this more and more. I really want to get to know the people in the shul. I want to work with the board members to build up the programming to be a lot more intergenerational for people of all ages. We’ve been talking about different holiday programs. For example, we did a Shabbat lunch at a hotel. It was good food, a really nice space, and a time for the shul to come together rather than staying for kiddush a little bit, then going to their own field. That’s something we’re trying to turn into an annual thing because it’s a successful event.
What do you like best about Kesher Israel?
At Kesher, I just really like the community; it’s been very warm and welcoming to me, especially as a new person. I went to kiddush once, just walking around, introducing myself, getting to know everybody in a room of 50, 60 people who I didn’t know, and everybody was very warm and nice and friendly, so that’s something I really enjoyed. I feel like I see people that I know and have people I’ve been connecting with and can talk to.
Outside of work, how do you spend your free time?
I play pickleball a lot. My boyfriend and I really like exploring different restaurants or cooking together. I also travel somewhat a lot.
What’s your advice for fellow young professionals?
Get to know the people in the community. I think in most Jewish communities, there’s that connection we have. It can seem daunting when you’re in a new community and you don’t know anybody. Just really get to know people, do a lot of listening — making those connections can make things a lot easier. I know I only started [at Kesher Israel] three months ago, and it did make me a little nervous the first few weeks, and now I feel like I know people every time I go to shul.
