For Jake and Sarah, one of the key components to a happy Jewish life is connection with their community. After meeting on Hinge during the pandemic, this young couple strengthened their relationship through their shared values, love of their culture and hosting Shabbats through The Associated’s Young Adult Division (YAD). We recently sat down with them for an interview about life, love and being a young Jewish couple.

Introduction and Background:

Sarah: I was born and raised in Baltimore and have been deeply connected to the Jewish community throughout my life, be it through school, Jewish summer camp (shoutout to Camp Louise), BBYO and beyond. I work at Jews United for Justice, which has allowed me to pursue a career that combines my interest in politics with my commitment to both social justice and Jewish community. It’s so fulfilling exploring and pursuing the intersection between Jewish values and a more equitable world every day. Jake and I met on the dating app Hinge, where we both had our Jewish filters on. One of the first things we connected on was how aligned we are on the importance of Judaism in our lives and the ways that shows up tangibly for each of us. 

Involvement with The Associated and Shabbat Hosting:

How did you get involved with The Associated’s Young Adult Division, and what has been your most memorable experience so far?

Jake: While I started attending a few social events, I really got involved by hosting Shabbat with YAD.

Sarah: Jake was involved before we met, and at first I was only involved because Jake would attend events and host Shabbat. But through YAD, I reconnected with Ali Duhan, YAD’s Director, who I know from our summers in the same bunk at Camp Louise. She told me YAD was recruiting a group to attend Camp Nai Nai Nai, Jewish camp for young adults, last fall, which was what really got me excited. Jake and I attended Camp Nai in 2021, and last year we got to go with a large group of young adults from Baltimore. I can’t wait to go back to Camp Nai again this year.

Hosting Shabbats can be quite rewarding. Can you share what inspired you to start hosting and what you enjoy most about these gatherings?

Jake: I love the joy, spirituality, and separateness that community Shabbats bring. I grew up having Shabbat dinner with my family every Friday night. And I loved the community Shabbats at summer camp, Hillel, and other young adult institutions like Moishe house. Shabbat has always been one of my favorite Jewish observances, so deciding to host Shabbat with YAD was a no-brainer.

Sarah: I started as a surrogate host because Jake was hosting, and as his partner it was natural for me to help out. Now that we live together, hosting Shabbat feels much more like a joint endeavor, and I love gathering with friends and new people to share a meal and reflect at the end of the week.

Life as a Couple:

Outside of hosting and community involvement, what activities or hobbies do you enjoy doing together as a couple?

Jake: We enjoy cooking, social dancing, adventuring, making art and seeing musical theater!

Sarah: We genuinely enjoy spending time together and experiencing new things, so whether we’re doing one of our go-to activities or trying something for the first time, it’s always a blast. We have been on some great trips together including to California, Alaska and Costa Rica. Currently we’re spending a lot of our time planning our wedding and trying to really enjoy the process.

Keys to a Successful Relationship:

In your experience, what is the secret to maintaining a good relationship, especially when juggling commitments to your community and each other?

Jake: Making coffee for each other.

Sarah: I wouldn’t call this a secret, but communication is key. No topic is off limits, and having the hard conversations, while scary, is so much better in the long run. We really try to be open and honest with each other, share what’s on our minds, and stay connected, even when Jake is on the road.

Looking Forward:

What are your future aspirations, both individually and as a couple, in relation to your community involvement and personal lives?

Jake: We’re getting married! Our aspirations now involve throwing the largest party we’ve ever thrown with highest expectations placed upon it by our family and friends. We both intend to stay involved in the Jewish community in ways that align with our values and that bring us joy – we’ll be going to more Associated events.

Sarah: Right now we’re really enjoying planning our wedding and looking forward to celebrating that simcha with family and friends. I can’t wait to go back to Camp Nai Nai Nai this Spring and to continue building and deepening relationships with the people I’ve met through YAD. We also just became members of Beth Am in Reservoir Hill after a few years of attending occasional services and Bayitt events, and I am looking forward to being a member at a synagogue for the first time since my Bat Mitzvah.

Closing Thoughts:

Is there a particular message or insight you’d like to share with other young adults about the importance of community, tradition and relationships?

Jake: Finding your community is important, whether it’s in Jewish Baltimore or elsewhere. Find the community, activities and relationships that bring you joy and meaning.

Sarah: It’s so important to build meaningful connections with others, as these connections offer valuable support in our personal journeys and provide us with a sense of belonging. Community can be defined many ways, and we should be sure not to limit our relationships to only be with people who see the world as we do. We must embrace the beauty of building communities that celebrate and nurture relationships across differences, as they bring out unique perspectives, enrich our ability for empathy, and push us to grow as individuals and as a collective.