Our February spotlight shines on Eric Elkins, a writer, self-proclaimed foodie, and second generation ADL champion.
How did you first become involved in ADL? How are you involved now?
My mother and father were always champions for the ADL, but it probably wasn’t until my friend (ADL Regional Board Member) Ean Seeb started volunteering his time and leadership that I took an active interest in the work of the organization. At the moment, I make a monthly donation and support local events.
What do you do in your professional life?
I own WideFoc.us Social Media, an agency I started in 2007. I write young adult novels and food and travel articles on the side. I’m also on the Mountain States board of Jewish National Fund and am on the national social media executive committee for the organization.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An astronaut! Though, for a while, I wanted to be a rabbi AND an astronaut – a “rabbinical astronaut” is what I called it.
Where were you born? From where do your ancestors hail?
Fairfax, VA. My family is all from Eastern Europe – Riga, Kiev and Babruysk.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Passover – Every year, I host 15-20 friends and family for second seder, and it’s so much fun to cook for them and share in the festivities. I love the way Pesach makes us intentional about what we’re eating and helps us stay present to the meaning of the holiday.
What’s your favorite food?
I love just about everything (although I don’t eat pork), and my favorite meal is probably Korean BBQ, with all the kimchee and sides!
What are you reading?
I’m always reading something — I usually have one fiction and one non-fiction book going. Right now, I’m reading a sad, funny, sweet book called The Gimmicks. It’s one of those epic novels that tells an intimate story wrapped up in recent history. It’s about two Armenian cousins during the Cold War era. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite books, ever, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon.
What’s a special place you have visited?
I just returned from two weeks in Thailand with one of my closest pals, and it was a stellar experience. The food was unreal and so cheap, the people were kind, and the landscape was stunning. Mostly unplugging for 14 days was also a new and thrilling part of the trip.
What’s one thing every person should know or experience?
Travel — everyone should have a passport and visit parts of the world that make them uncomfortable. I’ve been traveling with my daughter since she was very young, and she has become a citizen of the world — open to new perspectives, opportunities, and adventures. We’ve also shared spectacular experiences and crazy delicious food!
What are you passionate about personally? What can’t you stop talking about?
Food. It’s a problem. My Instagram account is full of the unique dishes and cocktails I’ve consumed in Denver and around the world. Food is a universal language, and eating is one of the few experiences that can make us truly aware in the moment. I love to eat and drink my way through a new city, but I’m also enthusiastic about cooking at home.
Where can we find you when you’re not working?
Either home on the couch watching Netflix or out carousing with my friends. I’m an ambivert — I love being out on the town but look forward to quiet nights at home, too. I also love to snowboard when I can.
What would be impossible for you to give up?
I feel like one of the lessons of being Jewish is learning about delayed gratification, and that you can give up just about anything if you need to. I stopped eating pork at 13 because I wanted to do something that would remind me about my heritage every day. It wasn’t always easy, and it’s still challenging at times, but it’s all about being intentional. I’d rather not give up burgers or bourbon, but that doesn’t mean it would be impossible. Just depressing.
If you had to teach something, what would you teach?
Media literacy and critical thinking. We need kids (and adults) to learn to read critically — to be able to tell fact from opinion, to know when something is truly biased, and to dig deeper when something they read seems questionable (or confirms their bias too easily). If I had the time and money, I’d launch a national program.
Why do you choose to make a financial investment in ADL?
Because it’s an organization actively pursuing justice and equality — not just for the Jewish people, but for anyone who’s oppressed. The ADL is practical, with initiatives that have concrete, measurable outcomes, but it’s also aspirational and optimistic that the world can be more inclusive and accepting.
Complete this sentence: For me, ADL is
…real-life tikkun olam.