Hill Havurahdcast

The Havuradhcast is back! After a year long hiatus, we are bringing you an extended conversation that Rabbi Hannah had just before she went on maternity leave last year. She spoke with Havurah member Keiana Mayfield. Keiana is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methods. Her research focuses on ways to help families support child and adolescent development and well-being. The conversation ranges from children, to race, to Judaism, and so much more.

The Supreme Court right is considering a case involving NCAA athletes -- a case that involves sports, money, race and the law. Georgetown Law Professor Brad Snyder, and expert in constitutional law and sports law, breaks it all down for Rabbi Hannah. He also talks about his longtime interest in sports and civil rights. Brad is author of the 2006 book "A Well-Paid Slave: Curt Flood’s Fight for Free Agency." Brad and Rabbi Hannah also talk about leaders who speak out on social issues.

If you have missed going to museums this past year, you are going to love this episode. Rabbi Hannah talks to Havurah member Susan Ades, Director of Smithsonian Exhibits. Susan works with museums across the Smithsonian, and has been in museum education for 30 years. She tells Rabbi Hannah about some of the powerful experiences that inspired her career. Rabbi Hannah also shares some thoughts for this Shabbat, on the eve of Passover.

When parents find their child struggling at school, they may end up at Havurah member Cheryl Shapiro's office. Cheryl is a clinical psychologist who specializes in psycho-educational testing. These are the assessment that help parents identify if their child has a learning difference, and if she or he does, how to address that difference so that their child can function better. Cheryl and Rabbi Hannah talk about the nuts and bolts of testing, learning differences, and the human brain. Rabbi Hannah also shares her thoughts on the current moment of "in-between."

In episode 38, Rabbi Hannah speaks with Havurah member Annie Karni, the current White House correspondent for the New York Times, about what it's like to cover the Biden White House after four years of Trump Administration drama and chaos. Also, do Jews believe in Heaven? And tweeting about religion can be tricky. Rabbi Hannah shares her final thoughts on Stranger Things and Purim, and our closing music is Zum Gali Gali from the beautiful Elana Jagoda.

In the episode, Rabbi Hannah catches up with Julie Davis, the Congressional Editor and former White House correspondent for the New York Times (and former Congressional correspondent). Rabbi Hannah asks Julie how her work and life has changed since Joe Biden became President, after four frenzied years of covering Donald Trump. Julie is also the co-author "Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault on Immigration."

Before the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, Rabbi Hannah interviewed Havurah member Mark Sherman, a reporter who has been covering the Supreme Court for the last 14 years. He shares insights about his work, and a crazy story of work crashing into life: the moment he found out a Supreme Court justice passed, just minutes before his daughter was to become a bat mitzvah. This episode, while not directly connected to the events of the past week, highlights the critical work of journalists in our democracy. Rabbi Hannah ends the episode with reflections on the latest parshat. Our closing music is the amazing Aviva Chernick, performing Min Hameitzar. Enjoy!

www.droppingsomeknowledge.com

The International Foundation for Electoral Systemshttps://www.ifes.org/Opening theme: Gather You Together (Hannah Spiro) Closing song: Ma'ariv Aravim (Hannah Spiro)   

Havurah member and social worker Leslie Feder tells Rabbi Hannah about a communications tool she uses when she counsels couples in relationship therapy: the "one to ten scale." Then we'll hear another song from the soulful Aviva Chernick: "Buena Semana," sung in Ladino, is a traditional greeting in Sephardic communities at the conclusion of Shabbat, expressing hopes and desires for the sweetness of Shabbat to move into the week to come. Play it again on Saturday evening!

https://joshwarshawsky.com/https://www.managementcenter.org/

https://globalfundforchildren.orgwww.societyforscience.orgwww.sciencenews.orghttps://elanajagoda.com/home

http://avivachernick.com/

https://ritualwell.org/ritual/voting-prayerVoting PrayerBy Rabbi David Mevorach SeidenbergThis prayer, originally published in 2008, is updated for the 2020 election. Download the PDF at the bottom of the page for the prayer in Hebrew, English and transliteration.Behold, I am intending through my vote / through my prayerto seek peace for this country, as it is written (Jer. 29:7):“Seek the peace of the city where I cause you to roamand pray for her to YHVH (Adonai/God),for in her peace you all will have peace.”May it be Your will, YHVH, that votes be counted faithfully,and may You count my vote as if I had fulfilled this versewith all my power.May You give a listening heart to whomever we electand may it be good in Your eyes to raise for us a good governmentthat will bring healing, justice and peace to all living in this landand to all the world, and upon Jerusalem,a government that will honor the image of Godin all humanity and in Creation,for rulership is Yours.Just as I have participated / Just as I will participate in the election,so may I merit to do good works and to repair the worldthrough all my efforts,and through the act of… [add your pledge]… which I pledge to doon behalf of all living creatures,in remembrance of the covenant of Noah’s watersto protect and to not destroy the earth and her plenitude.** Give to all the peoples of this country the strength and the will to pursue righteousness and to seek peace as a unified force to uproot racism and violence and to make healing, good life and peace flourish here and throughout the world and fulfill for us the verse (Ps. 90:17): “May the pleasure of Adonai our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; make the work of our hands endure.”Special paragraph for 2020 election based on Birkat Haminim, which can be added at ** before "Give to all the peoples..."Tear out tyranny and despotism, ruin those who cheat and deceive,upend and overthrow those who oppress the vulnerable.Make the reign of the arrogant disappear from the land,and pulverize the plans of those who attack democracy.Obstruct them, humble them, and bring on their downfall, soon, in our days.

https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2020/10/01/kindertransport-children-holocaust-memories/ideas/essay/

In Episode #26. Rabbi Hannah indulges in wine talk with Elyse Genderson, fourth generation owner of the renowned wine and spirits store, Schneider's of Capitol Hill. Elyse talks about the store's history, her own path into the industry, her return to a more active Jewish life, and she also offers tips for fall wine buying. Then Rabbi Hannah shares her own thoughts on this week's Parsha, Parshat Noach. It's not Noah's Ark, but the Tower of Babel story that has Rabbi Hannah wondering....

In episode #25, Rabbi Hannah talks to veteran journalists Barrie Hardymon and Steve Lickteig about their work at NBC and NPR, podcasting and media life and spirituality, and being a news filter for their young kids.

Here is the link to the tweet Rabbi Hannah mentions in her remarks at the end of the episode.   https://twitter.com/butsh_feygele/status/1312607255284666368/photo/1 

In this episode, Rabbi Hannah interviews Havurah member and certified nurse-midwife Zoe Gutterman. Zoe works at Unity Health Care, as well as Howard University Labor and Delivery Unit. and she teaches at Georgetown University. She talks to Rabbi Hannah about how she started her career in midwifery, how social justice issues shape her approach to midwifery, and what it's like to be a midwife in the age of Covid.

PHOTO CREDIT: Elizabeth Dranitzke/Photopia 

For information on how to donate or volunteer at the Capital Area Food Bank: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/

Havurah member Brad Sherman joins Rabbi Hannah in this episode of the Havurahdcast, and talks about splitting his time between his family in DC and his Congressional district in Southern California, the Trump presidency, foreign affairs and what Rep Sherman thinks will happen this November.

This is a special episode about what Yavneh will look like this year, since many parents are wondering how online Hebrew school will work. To talk about this, Rabbi Hannah gathered the Hill Havurah's Rabbi Educator Julie Gordon, as well as several Yavneh teachers AND our new Special Education teacher! They'll talk about their plans to teach, interact with students, and even take advantage of the online format, to build Jewish community,

In this episode, Rabbi Hannah talks to two experienced educators about the daunting issue of school openings. Havurah members Patti Kolb and Rachel Breitman both work at Washington Latin Public Charter School, and bring their administrative, teaching, and parenting/grandparenting insights to the conversation.

In this midsummer episode, Rabbi Hannah interviews the Hill Havurah's newest elected Board member Chris Jaikaran - baseball fan, cybersecurity analyst, and one of many interfaith family members in the Havurah. Chris tells Rabbi Hannah about growing up in his own interfaith family in Guyana, and answers Rabbi Hannah with her own internet privacy questions. After talking to Chris, Rabbi Hannah marks this saddest day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha B'av (July 29-30), by reciting the entirety of a contemporary poem written for Tisha B'Av in the age of this pandemic: Eli Tsiyon v’Areha — Coronavirus, by Daniel Olson & Rabbi Benjamin Goldberg.

As Deputy Chief Counsel for the House Judiciary Committee, Havurah member Aaron Hiller had a front row seat to the historic hearings to impeach President Trump. He worked closely with U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler on the proceedings, and opens up to Rabbi Hannah about that time, how he balanced working the impeachment hearings with his family life, and his Jewish upbringing. Aaron's 4th grade son Joey zooms in from Massachusetts, where he is staying with his grandparents, to chat with Rabbi Hannah about his golf game and his thoughts about school this fall.

Rabbi Hannah has the inside scoop on the new Jewish museum set to open in DC in 2022! Turns The Hill Havurah's very own Rebekah Sobel is Director of Interpretation at the soon-to-open Capital Jewish Museum (https://capitaljewishmuseum.org), which will document stories of Jewish life in DC and is currently collecting items and stories. Rabbi Hannah asks Rebekah about her work, and also her experience at the Holocaust Museum, where Rebekah worked for ten years before joining the Capital Jewish Museum.

Follow Joe's band The Mercy Alliance and you can hear the band's INSTAGRAM LIVE show -- July 18 6pm 

You can see the images Rabbi Hannah refers to, and more of Sarah's work, on Instagram   @sarahmburfordAnd here is the online artist-in-residency in motherhood collective Sarah talks about: http://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com 

In Episode #12, Rabbi Hannah talks to Havurah member Katya Hoppe about how to protect yourself against the physically toxic effects of social isolation, and her own struggles with living alone. Katya has been part of the Havurah's effort to reach out and call every member, to check in and see how they are doing. Then, Rabbi Hannah chats with her friend and child development expert Jillian Best Adler about how to talk to young kids about George Floyd, police brutality, and racism. Rabbi Hannah reached out after seeing Jillian talk with her own 5-year-old son, in this Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/100012209014313/videos/978240022592956

In this episode, Rabbi Hannah talks with Havurah member Jonathan Make. Jonathan is Executive Editor of Communications Daily, which covers the telecoms and media industry. Rabbi Hannah ask him how journalists in these emotional times can remain neutral and how they express their personal views, if they can at all. Jonathan also talks about how - given all he knows about the industry - he manages his son's internet use. Then Rabbi Hannah listens to another guest, who is being completely public about her personal and political views: Catherine Sherman is a rising senior at Washington Latin Public Charter School and has been attending the recent Black Lives Matters protests in Washington D.C.

In this Havurahdcast, Rabbi Hannah interviews Havurah member (and founder) Sig Cohen, and Brenda Richardson. The two belong to the Cross River Dialogue, a circle of African American and Jewish community builders from both sides of the Anacostia River who meet regularly to share experiences, find common ground, and support each other. This interview was recorded before the social unrest exploded across the country, but while the conversation starts with the pandemic, it quickly shifts to deeper issues that come up in the Dialogue: police brutality, and social inequity, and the importance of building relationships and trust across lines of race and social class. The Havurahdcast is edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram. Original music by Rabbi Hannah Spiro.

Want to know how to pull off a Zoom Bar/Bat/B'nai Mitzvah? In this week’s episode of the Havurahdcast, Rabbi Hannah speaks with Havurah member Adam Ruben about his sons' recent B’nai Mitzvah, which required tough decisions and creative thinking. Adam is Campaign Director for the Economic Security Project, a non profit that’s been involved on the stimulus check programs coming from Congress, so Rabbi Hannah asks him about his work, and his insights into stimulus politics.

Rabbi Hannah Spiro is back with another episode of the Hill Havurahdcast, her weekly chat with Havurah members about life, work, the pandemic and spirituality. This week, Rabbi Hannah talks to Rachel Usdan, a structural engineer who left her job to become a full-time volunteer activist, and is now the DC Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action, the anti-gun violence organization. Rachel talks to Rabbi Hannah about her decision to change course, her own connections to gun violence, and growing up Jewish in Squirrel Hill, PA site of the 2018 synagogue shooting. Rachel's 8-year-old makes a cameo, to test out his best jokes, and Rabbi Hannah offers some thoughts on the roots of Tikkun Olam. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram

In episode #7, Rabbi Hannah talks to Havurah member David Drucker, dad to two young boys and Senior Political Correspondent for the Washington Examiner. David talks to Rabbi Hannah about growing up Jewish in Malibu, CA, the influence of 1980s and 1990s talk radio on his career, and offers his thoughts on how the pandemic will affect the November election. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram

In this episode of the Havurahdcast, Rabbi Hannah speaks with Havurah member Joanna Cohen about her work as an pediatric emergency medicine physician in the ER at Children's National Hospital: how the pandemic has changed her work, and some of the upsides of new pandemic-related policies at the hospital. Joanna has three kids and also talks about the complications, as a hospital physician, of keeping her family safe from infection. Her 5th grader Simone also reveals a new talent she's developed with her guinea pig Haribo. In every Havurahdcast episode, Rabbi Hannah connects with a member of the Hill Havurah to talk about life, work and spirituality. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram

In Episode #5 of the Hill Havurahdcast, Rabbi Hannah speaks to Gary Mintz. Gary is a prominent cardiologist who has spent decades travelling around the world, including nearly 100 trips to China. He has forged close relationships with Chinese medical professionals and tells Rabbi Hannah about what he has been hearing from them, and how they are responding to the pandemic. He also has fascinating insights into China's Jewish history! After speaking with Gary, Rabbi Hannah also zoomed her dear friend, Miri Fenton, who lives Israel, to ask how Israelis, also locked down at home, are celebrating the holidays of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. In every Havurahdcast episode, Rabbi Hannah connects with a member of the Hill Havurah to talk about life, work and spirituality. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram.

In Episode #4, Rabbi Hannah Spiro interviews Alina Baciu. Alina works for the National Academy of Sciences, and specializes in population health. Alina talks about immigrating from Romania as a teenager, how she entered the field of public health, and also talks about planning a bat mitzvah during a pandemic. Alina's daughter has been preparing to become a bat mitzvah, and the lockdown has prompted changes in plans. Alina's son also makes a cameo. In every Havurahdcast episode, Rabbi Hannah Zooms with a member of the Hill Havurah to talk about life, work and spirituality during the pandemic. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram.

In Episode #3 of the Hill Havurahdcast, Rabbi Hannah Spiro interviews Stephanie Iceland-Leitzel. Stephanie works for US AID and has lived all over the world, from Jordan to Madagascar. A mom of two boys, one three and one seven, Stephanie talks about sheltering in place with a special needs child, Madagascar's Jewish community, and living in Nigeria during an Ebola outbreak. In every Havurahdcast episode, Rabbi Hannah connects with a member of the Hill Havurah to talk about life, work and spirituality. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram. Original music by Hannah Spiro.

In Episode #2 of the Hill Havurahdcast, Rabbi Hannah Spiro interviews Havurah member and JetBlue flight attendant Aarin Roozen. A mom of two elementary school girls, Aarin talks about her unique California Jewish upbringing, and her interracial and interfaith family. In every Havurahdcast episode, Rabbi Hannah connects with a member of the Hill Havurah to talk about life, work and spirituality. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram.

In Episode #1 of the all new Havurahdcast, the Hill Havurah's Rabbi Hannah Spiro interviews one of her congregants, Amy Nevel. Amy works in the Department of Health and Human Services alongside the top officials managing the Covid-19 pandemic. She shares the astonishing, and bittersweet, story about how she became a mother, and talks about life in lockdown with a teenager. In every Havurahdcast episode, Rabbi Hannah talks about life, work and spirituality with a different member of the Havurah. Edited and produced by Jessica Smith. Artwork by Sarah Burford, @sarahmburford on Instagram. Original music by Hannah Spiro.