Every year, we feature three Hill Havurah members’ voices at our Community Seder. 

Ned Levin, a member of our first adult B‘nai Mitzvah cohort, was one of them. As we prepare for the last days of Pesach, we share his words, printed here in full:



I grew up celebrating passover in New York City in the 1990s. Our hagaddah was brief, mimeographed and wine-stained, the pronunciation Ashkenazic, which matched, in my mind, my grandfather’s Boston accent. Boruch atto adonoy, who’d delivered my Pop-pop from Brookline, Massachusetts to the Promised Land: Upper Manhattan. We were so lucky! With some other relatives, it seems God’s aim had been off, and they’d wound up in New Jersey. 

Our New York chauvinism notwithstanding, we did all know that we were terribly lucky, that the safety, togetherness, and freedom we enjoyed on Passover and every other day were rare things. 

We knew that a lot of our luck had to do with the paths walked by our ancestors, from the pale of settlement to the east coast of the United States. 

I think we also knew, but didn’t discuss, that the story— the Jewish part of it, at least— had gotten more confused after our deliverance, after we’d reached safety in the United States, more and more confused with every new freedom America lavished upon us. 

And that’s because freedom is confusing. The transition from being an object acted upon by others, and a subject— THE subject— in one’s own story, making and living with one’s own choices, is not graceful.

One of the things my ancestors did with their freedom— and I don’t blame them— was walk away from organized Judaism. And one of the things I’ve done with my freedom is walk right back in. 

Passover reminds us that freedom is the beginning. I think in this crucial way it differs from freedom as it is sometimes imagined in America: as an end, a declaration, a glorious victory, a permanent separation. Huckleberry Finn, lighting out for the territory. Whatever happens next is happily ever after.

Passover reminds us that freedom is contingent. My ancestors may have walked away from organized Judaism, but they had their own covenant with America, one we celebrated at Pesach every year. They believed that if you threw yourself into building and keeping a free society, one where everyone is free, then Jews will be free, too— including free from having to be Jewish when you don’t want to be, and also free to choose to be Jewish when you don’t have to be. 

The point is, it’s up to you, and the Pharoahs-that-be have no role in determining who is Jewish, and who is not. Who is a full citizen, and who is something less. Who is worthy of love, and who is deserving of hate.

By these standards, we are all less free today than we were one year ago. Our new Pharaoh thinks of all of his subjects as objects. He has many choice opinions about Jews specifically. He makes it very clear that we will be scapegoated when things don’t go his way. And he takes away the freedom of others in our name. Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and Badr Khan Suri are in detention in Louisiana, in our name. Hundreds others have woken up to find their status revoked and their lives turned upside down— all in our name. 

And so my hope for us— but more than that, my trust in us, as a community— is that next year, the year after, sometime very, very soon, we will look back from our labors to see the tide stemmed and the waters parted, before we and all who yearn to be free begin to drown.



-Ned Levin

UPCOMING EVENTS

To learn more about these events (including how to register, which we require for almost all events), please visit our website calendar HERE.

All events are at Reformation (212 E. Capitol St. NE), unless otherwise noted. 

Tuesday, April 22nd 

Evening with Holocaust Survivor Descendent

at 5:30pm

Wednesday, April 23rd 

Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day Service

at 7:00pm

*Sixth and I Congregation

Friday, April 25th 

Shabbat Afternoon Prayer Workshop

at 1:00 pm

Friday, April 25th 

Kabbalat Shabbat Service & Potluck Dinner

at 6:30 pm

Saturday, April 26th 

Jessica Glaisyer Bat Mitzvah

at 10:00 am

Sunday, April 27th 

Parenting Workshop: Preparing for the Teen Years

at 9:45 am

Sunday, April 27th 

Community-wide Yom Ha'Shoah Commemoration

at 2:00 pm

*Bender JCC Rockville

For information about upcoming events not run by Hill Havurah that might be of interest to our community, click HERE.

Message from Our Board of Directors

We know an increasing number of our members are facing new financial challenges as federal jobs and programs are eliminated. We want to remind you that the cost of membership should never be a bar to anyone joining or participating in any of our activities. If you need relief, please reach out to our Board Chair Aaron Hiller at aaron@hillhavurah.org and we will accommodate you.

Art, Flowers and Sound Baths!

Based on the responses to our survey, it seems like the biggest need right now is to gather and to feel held by community. Rabbi Hannah plans to do just that on a more regular basis. These events are open for absolutely everyone who wants to come, with a special goal of showing some love to those in the community who are struggling during this particular time.

Each event will feature a different activity -- no experience or skill is necessary for any of these! It's just meant to be a special treat/diversion/opportunity to get together. 

Click on each link to register!

• Tuesday, April 28th from 6-7:30pm -- featuring a flower arrangement craft

• Wednesday, May 14th from 6-7:30pm -- featuring a sound bath

Each gathering will include free dinner and free childcare. Please register so we know how much to order (Shouk and Pizza!) and how many babysitters we'll need. 

Tikkun Olam Committee Fundraiser

Hill Havurah fundraiser for the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) on May 3, from 3-5 pm at the CHAW building, 545 7th St SE.

Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with art, snacks, and community!

Kids (K & up) can join a fun, Chagall-inspired art class led by Carolina Mayorga.



Limited to 20 kids – register now!

Suggested donation: $50/family.

Register through the Kindful link here.

Through creativity and collaboration, CHAW strengthens our community and advances the values of justice, kindness, and equality. All donations directly support CHAW services and programs while ensuring no one is ever turned away for inability to pay. To learn more about CHAW, please click here.

Lag Ba'Omer Kabbalat Shabbat Bonfire

Celebrate Lag Ba’Omer with us on Friday, May 16 from 5:45–8:45 PM for a Shabbat evening full of joy, community, and fun!

We’ll kick things off with awesome kids’ activities—play-archery, kite flying, giant inflatable balls, and more—starting at 5:45 PM. Then we’ll gather around the bonfire for s’mores and a special outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6:30 PM, featuring Torah teachings from our incredible tenth grade class. At 7:30 PM, we’ll enjoy a cookout-style Shabbat dinner with kosher and veggie dogs and all the fixings (you bring the dairy-free, meat-free sides and desserts).

Come for the fun, stay for the spirit—and let’s welcome Shabbat together under the sky! Click here to register.

Shavuot Conversation and Celebration!

Join Hill Havurah and Bet Mishpachah for an Erev Shavuot of delicious torah, wine, and cheesecake. In honor of Mount Sinai -- a little mountain that made a big impact -- we'll hear stories from members of the community who are working to find meaning in a wild world, and celebrate with conversation and community. 

Sunday, June 1st at 6 pm

Babysitting will be available! Register here.

Pride Shabbat with the First Openly Gay Indian Royals!

Save the date! Friday, June 6th at 6:30pm Prince Manvendra and Duke DeAndre of Hanumanteshwar, India's first openly gay royals, are joining Hill Havurah for Pride Shabbat! We'll start off with a very brief Kabbalat Shabbat service, followed by a conversation with Prince Manvendra and Duke DeAndre, and then enjoy a potluck dinner together. You can learn more about Prince Manvendra and Duke DeAndre here, from their backstories to their LGBTQ+ advocacy work in India. We're so excited to celebrate DC's first time hosting World Pride by welcoming in some groundbreaking leaders from across the globe!

The Security Committee Upcoming Trainings

The Security Committee would like to encourage everyone to take 5 minutes to read the "Power of Hello," which reminds us that, "Simply saying 'Hello' can prompt a casual conversation with unknown individuals" and then help you implement the OHNO approach – Observe, Initiate a Hello, Navigate the Risk, and Obtain Help.

Save the date for upcoming safety and security trainings: April 29th at 6pm for Emergency Procedures Training and May 18th at 6pm for Active Shooter Training.

Calling All Volunteers!

We need volunteers to help make our events and other activities a success! Please look at our sign-up sheet for upcoming volunteer opportunities, including some this week. Volunteer positions include help with set up, clean up, and door greeters. Click to Sign Up!

Migrant Solidarity Support Needs

We are continuing our migrant solidarity work, and there are so many ways to contribute to the effort -- sign up to volunteer or make a donation.

Help with the Empty Shabbat Table Initiative

A group of volunteers has been setting up an Empty Shabbat Table on the National Mall every Friday since mid-October 2023 to maintain attention on the hostages being held in Gaza. We are always seeking volunteers to help both in person and/or financially to keep this initiative going. Here are some ways you can help:

1. Sign up here to volunteer in person

2. Join us on WhatsApp

3. Make a donation: Go Fund Me Empty Shabbat Table

Join the Hill Havurah Listserv

The Hill Havurah listserv (a Google Group) is the place to let the community know about everything from cultural or social action events to new restaurants, reliable auto mechanics, spring giveaways, and carpooling possibilities.

If you're interested in joining, email info@hillhavurah.org.

Celebrate Your Special Day with the Havurah

Do you or a loved one have a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary, or other milestone coming up? A great way to celebrate is to sponsor a Hill Havurah monthly Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat ($150). 

Email Aaron Hiller at aaron@hillhavurah.org to sign up now and reserve your sponsorship month.

Happy Birthday!

Lily Snyder

Briana Kerensky

Lucia Eisner

Chayva Lehrman

Jacob Drucker

Eric Goode

James Rhodes

Rebecca Melsky

Nicole Passman

Samantha Shenkman

Bonnie Hillsberg

Upcoming Yahrzeits

• Rebecca Reidinger, z"l, mother of Marcia Hoexter
• Louis Singer, z"l, father of Marlene Singer
• John Anthony Gualtieri, z"l, husband of Dia Michels, father of Zaydek, Kaely and Mira Michels-Gualtieri,
• Robert Rachmiel Buchman, z"l, father of William Buchman, grandfather of Bess and Robert Buchman

If you've not entered yahrzeit information about your deceased loved ones in your hillhavurah.org account, you can at any time. If you need any help, you can email info@hillhavurah.org for assistance.

Mi Shebeirach L'Cholim -- Prayers for Healing

May the One who blessed our ancestors -- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah -- bless and heal:

Bree Cohen, Debbie Lee Gallant, Karen Anderson, Yaakov ben Moshe, Ron Levin, Udi (Mowgly) Becker, Laura Shpiro, Justin Edmondson, Al Saperstein, David Sobelsohn, Oscar Koon, Jane Torman.



May the Holy Blessed One overflow with compassion upon them, to restore them, to heal them, to strengthen them, to enliven them, along with all the ill among the people of Israel and all humankind, soon, speedily, without delay, and let us all say: Amen.

If you or a loved one are in need of healing, and you'd appreciate the community keeping you in mind, please reach out to info@hillhavurah.org so we can add you or your loved one to our Shmoozy Nuz Mi Shebeirach list. If it's time to take a name off the list for any reason, let us know that as well. Feel free to include their English and/or Hebrew name. 

Please make sure to get your loved one's consent before having their name added to the list -- or, if they prefer privacy, we can instead add, "Loved One of [Insert Your Name]."