Hill Havurah Annual Report
May 25, 2011

            Hill Havurah Posts Record Membership Numbers; Programs at 3 Area Churches
                   Youth Movement, But Also New Focus on “Sages”

WASHINGTON – Hill Havurah’s membership climbed to record numbers this year, with an influx of young families and the start of Capitol Hill’s first-ever Jewish preschool.

High Holiday Services and the Community Seder on the Hill are the traditional bookends of the year.  The latter was able led again by Laurie Solnik and Michael Allen and, again, sold out.  Our members and friends filled the pews on Rosh Hashanah, when Michael and Laurie had the help of Stuart Green.  The services mixed the traditional tunes many of us remember from childhood with a warm embrace for people of all faiths, a hallmark of our community.

Along with monthly Kabbalat Shabbat and Tot Shabbat services, we downed latkes on Hanukkah and munched on hamentashen on Purim.

By the time we closed the books on the Seder, more than 120 families and individuals had paid their annual dues.

With an eye toward the future, the Havurah conducted its first-ever survey of its membership.  The responses confirmed that Jews hold many opinions, and that while there is support for significantly expanding programming, some of our members would rather keep things the way they are.

Still, we pushed ahead with the first steps in formulating a long-range strategic plan.  We were helped in this by Linda Hopper of Georgetown, who gave generously of her time to facilitate a planning meeting that led directly to the proposal to hire an Executive Director.

We were thrilled to see the Gan Shalom Preschool open its doors at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 10^th and Constitution Ave NE and Yavneh,  our Hebrew School,  expanded its enrollment in its new location at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation at 212 East Capitol Street.   Christ Our Shepherd Church at 801 North Carolina Ave SE continued to be our home for Shabbat and High Holiday services.

But our kids were not the only ones opening new horizons.  Our more experienced members began meeting in rotating homes on a regular basis to celebrate Havdalah and enjoy each other’s company without the din and distraction that makes other Havurah gatherings such lovingly raucous occasions.  They toyed with a few different names, but finally settled on “Sages on the Hill.”

Speaking of warmth and wisdom, we said a sad farewell this year to one of our founding members when Ruth Rappaport died.  A moving memorial service properly celebrated this big-hearted, fascinating woman’s life.  And even in death, her generosity to the Havurah continued with a bequest.

As we start a new year, there are two tasks at hand.  First, we must attract into our leadership ranks more young families.  Second, we must work to find a solution to a space problem that will only grow worse in coming years.  As we tackle these and other challenges, may we all go from strength to strength.

                                                                                    - Mark Sherman, Chair

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