In the late 1990s, one Capitol Hill resident had a vision.  Lamenting the lack of a neighborhood synagogue, he invited his Jewish neighbors to welcome Shabbat at his home, and asked them to invite others.  Starting with a modest almost-minyan, Hill Havurah has blossomed into a warm, caring, independent community-based Jewish organization serving individuals of all ages and families of all configurations.  Our members come from a variety of religious backgrounds and different levels of observance.  We strive to balance traditional Hebrew liturgy with innovative English supplements in a joyous, musical environment.

Hill Havurah offers programming for Shabbat and Jewish holidays, including lay-led High Holiday Services on the Hill.  Our Hebrew School, Yavneh, serves grades K-7, and we are starting a B'nai Mitzvah program.    Our yearly Community Seder on the Hill draws more than 150 people and we partner with other independent congregations for special celebrations such as Simchat Torah and Purim at the Historic Synagogue at 6th & I (www.sixthandi.org).  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS5ZfqRvzxw  Check out our Simchat Torah videos (above and below) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbpNSLa2CpQ

While we have grown steadily, certain milestones stand out.  In 2004, Hill Havurah purchased a 200 year-old Torah scroll that had languished in a musty Jerusalem attic and had it restored (kashered) by a sofer (ritual scribe).  In 2005 we conducted our first High Holiday services, drawing almost 200 attendees, most from our own Capitol Hill neighborhood, but now drawing from unaffiliated near and far.  We offer all Jewish life-cycle events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies, Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutoring and services, shiva minyans, baby namings and, thanks to our neighborhood JTS-certified mohel Dr. April Rubin (www.DCMohel.com), even bris ceremonies.

Hill Havurah is a nonprofit organization comprised entirely of volunteers.   We are governed by an elected Steering Committee and our fiscal year runs from September 1 to August 31.   Our current Officers, Steering Committee members and other contributors include: Chair:  Mark Sherman Vice Chair:  Laurie Solnik Treasurer:  Lee Berger Secretary:  Sheldon Harris Liturgy:  Michael Allen Legal Advisor/Communication:  Ellen Opper-Weiner Outreach:  Sig Cohen At Large:   Ann Mesnikoff, Alison Rosen, Dunnzy Kaufman-Levin,  Logo/Brochure Graphic Designer - Linsey Silver Yavneh Coordinators:  Edith Shine and Elizabeth Dranitzke Preschool Chair:  Dunnzy Kaufman Levin Hill Havurah is a member congregation of the National Havurah Committee, the Greater Washington Jewish Funeral Practices Committee and the Capitol Hill Group Ministry.  We are a 501 C(3) nonprofit organization.  Your tax-deductible contributions help offset ongoing operational costs.  While we believe you shouldn't have to pay to pray, we do welcome donations and, of course, your presence is the greatest gift of all.  Please join us!

We want to hear from you   *  Maps and Directions  *  Links
Copyright @ 2006 - Hill Havurah