Our Rabbi & Staff
Hannah Spiro Rabbi
Rabbi Hannah Spiro, Hill Havurah's rabbi, is a DC-area native and a 2017 Reconstructionist Rabbinical College graduate. Previously serving at Reconstructionist, Reform, and Conservative synagogues from Boston to Florida, Rabbi Hannah has become passionate about bringing daring and dynamic Torah, compassionate pastoral care, and the empowerment of a strong lay leadership to her work. She is additionally an accomplished singer/songwriter, and loves bringing music onto the pulpit and into the classroom.
Rabbi Hannah and her husband, David Pfeferman, have two children: Julius, born in 2018; and Dorothy, born in 2021. The four of them are delighted to be a part of such a warm, creative group of people as the Hill Havurah community.
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Rabbi Hannah, you can contact her at rabbihannah@hillhavurah.org.
Brittany Schibuola Executive Director
Brittany Schibuola, Hill Havurah’s Executive Director, is passionate about creating inclusive, meaningful Jewish experiences. She brings a unique blend of academic rigor, enthusiasm, and creativity to help guide Hill Havurah’s growth as a vibrant and welcoming community.
Originally from Florida, Brittany moved to DC in 2016 after completing bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of North Florida. She came to professional Jewish life by way of teaching Hebrew school, and then found Hill Havurah in 2022 when it was time to introduce her family to Tot Shabbat. Never afraid to volunteer for a worthy cause, Brittany has quietly helped Hill Havurah operate over the years – starting as a substitute teacher at Gan Shalom.
Brittany lives on Capitol Hill with her husband, Alex, and their two children – Benji (born 2021) and Yael (born 2024).
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Brittany, you can contact her at brittany.schibuola@hillhavurah.org.
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Jocelyn Donahue Operations Director
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Jocelyn, you can contact her at jocelyn.donahue@hillhavurah.org.
Melissa Werbow Education Director
Melissa Werbow, Hill Havurah's Education Director, is passionate about creating authentic communities and empowering learners to take ownership of the Jewish tradition. She graduated from Hebrew Union College with a master’s degree in Jewish Education and a master’s degree in Jewish Communal Service. In Los Angeles, she served as the Director of Religious School and Family Education at Stephen S. Wise Temple. In Pittsburgh, she taught Melton Adult Education programs and was a consultant for area religious schools through the Agency for Jewish Learning. In Sarasota, she served as the Director of Jewish Learning at the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School.
Melissa's family moved to the District in the summer of 2020, and she joined us as our Education Director in the spring of 2021. She and Rabbi Mike Werbow are the proud parents of three mostly delightful children and one very spoiled dog. She is currently obsessing about the best quilting stores in DC, parenting teenagers and what novel she should read next.
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Melissa, you can contact her at melissa.werbow@hillhavurah.org.
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Rebecca Freund B Mitzvah Coordinator
Rebecca Freund, Hill Havurah's B'Mitzvah Coordinator, like so many, is a DC transplant. Hailing from Fayetteville, Arkansas by way of Los Angeles, Rebecca moved to DC in 2015. A graduate of Indiana University with a BA in Jewish Studies and Sociology, she spent a year studying abroad in Jerusalem. Over the course of 10 years, she worked at several synagogues in L.A. as a youth coordinator, religious school teacher, and Hebrew tutor.
Fun facts about Rebecca: While in L.A., she became involved in the circus arts, namely the aerial arts, which she both taught and performed. She still teaches some in the DC Area. She also loves to knit. She and her partner, Ben, have a Covid baby, Liam, born August 2020, and a cat, Larry, an L.A. native who loves avocados.
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Rebecca, you can contact her at rebecca.freund@hillhavurah.org.
