Archive: September 2026

Grappling with Zionism, Fasting, and Humanity

Posted on September 23, 2026

Yom Kippur 5787 | Eva Epstein Fasting to me was always just something you did to solidify being written into the book of life. It wasn’t something I dwelled on or gave much thought to, it was just something you did. It wasn’t until I had an odd conversation with my freshman year high school Continue Reading »

Our Executive Director On Belonging

Posted on September 23, 2026

Yom Kippur 5787 | Brittany Schibuola Standing here today, I keep coming back to one word: belonging. When I think about Hill Havurah, belonging here sometimes feels like a kind of radical acceptance. We are a community of different backgrounds, different families, different relationships with Judaism, different opinions, different ways of praying—and plenty of quirks. Continue Reading »

How to Attempt Teshuvah in the Face of the Flood

Posted on September 23, 2026

Kol Nidrei 5787 | Rabbi Hannah Spiro In a midrash, a commentary, on the Yom Kippur parsha, the Zohar imagines that when God was getting ready to create humans, God consulted the Torah.  Timelines don’t have to make sense when you’re talking about the Eternal.   In the story, God consulted the Torah, and the Torah Continue Reading »

Topple the Status Quo and Seek the Transcendent

Posted on September 23, 2026

Rosh Hashanah Morning 5787 | Rabbi Hannah Spiro I got an incredible, life-changing opportunity this year.  Thanks to you, thanks to my incredible coworkers and lay leadership, thanks to my community, I took a sabbatical.  At the age of thirty five, turning thirty six, I had six entire months, a winter into spring into summer, Continue Reading »