Hill Havurahdcast

The Havuradhcast is back! After a year long hiatus, we are bringing you an extended conversation that Rabbi Hannah had just before she went on maternity leave last year. She spoke with Havurah member Keiana Mayfield. Keiana is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park in the Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methods. Her research focuses on ways to help families support child and adolescent development and well-being. The conversation ranges from children, to race, to Judaism, and so much more.

The Supreme Court right is considering a case involving NCAA athletes -- a case that involves sports, money, race and the law. Georgetown Law Professor Brad Snyder, and expert in constitutional law and sports law, breaks it all down for Rabbi Hannah. He also talks about his longtime interest in sports and civil rights. Brad is author of the 2006 book "A Well-Paid Slave: Curt Flood’s Fight for Free Agency." Brad and Rabbi Hannah also talk about leaders who speak out on social issues.

If you have missed going to museums this past year, you are going to love this episode. Rabbi Hannah talks to Havurah member Susan Ades, Director of Smithsonian Exhibits. Susan works with museums across the Smithsonian, and has been in museum education for 30 years. She tells Rabbi Hannah about some of the powerful experiences that inspired her career. Rabbi Hannah also shares some thoughts for this Shabbat, on the eve of Passover.

When parents find their child struggling at school, they may end up at Havurah member Cheryl Shapiro's office. Cheryl is a clinical psychologist who specializes in psycho-educational testing. These are the assessment that help parents identify if their child has a learning difference, and if she or he does, how to address that difference so that their child can function better. Cheryl and Rabbi Hannah talk about the nuts and bolts of testing, learning differences, and the human brain. Rabbi Hannah also shares her thoughts on the current moment of "in-between."

In episode 38, Rabbi Hannah speaks with Havurah member Annie Karni, the current White House correspondent for the New York Times, about what it's like to cover the Biden White House after four years of Trump Administration drama and chaos. Also, do Jews believe in Heaven? And tweeting about religion can be tricky. Rabbi Hannah shares her final thoughts on Stranger Things and Purim, and our closing music is Zum Gali Gali from the beautiful Elana Jagoda.

Like everyone, the pandemic has affected the Trager-Kliman family. But what really turned their life upside down this year was Daniel's military deployment to the Middle East, just weeks after their son was born. Daniel and Carolyn talk openly with Rabbi Hannah about the emotional difficulty and the logistical challenges of being apart while raising children and working. After the conversation, you'll hear Rabbi Hannah's thoughts on this week's Parshat Mishpatim. Our opening theme, as always, is Rabbi Hannah's Gather You Together (Covenant of Second Isaiah). Closing music this week is Oseh Shalom, by Elana Jagoda.

In the episode, Rabbi Hannah catches up with Julie Davis, the Congressional Editor and former White House correspondent for the New York Times (and former Congressional correspondent). Rabbi Hannah asks Julie how her work and life has changed since Joe Biden became President, after four frenzied years of covering Donald Trump. Julie is also the co-author "Border Wars: Inside Trump's Assault on Immigration."

Before the horrific attack on the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, Rabbi Hannah interviewed Havurah member Mark Sherman, a reporter who has been covering the Supreme Court for the last 14 years. He shares insights about his work, and a crazy story of work crashing into life: the moment he found out a Supreme Court justice passed, just minutes before his daughter was to become a bat mitzvah. This episode, while not directly connected to the events of the past week, highlights the critical work of journalists in our democracy. Rabbi Hannah ends the episode with reflections on the latest parshat. Our closing music is the amazing Aviva Chernick, performing Min Hameitzar. Enjoy!

When the pandemic shut down school, Gregory Woodward took over the education of his two boys, ages 2 and 5. But even with his background as an teacher, he embraced the freedom of being at home to fashion his own curriculum. Which worked, and sometimes didn't, as he admits to Rabbi Hannah. He also started a blog, called www.droppingsomeknowledge.com. about education and parenting during the coronavirus.

Havurah member Michael Svetlik spent three years in Poland as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It was there that he met his wife, also a Peace Corps Volunteer, and found inspiration for his professional career, working with emerging democracies and elections. It also was in Poland that he committed himself to a Jewish life, and to raising Jewish children. Rabbi Hannah spoke to Michael about his experience.