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.

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.

Havurah member and social worker Leslie Feder tells Rabbi Hannah about a communications tool she uses when she counsels couples in relationship therapy: the "one to ten scale." Then we'll hear another song from the soulful Aviva Chernick: "Buena Semana," sung in Ladino, is a traditional greeting in Sephardic communities at the conclusion of Shabbat, expressing hopes and desires for the sweetness of Shabbat to move into the week to come. Play it again on Saturday evening!

Some people like being out front calling for change. Others wield their power behind the scenes. This week, Havurah member Becca Epstein, a consultant and coach to social justice organizations and their leaders, talks with Rabbi Hannah about how she trims the chaos out of progressive nonprofits to help them become more effective. Then, another selection from Rabbi Hannah's playlist: Josh Warshawsky's "Echoes in the Valley."

In episode #30, Rabbi Hannah interviews Havurah member Maya Ajmera, the President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public. Maya grew up in North Carolina, the daughter of Jain Indian Immigrants. She talks about growing up Jain, in the South, but in a global university community that included Jewish neighbors who became close friends. She talks about the moment that moved her to start, at age 24, the nonprofit Global Fund For Children. Then.... this week's musical highlight! Oseh Shalom by composer, performer and prayer leader Elana Jagoda, Thanks to Maya AND Elana.

Episode #29 contains a special treat, one that we hope to make a regular feature. First, you'll hear Rabbi Hannah's superbly well-timed interview with the insightful and experienced child psychologist Keri Linas. It was recorded just before election day but remains relevant. Then... we bring you, for the first time, music from the talented Jewish-Canadian artist Aviva Chernick. This is the first time we are featuring new musicians and we'll be introducing you to more of the music Rabbi Hannah loves to listen to herself.

Havurah member Ken Eisner talks to Rabbi Hannah about his work as Director of Worldwide Education Programs for Amazon Web Services. The two also talk about Eisner's marriage to a devout Catholic, and how as Jew he grapples with Jesus. Rabbi Hannah also recites a powerful prayer for Election Day. (link and poem in episode notes)

In Episode #27 of the Hill Havurahdcast. Rabbi Hannah talks to writer and labor organizer Kim Fellner. Fellner travelled to Germany recently to visit the town where her mother was born, and fled on a Kindertransport to England in order to escape the Nazis. Fellner's father also escaped the Nazi's. Fellner focuses on her mother's story in an article she published online, and talks to Rabbi Hannah about that article, and also growing up as the child of two Holocaust survivors.

In Episode #26. Rabbi Hannah indulges in wine talk with Elyse Genderson, fourth generation owner of the renowned wine and spirits store, Schneider's of Capitol Hill. Elyse talks about the store's history, her own path into the industry, her return to a more active Jewish life, and she also offers tips for fall wine buying. Then Rabbi Hannah shares her own thoughts on this week's Parsha, Parshat Noach. It's not Noah's Ark, but the Tower of Babel story that has Rabbi Hannah wondering....

In episode #25, Rabbi Hannah talks to veteran journalists Barrie Hardymon and Steve Lickteig about their work at NBC and NPR, podcasting and media life and spirituality, and being a news filter for their young kids.

Havurah member and urologist Eric Emanuel has spent his career healing others. Then he discovered he had cancer. He spoke to Rabbi Hannah - candidly, movingly, and humorously - about his journey from symptoms to diagnosis, then from treatment to recovery.

In this episode, Rabbi Hannah interviews Havurah member and certified nurse-midwife Zoe Gutterman. Zoe works at Unity Health Care, as well as Howard University Labor and Delivery Unit. and she teaches at Georgetown University. She talks to Rabbi Hannah about how she started her career in midwifery, how social justice issues shape her approach to midwifery, and what it's like to be a midwife in the age of Covid.

In Episode #22, Rabbi Hannah talks to a photographer who has been capturing Capitol Hill in photos for almost 20 years. Elizabeth Dranitzke, who grew up on Capitol Hill herself, talks about her work, how it has changed because of the pandemic, and the impact her Covid-era photography has had on the community.