Our Staff
Yavneh teachers are passionate and energetic. They are each on their own Jewish journey and open to sharing their process with their students. Our teachers come from lots of different Jewish backgrounds and lots of current professions. We believe it is critical for children to have role models for how to e
ngage in Jewish life no matter what you believe or how you earn a living. Our teachers may be students, lawyers, acrobats or scientists but they all share a love of Judaism and a commitment to fostering positive caring relationships with their students. Do you know someone who would be a good addition to our team? Have them contact Melissa at melissa.werbow@hillhavurah.org
Our Madrichim (Teen Assistants)
Beginning in 8th grade, we welcome teens to serve as Madrichim. In Hebrew the word "madrich" means a guide. Our Madrichim are guides for our younger students by role modeling what it means to serve the Jewish community. It is beneficial for both our students a
nd our teens to develop these relationships with each other. Serving as a teen assistant builds great leadership capacity and is on-the-job training for our students who want to teach in college. Seventh graders are eligible to be Junior Madrichim and work during the time our seventh grade class isn't meeting. Do you know an awesome teen who would make a great teen assistant? Have them contact Melissa at melissa.werbow@hillhavurah.org
Meet our Education Director
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 joined us as our Education Director in the spring of 2021. She and Rabbi Mike Werbow are the 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 or book a meeting using this link.