My Jewish Journey: Jamie Hanenbaum Groban

It has been three decades since I became a Bat Mitzvah at Washington Hebrew Congregation, and WHC has continued to be a meaningful part of the milestones in my Jewish life …

… attending Alexander Muss High School in Israel at the encouragement of Rabbi Lustig, my wedding to Aaron, the Bris and baby naming of our children followed by their attending the ECC and Religious School, and a myriad of Jewish holiday celebrations. And for 11 years of that time, I served as the Development Director for our Congregation, sharing the milestones of our congregational community.

As our son Ryan, prepared for his Bar Mitzvah this year, it caused me to reflect on the fact that my Judaism isn’t only about these major events. It is also anchored in the “small moments”√¢‚Ǩ‚Ķ— seeing our kids take turns lighting Shabbat candles at our dinner table, sharing carpool talk after Religious School to hear about what they’re learning, and volunteering with Carrie Simon House. These routine moments and everyday choices keep Judaism part of my life on the many days from one Rosh Hashanah to the next.