About

Virginia Avniel Spatz, a native of Chicago, lives and writes in Washington, DC.

Spatz has lived with her husband, Cary O’Brien, in what is now known as the Hill East neighborhood of the District for more than twenty years. They have two teenagers in DC Public Schools.

She is active in the Jewish community, advocating for cross-denominational understanding and cooperation. She helped coordinate the Washington Chapter of the AJC’s Women’s Interdenominational Leadership Dialogue and directed the local, cross-community Jewish Study Center for several years. She also worked in adult and continuing education at Gallaudet University and has an abiding interest in Deaf culture. Other passions include alternative education, including homeschooling, public libraries and independent booksellers.

Spatz regularly contributes to East of the River and other Capital Community News publications and maintains the Ward7Connections blog. Her writing has also appeared in local and national periodicals and in the book, All the Women Followed Her: A Collection of Writings on Miriam the Prophet & The Women of Exodus.

Publications