About Makom Community

The Makom Community Team

Working Together to Provide Quality Jewish Education

Beverly Socher-LernerBeverly Socher-Lerner

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

Beverly is a driven builder of communal Jewish learning spaces. They believe that people can make endless meaning from exploring Jewish wisdom and bringing it into our lives in creative ways. Makom Community invites kids and grownups into learning experiences that do just that. Beverly received a B.A. in Jewish Studies from the University of Maryland then received an M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania in Jewish Education. Beverly was a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar, received the Covenant Foundation Pomegranate Prize, was a Shalom Hartman Created Equal Fellow, and is a graduate of the Mandel Foundation Executive Leadership Program. After running congregational schools in Maryland and New Jersey, working at Barrack Hebrew Academy, and leading Makom Community, they have developed over 100 curricula for learners of all ages. Beverly is excited to introduce Makom’s pedagogy, Jewish Placemaking, to communities around the country and see how that supports each community in growing to live up to their values.

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Amanda HollanderAmanda Hollander

DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

Amanda is a passionate Jewish educator who loves creating immersive experiences for learners and their families. Originally from Sarasota, Florida, she acquired her love for Judaism from her many summers attending and working at Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia. She received a B.A. in Jewish Studies and Nonprofit Management from Indiana University and an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City. While at JTS, Amanda also pursued a Master’s concentration in Israel Education from the iCenter, the national hub for Israel Education. During her time in New York City, Amanda led summer teen travel, worked in numerous synagogue schools across the New York metropolitan area, and staffed Birthright Israel trips. She was the Assistant Director of the Lese Center for Living Judaism at Central Synagogue in Manhattan, where she created meaningful experiences for learners of all ages, both in and outside of the classroom. Amanda is so excited to be with all of the students and families at Makom Community, and can’t wait for another year of fun and learning!

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Terri SoiferTerri Soifer

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY

Terri is a passionate and strategic relationship builder who works in the intersection of Jewish education and development. Terri has spent her career strengthening the Jewish community in Philadelphia at Temple Beth Zion – Beth Israel, the Hillel at Temple University, and at the Jewish Theological Seminary in the Mid-Atlantic region. Her background is in Jewish Education and she completed her Masters in Jewish Education from the Davidson School of Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, with a concentration in Israel Education. Terri had been serving on the board of Makom Community for three years prior to joining the professional leadership team. Terri  is inspired by Makom’s thoughtful pedagogy, quality of educators, and impact Makom has on its students their families, and fellow educational leaders across the nation. When Terri is not working, you can find her on the frisbee field with her husband Jake, enjoying all the food and activities Philadelphia has to offer, and enjoying time with the trees in the Poconos.

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Gaby MarantzGaby Marantz

Assistant Director of Teacher Education & Learning Support

Gaby is a musical and energetic Jewish educator who grew up in Central New Jersey. She studied psychology and linguistics at NYU and spent many happy summers at Habonim Dror summer camps. Gaby completed her M.Ed. from Widener in Education. She loves dancing, baking intricate desserts, and making the world a more colorful place. She’s excited to learn, sing, create, and giggle with our amazing students every day of the week! She’s also energized to help bring Makom Community’s pedagogy to the wider community of Jewish educators through our Makom Making programming. Gaby was a Matan Institute Fellow in Cohort 10 where she learned deeply about how to engage all our learners at Makom Community.

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Ash Fisher-TannenbaumAsh Fisher-Tannenbaum

Makom Making Coach

Ash (they/them/theirs) is a spirited play arts educator born and raised just outside Philadelphia, where they earned a B.A. in Theater from Temple University (2016). They spent 3 years building community, teaching, and making avant-garde art, theater, and film in Western Massachusetts, but have been overjoyed to return home to put down roots in the West Philly community and to be closer to their family! Ash has spent the last eleven happy summers teaching and playing at Ramah Day Camp, where they have done many jobs, specializing in Omanut (art), Drama and Rikud (Israeli dance). This summer Ash was delighted to take on their newest role on the Program Direction team at RDC. Ash has taught at BTBJ Religious School, Germantown Jewish Center, with The Bible Players, with Moishe House, and as Jewish Learning Venture’s PJ Our Way Associate 2021-22 to bring multi-modal arts education to a large variety of Jewish spaces. Ash is thrilled to continue their journey with Makom Community as Makom Making Coach this year.

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Olivia Hacker-KeatingOlivia Hacker-Keating

EDUCATOR & Researcher

Olivia is an educator and researcher passionate about accessible, learner-driven arts based education. After graduating from Oberlin college in 2019 with a degree in Cinema studies and English, Olivia worked as a college access fellow at 12Plus, a Philly based education non-profit. She has been a member of the Makom team since 2021, and is excited to continue to build this vibrant community in the role of researcher and teaching the Shorashim (1st-2nd grade).

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Liora HassanLiora Hassan

Educator & Communications Manager

Liora (they/she) is thrilled to continue their work at Makom Community in the Anafim (5th-7th grade) kvutzah. Hailing from the Midwest, they graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 and have bounced around Philly since graduation. They’ve taught in a variety of Jewish Education settings including virtual classes and Sunday school and received their TEFL Certificate from Maximo Nivel in Costa Rica. In the classroom, she is passionate about exploring the potential of student-centered pedagogy. She also values tikkun olam (repairing the world) and using it as a framework to inspire global citizenship in her learners. And as communications manager, Liora aims to be accessible, engaging, and informative. She loves creating in all it’s forms and prioritizes making space for creativity in the classroom. In her free time, Liora can be found working on their novel, collaging, or practicing divination.

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Micah MarderMicah Marder

Educator

Micah (they/them) is an educator who embraces kindness, empathy, and vulnerability. As a 2021 graduate, they earned a B.S. in Education from Temple University. Micah is also a Jewish spiritual leader and song leader with experience leading song and prayer at summer camps, religious schools, preschools, college campuses, and congregations. Micah’s many summers at URJ Camp Harlam have paved their way as a Jewish educator, teaching the value of positive Jewish community, deep interpersonal connections, and embracing diversity. They are excited to continue their work at Makom with Nitzanim (3rd-4th grade) this year. Outside of Makom, you can find Micah learning new crafts, playing music, exploring nature, or playing Ticket to Ride (the board game)!  

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Sara MosenkisSara Mosenkis

DATA AND FINANCE MANAGER

Sara (“Sah-ra”) wears many hats. She is Makom’s bookkeeper, coordinates Beverly’s calendar and supports development and operations, helping keep the Makom ship in shape as we grow. Our former Makom @ Home educator, Sara continues to work with Makom kiddos to offer 1:1 support over Zoom. Sara mostly grew up in Philadelphia, studied Linguistics at Brown University, and now lives in Washington, DC. When she’s not sitting in front of her computer, Sara can often be found singing, tending her balcony garden, or taking walks in her neighborhood (wearing a hat, of course).

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Zoe Myers-BochnerZoe Myers-Bochner

Educator and Camp Coordinator

Zoe is a passionate and energetic Jewish educator and community builder. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she is a recent graduate of Swarthmore College, where she studied education, psychology, and environmental studies. She also completed her student teaching practicum in December working with first and second grade students at the Miquon School in Philadelphia, and is awaiting PA state certification in PreK-6th grades. 

Though trained as a traditional educator, Zoe’s passion lies at the intersection of informal education and Jewish community building, fostered by four joyful summers working at Eden Village West, a quirky Jewish farm camp based in California. Both in the classroom and outside of it, she is committed to a practice of teaching and learning that makes room for exploration and wonder, centers relationships, and is rooted in a deep care for the people and places surrounding us. She deeply believes that joy, connection, silliness, and adventure (sprinkled with mud and glitter) are integral parts of work that can change the world, and is excited to delve further into that work at Makom this spring and beyond. 

Outside of work, Zoe enjoys making bread, singing joyfully (and usually off-key), playing bananagrams, nature poetry, and swimming long distances for fun.

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Neil SteinglassNeil Steinglass

Part-Time Educator

Neil is very excited to join the Makom team! He grew up in Washington, DC and holds a degree in theater and Jewish studies from Swarthmore College, where he was a regular participant and song leader at on-campus Shabbat services. He has worked at several arts camps in the DC area, including a summer of coordinating the extended day program at Camp Arena Stage. In his free time, you can find Neil playing stringed instruments and studying Yiddish. Neil teaches with Micah in the Nitzanim (3rd-4th grade) kvutzah.

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Mira WarmflashMira Warmflash

Part-Time Educator

Mira (she/her) is thrilled to join the Makom team as an assistant teacher! Growing up just outside of Philly, she has been active in the city’s Jewish community throughout her life. Mira graduated from The George Washington University in 2020 with a degree in American Studies and Psychology. She spent a few years in Chicago, living communally and working first as a case manager and then as a Jewish educator. Last year, wanting to be closer to friends and family, Mira moved to West Philadelphia and worked as a teacher at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy. Mira is really looking forward to re-entering the world of Jewish education and leading with curiosity, openness, and playfulness. This year she is working with Liora in Anafim (5th-7th grade) and in Garinim (PreK-1st grade). In her free time, Mira is probably reading a book, playing board games, or cooking a meal for her friends. 

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Celia WrightCelia Wright

Part-Time Educator

Celia is thrilled to be joining the Makom Community for the remainder of the school year! Growing up right outside of Philadelphia, she has roots in the local Jewish community. She is currently taking classes at the Community College of Philadelphia and taking time to explore various career paths. Values that Celia shares with the Makom community include a commitment to protecting the environment, the goal of making Judaism accessible and fun for everyone, and an emphasis on child-led learning within the classroom. She has always enjoyed being around kids and is excited to make her debut as an educator in this part-time role. Celia is enthusiastic about the crossroad between Judaism and education and is so grateful to have this opportunity to learn and grow alongside the students in the Shorashim (1st -2nd grade)!

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Isabella DorfmanIsabella Dorfman

Teaching Assistant

Isabella will be school pick ups from time to time. Isabella probably looks familiar, as she has been a Makom Community Educator in the past!

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Advisory Board

Executive Board

  • Alicia Cohen
  • Kathy Goldenberg
  • Charley Lewittes
  • Han Jacobs Meadway
  • Barbara Schneider
  • Randy Schulz
  • James Stein, Board Chair
  • Jeremy Tobacman