About Makom Community

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 now in 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. As Beverly continues building community, they are excited to introduce Makom’s pedagogy, Jewish Placemaking, to communities around the country.

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!

Terri is a passionate and strategic relationship builder who works in the intersection of Jewish education and fundraising. Terri has spent her career strengthening the Jewish community in Philadelphia at Temple Beth Zion – Beth Israel, the Hillel at Temple University, and recently 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 has been serving on the board of Makom Community for three years and is inspired by Makom’s thoughtful pedagogy, quality of educators, and impact Makom has on its students and their families. She is excited to support Makom’s mission in a professional capacity. 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 traveling.

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.

Liora is our genial communications manager and a spirited educator. Originally from Kansas, they graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in the spring of 2021. Since then, they’ve made Philly their home and are excited to get to know the local community. They’ve taught in Sunday school, virtually, and at Philly’s own Germantown Jewish Centre. In the classroom, she is passionate about exploring the potential of student-centered pedagogy and creative self-expression. And as communications manager, Liora aims to be accessible, engaging, and informative. She values tikkun olam (repairing the world) and is eager to practice it through her work.  In her free time, Liora can be found working on their novel, engrossed in nature or practicing divination.

Micah 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. When not at Makom, you can find Micah knitting, crocheting, playing music, or exploring nature!

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 Camp Coordinator this year, and cannot wait to continue to play and grow with our learners and amazing educators.

Olivia is an educator passionate about accessible, arts based education. She grew up in New York City where she attended and then taught at the Village Temple Hebrew School. She then went on to study film and English at Oberlin College, where she participated in several community based arts education programs including Apollo Outreach Initiative and Oberlin Drama at Grafton. In 2019 – 2020, she worked as a college access fellow at 12Plus, a Philly based non-profit organization dedicated to providing high schoolers at Philadelphia public schools with the tools and guidance to pursue their post-graduation goals. She is part of Makom South Philly team and brings a creative, hands-on Jewish education to the community!

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).

Sarah is an educator and historian who grew up in a small town in Central New York. She moved to Philadelphia at the end of 2020. Sarah graduated with an MA in Museum Studies from Buffalo State College in December 2021, and an MA in Jewish History and Culture from the University of Southampton (UK) in 2018. Their research has tied with their passion for literature and how material culture can be used as a way to connect with heritage. Their path in Jewish education began at Ramah Day Camp and BTBJ. On the weekends you can find her at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. They are excited to grow with everyone at Makom Community!

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!

Meet Gabby Wexler! She’s currently a sophomore at Temple University studying Early Childhood Education. She has been working in childcare since she was thirteen and she hopes to be an elementary school teacher. Gabby will be helping out in our Center City classrooms and will occasionally do school pick-ups. She is very excited to be a part of the Makom Community!