Our First Jewish Placemaking Practicum Cohort
We were excited to welcome these educators embarking on their two-year journey to learn with us and each other. At the end of this time, they will be certified Jewish Placemaking Educators and members of our growing national JPE network. We look forward to their professional growth and to seeing how they transform the Jewish spaces in which they live and work into mekomot (makoms) for themselves and the communities in which they’re rooted.
Rabbi Rachel Cohn
“I’m inspired by the Jewish Placemaking emphasis on both rigorous commitment to Jewish Wisdom and accessibility… I am trying to infuse our physical spaces, training for teachers, and Religious School curriculum with greater engagement with Jewish texts and a sense of pride and ownership in learning, both for students and their families.”
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Barbara Fink
“Too often, supplemental Jewish education is not rooted in a rigorous curriculum, which leads to kids who do not have a strong sense of Jewishness. I strive to lead a team that makes our ancient traditions feel new and relevant to today’s youth and their families. I wholeheartedly believe in the five ideals of Jewish Placemaking.”
Jessie Gindea
“I’m most excited about the cohort learning…It feels profoundly grounding and energizing to build something that is both new and innovative while also deeply rooted in our tradition, and to do so alongside others who remind me that this work connects us to something far greater than ourselves.”
Josh Garoon
“From my first day on the job, I’ve drawn inspiration from Makom’s approach and Jewish Placemaking, and so I couldn’t be more excited to take my next steps with, and as part of, Makom Community.”
Stacey Lasky
“As a former Early Childhood Educator and Religious School Teacher, I am passionate about learning Jewish Placemaking to support the wondrous journey that helps plant seeds for the future and cultivate the current crop of lifelong Jewish learners.”
Rabbi Daniel Plotkin
“I am excited to engage in the work of Jewish Placemaking, as it is important to me that every student feels that they have a place in our community, and that I, and our faculty, recognize and honor that place.”
Liat Rosov
“Jewish Placemaking resonates with my work as an educator because it frames education as something we build with learners, not give to them. I’m especially drawn to its focus on shaping both the physical and relational space of learning, and on holding joy and rigor together.”
Allison Rovensky
“I am most excited to be immersed in this pedagogy and to bring my participant observation training from my anthropology background into practice. I cannot wait to learn and apply alongside other passionate educators looking to expand approaches to Jewish education!”
Rabbi Ariann Weitzman
“Makom’s work has resonated with me for years, and I share in its commitment to creating spaces where children can take ownership of their learning and engage meaningfully with Jewish life. I’m excited to explore how we can create a true third space for Jewish families – a place where learners are recognized as current Jews and active participants in their own Jewish journeys.”
What do the two years of Practicum look like?
In the same way that an education for children and families at Makom Community is both deep and rigorous, so too will an education for a freshly minted Jewish Placemaking educator be. This will include key principles of Jewish Placemaking and be a living laboratory for what it means for us to teach Jewish Placemaking. You can see the syllabus here.
In year 1 they will:
- Kickoff the cohort experience at our Jewish Placemaking Conference in Philadelphia, PA May 27-28, 2026
- Develop deep mastery of Jewish Placemaking through monthly hour-long experiential Zoom seminars
- Support the implementation of Jewish Placemaking in their home communities through monthly coaching that is designed to support the monthly seminar
In year 2 they will:
- Implement change management and apply Jewish Placemaking
- Attend quarterly seminars
- Gain support through Makom coaching and peer coaching groups
- Receive an in-person visit by a JPE Facilitator who will provide observation and feedback on Jewish Placemaking implementation and professional development for your whole team of educators
- Participate in the text study, lesson planning, and reflection and iteration/research process
- Mentorship from Beverly Socher-Lerner and Terri Soifer, Makom’s Director of Strategy
As JPE Alumni, the network will provide:
- Quarterly JPE Network peer coaching calls
- Yearly alumni gathering
- Twice a year, JPE hosts specific learning seminars, research updates, and newly developed resources
- Opportunities to highlight your work as a thought leader in our network
- Engagement in our research partnership that entails two opportunities a year to learn about newly developed tools for Jewish Placemaking, try them out in your community, and share back with us how implementation goes