Hebrew School Staff

Rabbi Aviva Marchione
(Associate Rabbi & Education Director)

Rabbi Aviva joined Beth Israel as their Associate Rabbi & Education Director in the summer of 2025. Previously, she served as Associate Rabbi at Temple B'nai Abraham in Bordentown, NJ, and as Associate Chaplain at Monroe Village Springpoint Senior Living Community.  Before becoming an ordained rabbi from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2024, Rabbi Aviva worked at the University of Pennsylvania Hillel (2015-2018). Rabbi Aviva has had wonderful experiences developing and running inter- and multi-faith events on college campuses and in synagogue settings, including shaping the inaugural Interfaith Justice Cohort at Villanova University. Rabbi Aviva has always been a 'camp kid' and believes in the power of experiential Jewish education; she spent her youth as a camper and staff at Jewish summer camp in Michigan and most recently, Program Director at Camp Havaya in 2019.  Rabbi Aviva is also a gifted and passionate teacher of Jewish texts and traditions and believes there is so much wisdom to uncover together. Aviva resides in West Philly with her partner Ben and their 3 cats, and is often found in the kitchen baking something sweet to share or spending time with her family.

Reisa Mukamal

Reisa Mukamal spent a semester at Tel Aviv University and holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has been involved at Beth Israel in many capacities since joining the congregation in 1992, including serving on the Education Committee, the Ellie Festival Committee, and the Design Committee. Her four sons were Bar Mitzvahed here and she has been tutoring students for B’nai Mitzvah since 2002. She loves teaching all ages—the Mechina and Gan classes, at a private nursery school in Swarthmore, rising high school seniors writing their college essays, and as a docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
 

Jamie Koelle-Pittel

Jamie (they/them) was a student at Beth Israel until 2010 when they moved to California at the age of 11. They recently moved back to the east coast to join Americorps where they worked with kids in a classroom at a Christian elementary school in Wilmington. Watching those kids made them want to be more involved with their own religion and is also why they want to teach! This is their first year teaching at BI and they are very excited to be back! They are currently a student at College Unbound and they are hoping to graduate in 2026! 
 

Jacob Silverman

Jacob Silverman (he/him) is a Southern California native with a wide range of Jewish community outreach and educational experience. Prior to moving to PA, he had been a Hebrew School teacher for the Bet/Gimel and Dalet/Hay classes at Congregation Ohr Tzafon in Atascadero, CA. He served on the Jewish Federation and Family Services of Orange County, CA "NexGen" program committee, planning outreach, educational, and philanthropic events for young professionals. During his time at the University of California San Diego where he earned his degree in Chemical Engineering, he held leadership positions in the Chi Sigma chapter of the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi and the Union of Jewish Students/ Hillel of San Diego. 

In his free time, Jacob enjoys being outdoors, traveling with his family, and reading. Jacob's favorite Jewish philosophical quote is "That which requires effort must be limited in time" from the 18th Century Rabbi Chaim Moshe Luzzato's Derech Hashem. He and his family are grateful to be welcomed and getting involved with the Beth Israel community.

Jeremy Weinstein-Sears

Jeremy Weinstein-Sears (he/him) is from Houston, Texas--though recently moved to Baltimore, Maryland--and currently attends Swarthmore College. He is beginning his first year as a Beth Israel Hebrew teacher and cannot wait to get started! Jeremy attended Jewish Day School from fourth to twelfth grade, learning Hebrew and Judaic studies every year. He also participated in a month-long exchange program to Haifa, Israel his junior year of high school. At Swarthmore, he is studying Dance and Political Science, is involved with Chabad as a board memeber, and enjoys spending time in the on-campus arboretum and city of Philadelphia with his friends.

Wendy Lebofsky

I’m Wendy and I teach Hebrew in person and online for BI. I am in my 33rd year of teaching both secular subjects and Hebrew and Judaica. By day, I’m a Special Education teacher in a middle school classroom with Autistic students at an approved private school in Montgomery County Pa. Prior to teaching Special Education, I taught in preschools, Head Start and Pre-K Counts. I live in Abington with my husband Sean, my 23 year old daughter Riley, a cat, a tortoise and 3 guinea pigs. My son, Jason, who is almost 22 lives at a college in Columbia County. This year, both of my children will graduate!  I believe that teaching is a partnership between student, teacher and parent(s). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. I am always open to suggestions on how to better meet the needs of my students. Learning takes effort, but can be fun if studied through games, songs and other interactive experiences. That has always been my method. 

Me’ira

Me’ira is a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel, a frequent service leader and passionate Jewish Educator. She has forty years' experience teaching Hebrew and liturgy, and is certified in Special Education and Mathematics, Me'ira has studied Jewish Music at Gratz College, is currently taking classes in Aleph's Cantorial program, and holds a Master's Degree in Education. Me’ira has worked with kids of all ages at the Beth Israel Hebrew School and beyond, fostering a love of learning. In addition to her work in the Hebrew School, she volunteers regularly as a tutor and teacher with at-risk urban youth.