Hebrew School Staff

Lev DePaolo (Education Director)

Lev DePaolo brings many talents to our community. They are a musician, composer, and Jewish educator who is passionate about making Jewish experiences meaningful and inclusive. They are also a specialist in Early Music, and directs MIRYAM, a chamber ensemble dedicated to Jewish music from the Renaissance and Baroque. They are relocating from Washington DC to begin their rabbinical studies at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. During their time in DC, they worked as a synagogue educator and prayer leader and started the DC/Northern Virginia chapter of Tzelem - a group for LGBTQ Jewish teens. Prior to moving to DC, they lived in Boston, where they received a Master’s of Jewish Education and Jewish Studies from Hebrew College. Lev is also passionate about Jewish disability inclusion and celebrating neurodiversity. They are thrilled to join the BI community, and are looking forward to this new year of meaningful learning!

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.

 

Hadasah Yaqob-Johnson

My name is Hadasah Yaqob-Johnson (she/we) and I am a native Texan and newly relocated to the Philadelphia area for rabbinical school. By training, I am an educator specializing in EC-12 Special Education services, teaching courses in the sciences, mathematics, and English language arts and reading. In 2013 I earned my  Bachelor of Arts degree at The University of Texas at Dallas in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating in Healthcare and Management. I have committed my time to volunteering, with memberships in national service organizations and fellowships with foundations focusing on repairing communities through health. I firmly believe that my rabbinical career will focus on Food Justice and Food Security, Inclusion and Accessibility, uniting several pillars of Judaism within her purpose: Tikkun Olam, Hachnasat Orchim, Maakhal Revi’im, and servant leadership. I share a loving home with my husband Ron and three young children and I love to cook for my family and friends, journal and write poetry. Most excitedly. I am looking forward to learning from my students and making lasting memories through study and creativity.

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.

Aviva Weiser

Aviva Weiser is from Denver, Colorado and currently attends Swarthmore College. She has been a Beth Israel Hebrew teacher for two years and is excited to continue teaching! She attended a Jewish day school until 8th grade and speaks fluent Hebrew. At Swarthmore, Aviva is co-president of Kehilah, a Jewish group on campus. In her free time, she likes to read and run.

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.