Leadership Team

Carla Friend (she/they) - Founder & Executive Director

Carla Friend holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from NYU and a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College. She discovered her Jewish identity through music and started Tkiya to help others do the same. Carla is a 2018 recipient of the Young Pioneers Award from the Jewish Education Project , a 2019 recipient of 36 Under 36 from the Jewish Week, was in UpStart Venture Accelerator’s Cohort 11, is on the board of JPro New York, and was just accepted to the newest cohort of the Institute for Executive Jewish Leadership. She is also a JKids Radio artist and the host of a new show on JKids Radio called Tkiya Town. Check out Carla’s new album of family-friendly Jewish music, Challalalalah!

Hannah Gundersheim (she/her) - Program Director

Hannah is a songleader and Jewish educator based in Manhattan. Hannah grew up immersed in musical theatre and Jewish community, and began songleading as a way to combine the two worlds into one! She went on to receive a BFA in Music Theatre from The Hartt School while also songleading in multiple Jewish communities across greater Hartford. Hannah is thrilled to be a part of Tkiya’s full-time team, her role allowing her to bring Jewish music into the lives of so many young people while also empowering teachers to do the same! Outside of Tkiya, you can find Hannah writing and performing original music, and spending time with her friends.

Morgan Zweibel (she/her) - Education Coordinator

Morgan is an educator and performer based in Manhattan. Growing up on Long Island, she was surrounded by Jewish culture and specifically enjoyed the sense of community Jewish tradition and holidays cultivated. After graduating with a BFA from The Hartt School, she moved to NYC and started a Moishe House with her roommate, Hannah, another wonderful Tkiya educator! Morgan has loved working with kids for as long as she can remember. Combining her passion for working with children and her passion for the arts has always been a dream of hers, and she has loved getting to fulfill that through Tkiya. She is thrilled to continue to make music with children across the city! 

Teaching Team

Aaron Rothko (he/him) - Tkiya Teacher (New Orleans, LA)

Aaron graduated from Vassar College in 2020 with a major in Music, concentrating on Upright Bass Jazz Performance. Originally from New York, Aaron moved to New Orleans in 2020, and has since started to root himself in the local music scene. His first foray into music began at  at the age of 4, when he started learning violin, but fell in love with the bass when he turned 12. Since then, he has played in and led a number of different bands and ensembles. Not only a teacher and band leader, Aaron is a songwriter too, his music falling under the umbrella of Indie-Folk and Singer/Songwriter. He has recorded multiple studio albums, and is currently working on a new one. Outside of music, Aaron is a dog dad, an avid gardener, and lifelong Ohio State fan.

Dina Pfeffer (she/her) - Tkiya Teacher (Boston, MA)

Dina Pfeffer grew up in Boston, MA and is a student at New York University majoring in Comparative Literature. Music has been central to her experience of Judaism since birth, and she’s so excited to share her love of song with every student! Outside of Tkiya, she is a singer-songwriter who performs her own work, as well as a member of a local rock band. When not playing music, you can find her knitting, reading, and taking long walks.

Dovy Ehrenreich (he/him) - Tkiya Teacher (NYC)

Dovy is a Brooklyn-based educator and musician who has had a passion not just for music, but for Jewish culture his entire life. Dovy is proud to be teaching at Tkiya and spreading the love for both music and Judaism with our next generation! Having grown up teaching music to disabled children and directing music for local summer camp productions, Dovy now has over 10 years of experience working with children. Aside from teaching at Tkiya, Dovy is a private music teacher for piano and voice. Dovy is grateful to have studied and lived in Israel before attending Berklee College of Music, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in contemporary writing and production, as well as a minor in music technology. In his spare time, Dovy enjoys producing music, collecting vinyl, and watching films!

Elana Ron (she/they) - Tkiya Teacher (Bay Area, CA)

Elana Ron is an educator and performer who grew up in the Bay Area. Her passion for singing and performing led her to grow up helping lead songs and parts of services at her local congregation and spending most of her time involved in local theatre companies. She has her BFA in Musical Theatre from Notre Dame de Namur University. Elana also works at the San Mateo County Pride Center as the Lead Events and Outreach Coordinator planning engaging programming to bring community together. Over the years she has taught theatre and dance classes, coached gymnastics, managed box offices for award winning theatre companies, and worked at a travel company. When not working, Elana can often be found performing at local community theatres, walking along the coast, or spending time with her spouse and rescue dogs. Between getting to sing, play, dance, read stories, and share about Jewish values, she loves that her time with Tkiya feels like she is finally doing what she has been meant to do.

Leah Savin (they/she) - Tkiya Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)

Leah is a singer, actor, songwriter, and educator based in Philadelphia. Originally from Denver, Colorado, they graduated with a BFA in musical theater from University of the Arts. Leah fell in love with songleading while working as the music instructor at a Jewish summer camp, and believes that music has a profound power to help people connect with their Jewish identity. She is passionate about kids, cats, and all things music and theater. They are a serious believer in the importance of fun in every aspect of life. Leah is thrilled to be working with Tkiya to teach the next generation about Jewish joy!

Maddy Wendell (she/her) - Tkiya Teacher (NYC)

Photo and bio coming soon!

Joshua Manheim (he/him) - Tkiya Teacher (Rochester, NY)

Josh began his music journey with scholastic tuba lessons and extracurricular guitar lessons in 4th grade. Throughout high school he was very involved in his band program and temple youth group. Josh has 4 summers of experience as a sleep-away camp counselor/songleader working with kids age 6-10. In college, Josh had strong interests in both music and healthcare. He participated as a volunteer EMT, peer wellness counselor, and ComHab instructor. He was also a member of the collegiate jazz, marching, and pep bands. This interest in healthcare and music drove him to pursue a masters degree in Music Therapy at Nazareth College, which he is in the process of completing. In his preschool programs, Josh uses an eclectic variety of instruments such as the banjo, ukelele, and/or cajon. Outside of work and school, Josh can often be seen playing Settlers of Catan, rooting for the Bills, cooking new recipes, and playing disc golf.

Miranda Crosley (she/her) - Tkiya Teacher (NYC)

Miranda is an educator with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College, and she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Music Therapy from SUNY New Paltz. Miranda has been playing the violin since she was eight years old, and has continued to add instruments to her repertoire over time. She was deeply involved in the Jewish community during her undergraduate time and was looking to get involved when she moved to NYC. Tkiya has allowed Miranda to combine her love for teaching with her Jewish identity, and she is thrilled to be part of the team. Outside of Tkiya, you can find Miranda cooking, baking, and snuggling her cat.

Neil Steinglass (he/him) - Tkiya Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)

Neil Steinglass is a musician, performer, and educator from Washington, DC. He holds a degree in Theater and Jewish Studies from Swarthmore College, where he was a regular attendee and song leader at on-campus shabbat services. Neil loves making art with children and finding different ways to engage with Jewish tradition. Outside of his work with Tkiya, Neil is an assistant teacher at Makom Community and can be found on his way to or from Center City.

Rachel Haymer (she/her) - Tkiya Teacher (NYC)

Rachel is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii and has been a musician for most of her life. After graduating college and returning to her home synagogue, she volunteered at Temple Emanuel Honolulu to play in Shabbat services. She eventually became music director for the school of Jewish studies before moving to Manhattan in 2013. Rachel continued to work in the Jewish community, at the Hebrew Home of Riverdale as a musician and Shabbat service specialist. Her decision to turn again to leading children’s T’filah is what lead her to Tkiya! She is excited to be a part of the Tkiya team. Rachel also has an extensive secular music background including being part of the Musicians Under New York (MTA Musicians).

Rock Abrahamson (they/them) - Tkiya Teacher (Long Island, NY)

Rock is an educator, musician, and music arranger holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from Manhattanville College. At Manhattanville, Rock was the music director for two a cappella groups on campus and when not teaching in the classroom was teaching on the field as the captain of the school’s rugby team. Rock loves to combine their pedagogic and musical interests to create educational arrangements of loved songs in addition to adapting songs to fit different styles (such as making Lynyrd Skynyrd’s guitar solos in Freebird a cappella). In addition to Tkiya, Rock teaches private music lessons, tutors students K-12, and is a nanny. When not working, Rock is probably writing about music, arranging music to fit different performing groups, listening to classic rock, gardening, and obsessing over their cat. Rock is excited to be working with Tkiya to teach music to learners of all ages and experiences and looks forward to making connections with new people.

Shira Solomon (they/them) - Tkiya Teacher (NYC)

Shira is a musician and songwriter based in New York City with a bachelor's degree in Music Management. With guitar (or ukulele) in hand, Shira has served as a teacher and songleader for several Jewish schools and programs and is thrilled to continue that work in Tkiya! Their passion for building inclusive creative communities has led them to their role as a Moishe House resident in New York City, where they build community for hundreds Jewish young professionals. With experience in music booking, marketing, and assisting several music venues, their love of music has also helped bolster new and exciting artists. Besides playing songs and obsessing over new music, you can find Shira roller skating, cooking, or traveling,

Verónica Freidkes (she/her) - Tkiya Teacher (Bay Area, CA)

Verónica discovered her passion for singing at age six when she joined a children´s community choir in her hometown Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was the beginning of a musical journey exploring a breadth of styles, from tango and bossa nova to jazz, rock, and pop, also singing as Cantor in Jewish communities in Buenos Aires for over ten years. After many years of studying voice and piano privately, she managed to mix her studies in Psychology with the experience of teaching voice. That background and training as a psychotherapist provided her with tools to make the experience of learning music a truly rewarding adventure. Verónica loves to accompany students in the experience and discovery of music as a unique source of enjoyment and expression, where every style and genre is welcomed. When she is not teaching, practicing or studying, Verónica can be found riding her bicycle, enjoying nature, and discovering new places with Rodrigo, her husband, around the Bay Area, CA., their new home.

Zoe Stadler (she/they) - Tkiya Teacher (Bay Area, CA)

Zoe is an educator, plant person, and performing artist based in Berkeley, CA. Raised in Portland, Oregon, she developed a love of performing arts from an early age, participating in every choir and show she possibly could and teaching herself to play ukulele and guitar. She trained as a Teaching Assistant with Oregon Children's Theatre which led her to a degree in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Educational Theatre from Western Washington University. She reconnected to Judaism as a young adult through the Urban Adamah fellowship, and loves how Judaism connects her to community and seasonality. She's grateful to get to share this joy through music with young ones! 

Bri Jaffe (she/they) - Tkiya Teacher (Bay Area, CA)

Bio and photo coming soon!

Board of Directors

Tkiya’s Board of Directors is proud to serve Tkiya’s mission, assess our success, and continually seek to improve our impact on the communities that we serve. If you’d like to learn more about board service, please email Carla.

2024 Board of Directors

  • Kate Forester - Board Chair (Ithaca, NY)

  • Jay Herman – Treasurer (New Jersey)

  • Jodi Sarowitz – Secretary (Brooklyn, NY)

  • Carla Friend – Executive Director (Brooklyn, NY)

  • Seth Wolfson (New York, NY)

  • Shariee Calderone (Long Island, NY)

  • Danielle Segal (Brooklyn, NY)

  • Rob France (Philadelphia, PA)

  • Chelsea Hylton (New Orleans, LA)

  • Adam Socloff (New York, NY)