For the first time ever, educators from around the country will be certified in our award-winning methodology, bringing more joyful Jewish connection to communities everywhere.
Anna Iroff-Bailey (she/her) - Knoxville Jewish Alliance
Anna is the Director of Jewish Life at the Knoxville Jewish Alliance in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was born and raised in Knoxville so it is an extra honor to work professionally in her home community. Anna attended the Joint Program between Columbia University and List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary before graduate school at the University of Tennessee. She was a speech-language pathologist in the public schools for 8 years before turning Jewish communal volunteer work into a full-time career. As the Director of Jewish Life, Anna works with PJ Library, Judaica programming for Preschool at AJCC, and community programming and events. She and her husband Jared were blessed to enjoy virtual Tkiya classes with their young daughter during COVID, and Anna is very excited to bring this energy, joy, and high-quality Jewish programming to Knoxville.
Benjamin Brodkey (he/him) - Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines
Benjamin Brodkey is a musician and Jewish educator based in Des Moines, Iowa, where he serves the Jewish community through his role as the Assistant Director of Education and Programming at the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines. After learning to song lead and teach in Omaha and at various summer camps, Benjamin brings more than a decade worth of experience to his community and other communities he serves. He graduated with a degree in music from Drake University, with concentrations in vocal music education and musicology and a religion minor. Prior to working full-time for the Federation, he served as a Judaics and Music Specialist at Camp Sabra, a counselor at J Camp Omaha, the Jewish Education Director at Camp Young Judea Midwest, and taught a variety of classes in the Temple Israel Congregational School, Beit Sefer Shalom—the Jewish Federation Community School, and Gan Shalom Preschool. Benjamin is part of the inaugural cohort of the LightLab’s T’fillah Teacher Fellows and is a Leadership for Emerging Education Professionals (LEEP) Fellow with NewCAJE. He also serves as on the faculty for Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Cornerstone Fellowship. While he wears many "kippot" in his role, his top priorities include actively teaching a variety of classes in youth programs, teen engagement, running the 11-week summer day camp, Engman Camp Shalom, creating community programs, and providing educational and musical opportunities for people of all ages.
Elizabeth Botnick (she/her) - Sager Solomon Schechter of Metropolitan Chicago
Elizabeth is originally from Flint, MI. She has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Mississippi University for Women. While living on a military base in Okinawa, Japan, Elizabeth taught elementary music for 4 years to children of American service members. Upon moving to Las Vegas, NV, she taught music in the public schools for 2 years and at a local Jewish Day School for an additional year. Elizabeth currently teaches music to 2 year olds through 6th graders at a Jewish Day School in the Chicago suburbs. Additionally, she has also taught Sunday School as a grade level teacher or a music specialist for 4 years. Elizabeth has always been drawn to Jewish education and is loving pairing it with her love of music. The wonder and delight she gets to witness on her preschoolers' faces each week is a wonderful highlight to her teaching career and a lovely new direction she has found herself in. Elizabeth looks forward to making new musical experiences that she can share with her students to increase their joy, love of music, and connection to Judaism.
Cantor Ilana Goldman (she/her) - Temple Emanu-El of Westfield
Cantor Goldman has been the Cantor of Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, NJ since She received her Masters of Sacred Music and was ordained from Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion in 2021. She spent her senior year of high school at Interlochen Arts Academy in MI and continued her education at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI where she majored in music and religious studies with a minor in psychology. During her time in cantorial school she had the privilege of holding several student pulpits at diverse congregations including Temple Micah in Washington D.C, Vassar Temple in Poughkeepsie, Scarsdale Synagogue and East End Temple in NY. She especially values her training as a chaplain intern at Bellevue Hospital where she completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education bringing music, prayer and comfort to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Macy Box (she/her) - Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg
Macy works at the Harrisburg (PA) JCC as the Children and Youth Director. Through her work work she love working with children of all ages, especially through her roots as a former pre-k teacher, PJ library, summer camp, and youth theater! Macy’s favorite thing to sing is silly songs about my two miniature schnauzers, Chester and Banjo.
Melo Taylor (she/her) - J of Los Angeles
Melo is a multi-instrumentalist with a variety of Jewish professional experiences in summer camps, youth groups, synagogues, Jewish day schools, and JCCs across the country. Her passion is teaching young people through art, theater, and music. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, gardening, and shopping for shoes she doesn’t need.
Applications for Cohort 2 will open this summer and learning will commence in the fall! If you would like to unlock the Tkiya Toolkit, read on for more information and fill out the form at the bottom of this page so we can update you when applications open.
Tkiya Gedola is for preschool teachers, songleaders, clergy, PJ Library professionals, and educators of all types.
You can join as an individual or through a sponsoring institution. Gedola is great for . . .
1) Songleaders/musicians who are excited to incorporate more stories, props, and other engagement tools into their programming
2) Educators (not necessarily musicians) who are eager to learn how to use more music and other engagement tools to help reinvigorate their classrooms.
When you join Gedola, you will learn to apply our approach to joyful Jewish connection in countless settings including classrooms, community events, Tot Shabbat, baby & me, and more.
You will undergo similar training to a Tkiya employee through:
Monthly digital gatherings
One-on-one mentorship and virtual check-in opportunities with Tkiya’s Education Team
Ongoing performance observations and feedback via self-recorded videos
Access to our proprietary database of pre-recorded media, scripts, and other educational content
Your cohort will also come together in person at the Songleader Bootcamp conference through the Tkiya Track!
The program will run from October, 2024 through May, 2025. Upon completing this cycle, you’ll have the opportunity to join a network of Tkiya-certified educators. The network will maintain access to ongoing support, resources, and other professional development.
Who will I be learning from?
Carla Friend (she/they): Founder & Executive Director
Carla was in the music education field long before she started working in Jewish spaces. She found her Jewish identity through music and created Tkiya to help others do the same. She is the creator of Tkiya's methodology, and has spent the last decade developing it, now reaching 10,000 people a year.
Hannah Gundersheim (she/her): Education Director
Hannah has ten years of songleading experience across various Jewish communities. Integrating her skills and experience with Tkiya’s award-winning methodology, she now trains and supports Tkiya’s teaching team and is thrilled to be co-leading the inaugural cohort.
You will also have the opportunity to learn from others on Tkiya's education team, as well as the peers in your cohort.
“Since working with Carla and Tkiya, my Baby & Me classes have grown from 6-7 families participating, to 20 participants weekly. She gave me guidance on the structure, song choices, and how to use props to engage young children. Plus, her songs are so much fun!” -Melo Taylor, J Los Angeles
What does Gedola cost?
Enrollment in this cohort will be offered on a sliding scale based on the budget size of the sponsoring organization, with financial accommodations available.
Here are the costs for Cohort 1*
>$5M: $3,600
$1M-$5M: $2,400
<$1M: $1,800
If you’re applying without a sponsoring organization:
Individuals: $1,800
Cohort 2 will learn over a longer period of time and tuition is subject to change before applications open. Scholarships are available for those for whom cost is a barrier! These rates are already reduced, but we have scholarships and available to ensure accessibility. Please do not hesitate to contact Carla with any financial concerns so that we can ensure your ability to participate!
What are you looking for in an applicant?
We are looking for educators who are eager to learn, have some goals for growth, and take well to feedback. Participants with varying levels of skills and experience are welcome. We’re also looking for people who are excited to be part of the inaugural cohort of this initiative, sharing feedback to help cater the program to your specific needs. If you have a desire to grow as an educator, you belong here! We can’t wait to hear from you.
I'm in! What's next?
Applications for Cohort 2 will open in early summer, 2024 and the program will run from October through May. Fill out the form below if you’d like to be updated when applications are available! In the meantime, feel free to email Hannah at hannah.g@tkiya.org with any questions.