Congregational School Staff

Holli Goldenberg

Congregational School Director, Zayin class, Tot and Teen Coordinator

Holli is an accomplished educator by profession. She is currently working as a district administrator within the school district of Philadelphia, where she oversees the English as a Second Language program at multiple schools. Holli has extensive experience in both formal and informal Jewish education and has a background in theater.

Holli is also our current teen leadership and social programming coordinator.

Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer

Congregational School Curriculum Development and High Holy Day Children's Services

Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer began her work with Mishkan Shalom as a teacher in our school in 1998 and considers Mishkan to be one of her spiritual homes ever since! Her husband, Fred, and their children, George and Jeremy, have also been part of the Mishkan community for many years. Gabby is now the curriculum creator for the Mishkan school and also leads children's services for the High Holy Days.

Gabrielle is well-known as an author and Jewish educator whose work focuses on spirituality, creativity and disability. She is the proud recipient of the 2022 Covenant Award and currently edits the Jewish Disability Inclusion News.

Gabrielle also leads Feed Your Spirit Writing, facilitating expressive writing workshops focused on spiritual curiosity and also writes a Substack called "Journey With The Seasons," a weekly practice of meditative reading, expressive writing prompts and deepening practices.

Amy Goldman

Gimel Hebrew, Vav Judaics, Hay Hebrew

Amy joined our teaching staff in 2020 and has extensive experience in Jewish education. She loves the creative arts and cooking, two passions that she’s already brought to her students at Mishkan.

Amy is a graduate of Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Cantor David Acker

Hay Judaics, Vav Hebrew

David holds a master's degree in cantorial studies and Jewish music from Gratz College as well as music degrees from Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music and Swarthmore College. He is also a candidate for a master's in Jewish education at Gratz College.

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Prior to teaching at Mishkan Shalom, David served as cantor and music specialist at Congregation Ohev Shalom (Wallingford) and Or Shalom (Berwyn). At Mishkan he has led clubs that created and performed plays and raps for Hanukkah, Purim, and Passover, as well as storytelling and trope clubs. He enjoys singing all kinds of music, including opera, musical theater and lieder as well as liturgical music. David is drawn to teaching in the synagogue because within it he experiences the whole gamut of Jewish life: prayer, education, b’nai mitzvah preparation, life cycle, and community.