Jewish Federation’s Impact on
the COMMUNITY’S
RELATIONSHIP with israel
Recognizing the importance of Israel to each and every
one of us, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
connects the local community with Israel, including
the Partnership2Gether region of Netivot and Sdot
Negev. Through close partnerships, these communities
learn and grow together. Each Jewish Federation Israel
initiative is designed to encourage engagement, build
cultural bonds, advocate for peace and security, and
provide for those in need.

Of Jewish households in Greater Philadelphia*:
66 % feel to care it is about important Israel
Jewish adults have
to Israel
37 % of traveled
Jewish adults believe it is
33 % of important
to donate to Israel
raising Jewish children
it is important for their children
61 % of say to parents
have a strong connection to Israel
Impact by the Numbers (Fiscal Year 2020)
454,000 350 +
Philadelphians travel
on Jewish Federation
missions to Israel, and
visit the city of Netivot
and the Sdot Negev
region each year
$ $
distributed through the
Women of Vision Fund and
other restricted endowments
to Israeli organizations and
US-based Israeli-related
programs such as Birthright
2.5 MILLION +
granted through the
Jewish Community
Fund to agencies
in Israel supporting
242,286 individuals
Meet DAVID,
A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR
“I escaped death during the
Holocaust and arrived in
Israel in 1946 where I am
proud to have helped build
this country. Today I live off
of social security and what
little I receive as a Holocaust
Survivor. Latet doesn’t just
give me a food box - the girl
who brings me a box sits
with me; we talk; she’s my
friend. Thank you to all who
think of us and donate. When
one helps another somehow,
it will get back to him.”
Areas of Impact in Israel
• Emotional support for
at-risk populations
• Food insecurity
• Academic and
career services
for teens and
young adults
• Celebrating Israel’s
culture and history
• Advocacy for
Jewish pluralism
* According to the Jewish Federation’s 2019 Community Portrait
Learn more about your Jewish community at communityportrait.org
24 APRIL 8, 2021
JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



C ommunity / mazel tovs
ENGAGEMENTS BIRTHS
ASSOUR-KIRSCHNER MAXWELL BYRON (ISRAEL) PRUSKY
Hope and Lee Kirschner of Bala Cynwyd and Merle and Isaac Assour from
Huntingdon Valley announce the engagement of their children, Bryan Aaron
Kirschner and Danielle Lily Assour.

Bryan is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, in addition to having
a master of education degree. He is a teacher at Perelman Jewish Day School.

Danielle is also a Penn State graduate and director of client strategy at
Stream Cos.

Sharing in the couple’s happiness are Brittany Kirschner and Blake Rosen
and Hannah Assour and Ben Assour.

The couple reside in Center City and plan a fall 2022 wedding in
Philadelphia. Photo by Hope Kirschner
Maxwell Byron (Israel) Prusky was born Jan. 18
to Kelly and Ben Prusky.

He is named in honor of his grandmother
Maria and his grandfather Byron Prusky and
paternal great-grandfather Israel Prusky.

Sharing in their happiness are grandparents
Myra Prusky (née Manis) of Bala Cynwyd and
Maria Hearn of Danbury, Connecticut. Also
welcoming Maxwell are uncles Jim Prusky of
New York, Andrew Prusky of Plymouth Meeting
and Junior Silva of Danbury, along with their
wives and families, and his sisters Bryn and Jane.

BARNETT-LAPIN Sara Barnett, daughter of Vivian and Andrew Barnett of Cherry Hill, New
Jersey, and Jonathan (JJ) Lapin, son of Cynthia and Avrum Lapin of Elkins
Park, announce their engagement.

Sara is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University.

She works as a pediatric occupational therapist in the Southeast Delco School
District. JJ is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University.

He is a first-year pharmacy resident at the Hospital at the University of
Pennsylvania, heading to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for his second-
year pharmacy residency to complete his training in infectious diseases.

Sara and JJ live in Philadelphia and are getting married in New Hope in August 2022.

Photo by Ben Prusky
Photo by Emma Cleary\
THOMAS-MORGOVSKY Sue and Jeff Thomas of Fox Chase and Irene and Gregory Morgovsky of
Somerton announce the engagement of their children, Marjorie D. Thomas
and Alexander Morgovsky.

Marjorie is a graduate of Central High School and Temple University. She
is a television producer in Philadelphia.

Alexander is a graduate of Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, University
of Pennsylvania, and LaSalle University, where he obtained his MBA. He is a
DevOps specialist in Philadelphia.

Marjorie is the granddaughter of the late Sylvia and Morris Thomas and the
late Rosa and Julius Katz. Alexander is the grandson of the late Bronya and
Mikhail Burda and Ida and the late Yakov Morgovsky.

A summer 2022 wedding in Philadelphia is planned.
Photo by Jeff Thomas
BAYLA MAE SIEGEL
Burt Siegel and Joy
Pollock of Meadowbrook
and Lynn Higgins of
The Villages, Florida,
announce the birth of
their granddaughter,
Bayla Mae Siegel, born
Feb. 20.

Bayla is the daughter
of Julianne Remus
Siegel and Joshua Siegel
and the sister of Adelaide Rose of Elkins Park. She
is named in loving memory of her grandmother
Barbara Siegel and her great-grandmother
Mildred Remus.

Photo by Julianne Remus Siegel
COMMUNITYBRIEFS Camp Harlam Receives Inclusion Grant
CAMP HARLAM IN Kunkletown was among 13 camps
receiving a total of $2.6 million from the Foundation for
Jewish Camp’s Yashar Initiative to increase accessibility
for campers and staff with disabilities.

The initiative funded by The Harry and Jeanette
Weinberg Foundation is responsible for improve-
ments to accessibility and inclusion at camp,
providing money for capital improvements, profes-
sional development, staff training, research and
evaluation. The programs support those with autism
spectrum disorder, as well as those with intellectual,
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM developmental, physical and sensory disabilities.

Each recipient committed to increasing their total
campers with disabilities to at least 5% of the total
camper population.

This is the third round of grantees through the
Yashar Initiative. Since the program launched in
2019, FJC has awarded more than $8 million in grants
to 39 camps.

Also receiving grants in the latest round were NJY
Round Lake Camp in Milford, Pennsylvania; Neil
Klatskin JCC Camp in Tenafly, New Jersey; and JCC
Camp Ruach in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

JEWISH EXPONENT
Establishments Receive Kosher Certification
Community Kashrus of Greater Philadelphia
(Keystone-K) announced that three area establish-
ments were certified kosher under its supervision.

The Wynnewood and Springfield locations of
Nothing Bundt Cakes were certified kosher-dairy.

And Rikki’s Cupcakes of Allentown was certified
kosher-parve-pas Yisroel.

In addition, Insomnia Cookies announced that
its Bala Cynwyd and University of Pennsylvania
bakeries received kosher-dairy certification from
Keystone K. l
APRIL 8, 2021
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