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JARRAD SAFFREN | STAFF WRITER
M ore than a year after
being fl ooded out of the
Jewish Community
Services Building in Center City, the
Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of
Fame has a new home at the Kaiserman
JCC in Wynnewood.

You will see the hall right as you
walk in through the glass doors. Th e
new decals showing Philadelphia Jewish
sports luminaries like Philadelphia
Eagles GM Howie Roseman, NBC
Sports Philadelphia host Michael
Barkann and Temple University coach-
ing legend Harry Litwack line the walls
of the main sitting area and two hall-
ways leading to the gym.

Twenty-six years’ worth of classes
and inductees are there, and there is
The Philadelphia Jewish Sports
Hall of Fame at the Kaiserman JCC
plenty of room for more, according to
hall chairman Steve Rosenberg. Two
“very large windows,” as Rosenberg
describes them, are available in the
front lobby for future classes.

In an August Jewish Exponent story
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8 OCTOBER 13, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
about the hall’s 2022 class, Rosenberg
said it’s important for the organization
to have a permanent home. He wanted
people to be able to “take their friends
and family and say, ‘Th ere’s my name.’”
Now, they can.

“I wanted to be in the most public
space possible so as many people as
possible could see it,” Rosenberg said.

Th e space inside the Main Line JCC
is more visible than the hall’s previous
two homes. Since opening in 1997, the
organization has lived in a corner in
the Gershman Y and in the basement
of the Jewish Community Services
building. You had to go to it to see it.

But at the JCC, it does not matter if
you are there for a basketball game, a
swim or some other activity. You will
not get there without a history lesson
on Jewish sports in Philadelphia.

“I’ll say in the next year more people
will know about the Jewish hall of fame
than have ever known about it before,”
Rosenberg said.

Aft er you walk past the decals,
inside the gym there’s a sign that reads
“Future Inductees Playing.” Kaiserman
CEO Alan Scher pointed to that sign
when explaining why the JCC wanted
to become the new home for the hall.

Th e Wynnewood institution hosts
youth sports programs. It is “in the
business of inspiring the next genera-
tion of Jewish athletes,” Scher said.

“Th ere’s a real connection between
these institutions, and that’s the reason
it’s such a natural fi t,” he added.

In addition to inspiring young ath-
letes, the hall will likely partner with
the JCC to host events. Scher men-
tioned a possible speaker series. He
also said that Kaiserman would be
interested in hosting the hall’s annual
induction ceremony, which was held
at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in
Philadelphia the last two years.

“We see nothing but upside in
collaborating with them,” Scher said.

Hurricane Ida fl ooded the basement
of the Jewish Community Services
Building on Sept. 2, 2021. Seven feet of
water ruined physical cabinets, televi-
sions and lockers, among other items,
according to Stephen Frishberg, the
hall’s chairman at the time.

Rosenberg said that more than 90%
of the hall’s artifacts ended up in the
trash. Some of them just washed away.

Aft er the fl ood, Scher got a call from
Rosenberg and Frishberg. Th ey told
him that they had been contemplating
an expansion, and that the fl ood gave
them the opportunity to do it.

Scher, who took over at Kaiserman
in July 2021, was a new executive try-
ing to fi gure out a business model for
the Philadelphia area’s last true JCC on
the Pennsylvania side. And he described
himself as “over the moon with excite-
ment” when they called. He felt like the
hall was in line with the JCC's programs
and could add to the institution’s brand.

“I’m committed to bringing vibrancy
to the JCC in any way I can, and this is
a great way to do that,” he said.

Rosenberg then secured the funding
to build a new display, and the organi-
zations agreed on a fall unveiling date.

Th ere may be a ribbon-cutting at some
point, but either way, the display is up.

On Oct. 16, the JCC will host a Sukkot
festival with 500 to 700 people and more
than 30 sponsors, according to Scher.

He said the JCC will be “thrilled to wel-
come everybody to campus and show
them the Jewish sports hall of fame.”
In September, more than 200 people
attended the hall’s induction ceremony
for its 2022 class. Rosenberg said he’s “still
getting emails from people saying it was
one of the best ceremonies we’ve had.”
“Th ere was tremendous energy,” he
added. JE
jsaff ren@midatlanticmedia.com
Photo by Andy Gotlieb
Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of
Fame Finds Home at Kaiserman JCC



COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes
financial and volunteer resources to address the
communities’ most critical priorities locally, in Israel and
around the world.

T Jewish Federation Real Estate
Announces 10th Annual Legends
and Leaders Event
he Jewish Federation Real Estate’s Legends
and Leaders event will make its comeback at
the Kimmel Center on Friday, Oct. 21 from
7:30-10:30 a.m.

As part of the Jewish Federation of Greater
Philadelphia, real estate and related industry profes-
sionals will gather for the 10th iteration of the city’s
premier event to enjoy a morning of networking with
some of the most lauded real estate executives.

“Th e 10th Annual Legends and Leaders milestone
demonstrates proof-of-concept that like-minded pro-
fessionals can become the central force of both their
professional industry and their philanthropic com-
munity,” said Bill Glazer, the Jewish Federation’s
campaign co-chair as well as founding and current
member of JFRE’s executive committee.

Th e much-anticipated event will feature expert
speakers from across the industry. Jessica Morgan,
Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds principal and JFRE
executive committee member, will host a conversa-
tion with David Adelman, Jewish Federation board
co-chair and chairman of 76 Devcorp; Josh Harris,
76ers managing partner; and Tad Brown, 76ers CEO.

Attendees will also hear from CBRE economists
Richard Barkham and Spencer Levy as they discuss
infl ation, rising interest rates and geopolitical ten-
sion, and its impact on United States real estate.

Presented by Firstrust, this powerhouse event is
supported by nearly 70 sponsors.

“I’m excited to hear from David Adelman, Josh
Harris and Tad Brown on the Sixers’ new stadium
and particularly on the job creation they anticipate
it will deliver to Center City,” JFRE chair Jonathan
Morgan said.

Similarly, moderator Jessica Morgan is looking
forward to the speakers’ insights and conversations.

“Th e best parts of JFRE events are the opportuni-
ties to hear from experts in the fi eld,” shared Morgan,
who is also an advisory board member of Penn
Institute for Urban Research. “Th is year’s present-
ers will no doubt share thoughtful insight into our
industry and give us some behind-the-scenes details
about the 76ers’ new arena.”
In addition to this annual signature event, JFRE
also off ers events and educational programs, where
members can deepen and expand their networks, dis-
Jewish Federation Real Estate’s 10 th Annual
JESSICA MORGAN
Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds Principal
in conversation with
Legends & Leaders
DAVID ADELMAN
Jewish Federation Board Co-Chair
and 76 Devcorp Chairman
JOSH HARRIS
76ers Managing Partner
TAD BROWN
76ers CEO
Featuring RICHARD BARKHAM, CBRE Economist SPENCER LEVY, CBRE Economist
The Jewish Federation Real Estate’s signature Legends and Leaders event will be on Oct. 21 at the Kimmel Center.

Courtesy of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
cover and tour new venues and development projects,
and learn about meaningful opportunities to donate
and volunteer.

“It’s a great place for people starting out to meet
those that are further ahead and get advice or insight
into their career,” said Adelman, one of the event’s
speakers and a founding member of JFRE.

Besides career-advancing events, JFRE also makes
a profound impact within the Greater Philadelphia
community and in Israel and overseas through its
funding of capital and security projects.

In 2021-2022, JFRE allocated $444,936.42 from
its fund to 18 projects, with a heightened focus on
security. Th ese projects included a vast array of local
eff orts, like adding new fencing and cameras to
Jewish summer camps and synagogues and creating
new housing for seniors and low-income families.

In Israel, funds allowed numerous organizations to
enhance shelters for at-risk children.

One of JFRE’s major global projects was the recent
development of a medical clinic in Gondar, Ethiopia.

In the midst of a humanitarian crisis, the life-saving
clinic will serve Ethiopian Jews while they await
making aliyah to Israel. With a grant from the JFRE
Fund and additional dollars raised by the JFRE
Executive Committee, JFRE was able to allocate
almost $160,000 to create this much-needed clinic.

Its construction was done in partnership with the
Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry, the main source of
humanitarian assistance for the Jewish community
in Ethiopia.

“While all the projects we fund are impactful, I
was particularly proud of the JFRE project to build a
medical clinic in Gondar,” Jonathan Morgan stated.

“SSEJ proposed building a medical clinic to provide
necessary health and medical support for Ethiopian
Jews. Th anks to the JFRE Fund and the leadership of
our executive committee, we answered the call and
are literally saving lives in doing so.”
Th e signature Legends and Leaders event is free for
all JFRE members and is $175 for non-members. To
register for the event, visit jewishphilly.org/legends
or contact Joel Schwarz at jschwarz@jewishphilly.org
or 215-832-0544.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 9