JEWISH EDUCATION
The Greater Philadelphia area offers a wide variety of formal and informal Jew-
ish educational experiences for Jews of all ages and levels—from toddlers to
senior citizens and from vocational learners to graduate students. There are
Jewish nursery-school programs in many synagogues; Jewish day schools, Jew-
ish high schools, supplementary schools, many synagogue-based Sunday and
afternoon schools, a college of Jewish studies, a rabbinical college and a variety
of other Jewish educational opportunities. Jewish Federation’s Mandell Educa-
tion Campus, a 28-acre site in Melrose Park, is home to Jewish Learning Ven-
ture, the Forman Center of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman Jewish Day
School, Gratz College, the Jewish Community High School (a division of Gratz
College), a branch of Federation Early Learning Services, as well as Jewish Fam-
ily and Children’s Service of Philadelphia. The 35-acre Jewish Federation Rad-
nor Campus in Delaware County houses the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.
It accommodates a wide variety of educational and programming activities.
There are also oppor tunities for Jewish education at many of the area’s colleges.
Area synagogues and communal schools have educational programs for people
of all ages.
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
NEXT Program at Gratz College
7605 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-635-7300, Ext. 126 • ehirsh@gratz.edu • gratz.edu/NEXT
Professional learning program for supplementary school teachers. Offers free
classes, mentorships, assessment tools and professional growth plans for supple-
mentary school teachers.
OROT Program
7601 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027 • 215-935-0020
info@orotkids.org • orotkids.org
A special needs initiative in the Philadelphia area Jewish day schools. In con-
junction with host day schools, OROT personnel set policy, create and super-
vise programs, provide financial support and advocate for services provided to
children with special needs. OROT and the host day schools seek to provide
the best possible curriculum, within a supportive and inclusive environment.
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Communities
in association with the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
1299 Church Road • Wyncote, PA 19095
215-576-0800 • Fax: 215-576-6143
JewishRecon@rrc.edu • JewishRecon.org
Provides guidance, curricula and direct consulting to affiliated con gregational
synagogue schools.
Education and Outreach Services
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia
1501 North Broad Street, Suite 14 • Philadelphia, PA 19122
1-866-JFCS-NOW • info@jfcsphilly.org • jfcsphilly.org
Initiates research based programs in collaboration with public and/or private
schools, Jewish day schools, synagogues and other community organizations.
Engaging and interactive educational programs help young people to handle the
age specific challenges of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, bullying, violence
and sexual behavior, gambling prevention, substance abuse prevention, violence
prevention, suicide prevention, anti -bullying and building a healthy body
image. JFCS also conducts workshops for parents, teachers and other profes-
sionals. Jewish Learning Venture
Mandell Educational Campus
7607 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027 • 215-320-0360
info@jewishlearningventure.org • jewishlearningventure.org
Offers opportunities to increase skills of educators:
Jewish Education and Leadership Development: experiences for Jewish
Educators provides opportunities to increase educators’ Judaic and peda-
gogic skills. Learning opportunities include conferences, single-session
workshops for educators, multipart educational series for education
directors, multipart workshops for lay leadership, monthly webinars, col-
laborative cross-congregational working groups, etc.
Harold and Renee Berger Network for Engaging Families with Young
Children: encourages and supports congregations interested in develop-
ing and implementing systemic approaches to attract and engage Jewish
families with young children to their congregation and to Jewish life. The
Network provides grant monies to be used in the implementation of new
initiatives. jteenphilly: offers professionals from area congregations, communally
based teen programs, youth groups, Jewish day high schools and Jewish
camps an opportunity to address and change the reality of low participa-
tion rates in Jewish communal life by Jewish teens through networking
and collaboration efforts.
76 THE GUIDE 2015/2016
EARLY-CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Early child care and education in the Jewish community are available through
Federation Early Learning Services. Other programs are under the auspices of
synagogues or located in synagogues (operated by private owners) and in Jewish
community centers.
Federation Early Learning Services
Myer and Rosaline Feinstein Campus
10700 Jamison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-676-7550 • Fax: 215-676-9498
info@FelsKids.org • FELSKids.org
Provides state-licensed, NAEYC accredited and Keystone Stars top ranking
early childhood centers for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, kindergartners and
elementary school children in eight centers and one public school location
throughout the Delaware Valley. FELS’ programs have received the
highest attainable ratings by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Typically
enrollment is full-time, though part-week enrollment is available at some loca-
tions. Jewish programming is an integral part of the curriculum. Staff, in collab-
oration with a child development specialist, maximizes the abilities and devel-
opment of all children enrolled. Parents are viewed as partners and are
encouraged to become actively involved in their child’s education. Parent
associations organize educational, social and fundraising activities for the entire
family. Scholarships and state subsidies available for families meeting eligibility
requirements. Buerger Early Learning Center
619 North Broad Street • Philadelphia, PA 19123
267-535-2643 • Buerger@FELSkids.org
Early childhood education program for infants, toddlers and preschool-
ers. Full and part-week whole day schedules are available. A secular cur-
riculum is complemented by a Jewish curriculum that integrates the
synagogue’s rabbi and cantor on a regular basis. Buerger participates in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Keystone Stars Quality Initiative
Program which upholds the highest standards in the state. Scholarships
and state subsidies are available for families meeting the eligibility
requirements.
Gutman Early Learning Center
Lassin Early Learning Center
Mandell Education Campus • 7500 West Avenue • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-635-5570, Ext. 125 • Fax: 215-635-8155 • Gutman@FelsKids.org
A nationally (NAEYC) accredited, state-licensed program providing
early-childhood education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and children
transitioning to kindergarten. The program features specialists including
a Hebrew enrichment program, sign language, creative movement and
music, etc. A summer camp with an in-ground pool and many specialists
is open to the community. Scholarships and state subsidies are available
for families meeting the eligibility requirements.
Gan Classroom — Torah U’Mitzvos classroom for 3- and 4-year-olds
is a joint venture of Federation Early Learning Services and the Politz
Hebrew Academy. Provides an Orthodox education and observes Ortho-
dox dietary laws. Morah Debbie Ungar designed the Judaic classroom
(approved by Rabbi Dov Brisman of Young Israel of Elkins Park), which
also features special programming such as Kidnetics, sign language and
music. The program prepares children for enrollment in Orthodox day
schools. Offers full day-care five days per week. Summer camp is available.
Myer and Rosaline Feinstein Campus
10800 Jamison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-677-7191 • Fax: 215-969-3502 • Lassin@FelsKids.org
A nationally (NAEYC) accredited, state-licensed programing providing
early-childhood education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-
age children. Achieved a four-star rating through the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania’s Keystone Stars Quality Initiative Program. A summer
camp with swimming and specialists is open to the community. Scholar-
ships and state subsidies are available for families meeting the eligibility
requirements. Kehillah Early Learning Center
Congregation Ohev Shalom • 2 Chester Road • Wallingford, PA
610-872-0400 • Fax: 215-872-0557 • Kehillah@FelsKids.org
A nationally (NAEYC) accredited, state-licensed program providing
early-childhood education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children
in kindergarten. Activities include Israeli dance, gymnastics, sign-language
lessons, music and development, etc. Participates in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania’s Keystone Stars Quality Initiative Program. A summer camp
with many specialists is open to the community. Scholarships and state
subsidies are available for families meeting the eligibility requirements.
Kol Ami Early Learning Center
8201 High School Road • Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-635-4180 • Fax: 215-635-4186 • KolAmi@FELSKids.org
A joint program with Congregation Kol Ami providing early-childhood
education programs to toddlers and pre-schoolers in a small group setting.
A secular curriculum is complemented by a Jewish curriculum integrating
the synagogue’s rabbi, cantor and a Hebrew specialist. Fitness, sign language
and special events enrich the year-round camp program. Scholarships and
state subsidies are available for families meeting eligibility requirements.
K’tonton Early Learning Center
Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid
715 Paxon Hollow Road • Broomall, PA 19003
610-325-4831 • Fax: 610-356-8091 • Ktonton@FelsKids.org
A joint program of Federation Early Learning Center and Congregation
Beth El-Ner Tamid providing early childhood education for infants, toddlers
and preschoolers. Earned a four star rating, through the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania’s Keystone Stars Quality Initiative Program. Provides part or
full-time options. Offers specialists, including Hebrew enrichment, karate,
kinetics, etc. A summer-camp program open to the community includes
sports, water play, specialists in Israeli dance, yoga, music and field trips.
Lokoff Early Learning Center
Howard I. Abrams Preschool Program
7002 Butler Pike, Suite 100 • Ambler, PA 19002
215-643-0110 • Fax: 215-643-3286 • Lokoff@FelsKids.org
A nationally (NAEYC) accredited, state-licensed program providing
early-childhood education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and chil-
dren transitioning to kindergarten. Achieved a four-star rating through
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Keystone Stars Quality Initiative
Program. Offers many specialists, including a Hebrew-enrichment pro-
gram, impact sports and a music instructor (September through June). A
summer camp with instructional and recreational swim, along with
many specialists, is open to the community. Scholarships and state subsi-
dies are available for families meeting the eligibility requirements.
Paley Early Learning Center
2199 Strahle Street • Philadelphia, PA 19152
215-725-8930 • Fax: 215-742-2349 • Paley@FelsKids.org
A nationally (NAEYC) accredited, state-licensed program providing
early-care and education for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kinder-
garten and school-aged children. The center has achieved a four-star rat-
ing through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Keystone Stars Quality
Initiative Program. Offers specialists including sign language, creative
movement, music, computers and more. A summer-camp program with
an Olympic-size pool, swim instruction and specialists is open to the
community. Scholarships and state subsidies are available for families
meeting the eligibility requirements.
OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Bensalem Jewish Outreach
Center-Torah Learning Center
2446 Bristol Road • Bensalem, PA 19020 • 215-752-5032
bensalemoutreach.org/preschool.php Center City Jewish Preschool
527 Lombard Street • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-238-2100 • jewishpreschool.org
Chabad Garden School
1311 Fort Washington Avenue • Fort Washington, PA 19034
215-591-9310 • devorah@Jewishmc.com • chabadgardenschool.com
For children aged 3 months to 5 years
Schwartz Preschool at Kesher Israel
412 Lombard Street • Philadelphia • 215-922-2095 schwarzpreschool.com
Robert J. Wilf Preschool and Kindergarten
at the Kaiserman JCC
45 Haverford Road • Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-896-7770, Ext. 118 • phillyjcc.com
THE GUIDE 2015/2016
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