Bensalem Jewish Outreach Center
Jewish Children’s Folkshul and Adult Community
Kehillas B’nai Shalom
2446 Bristol Road • Bensalem, PA 19020
215-752-5032 • Fax: 215-752-2340
bjoc@bensalemoutreach.org • bensalemoutreach.org
Educational center for Jewish studies for Jews of all backgrounds. Open all day
with sessions for guided Torah study. Programs of special interest to women are
also offered.
P.O. Box 17 • Wyncote, PA 19095 • 215-248-1550
folkshul@folkshul.org • folkshul.org
Provides education within a secular, humanistic framework. Serves families
who identify with Jewish values and culture. Curriculum includes Jewish holi-
days, history, cooking, music, literature and social action/social justice. Also
offers a Bar/Bat Mitzvah program and adult-education classes. Meets at Spring-
side Chestnut Hill Academy, 8000 Cherokee St, Philadelphia, PA 19118.
Community Torah Center of Bucks County
Jewish Farm School
944 Second Street Pike • Richboro, PA 18954
215-485-5755 • Fax: 267-284-1267
rabbi@jewishbucks.org • JewishBucks.org
Offers programs for all ages and from all backgrounds.
5020 Cedar Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19143
1-877-537-6286 • Fax: 877-891-8314
info@jewishfarmschool.org • jewishfarmschool.org
Teaches about contemporary food and environmental issues through skill-based
Jewish agricultural education. Driven by traditions of using food and agriculture
as tools for social justice and spiritual mindfulness. Addresses the injustices
embedded in today’s mainstream food system and works to create greater access
to sustainably grown foods, produced from a consciousness of both ecological
and social well being.
Congregation Beth Solomon—CBS Community Center
198 Tomlinson Road • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-671-1981 • Fax: 215-671-8007
info@cbscommunitycenter.com • cbscommunitycenter.com
Educational opportunities for all ages, camps and a kollel for adult education.
Also fosters outreach to the Russian immigrant community.
Etz Chaim
7900 High School Road • Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-635-3890 • info@etzchaimcenter.org • etzchaimcenter.com
Jewish resource center providing classical and contemporary Jewish learning to
Jews of all backgrounds, enabling them to further their spiritual growth and
reconnect with their heritage. Offers a diverse menu of subjects like Talmud,
Bible, Jewish philosophy, Kabbalistic thought and Mussar, as well as Jewish
Marriage Enrichment, Women to Women and a Young Professionals group.
Gratz College Adult Jewish Learning
Mandell Education Campus
7605 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-635-7300, Ext. 182 or 1-800-475-4635 • Fax: 215-635-7399
brosenau@gratz.edu • gratz.edu
Offers courses for adults in the community who enjoy learning with instructors
who are experts in their fields. Subjects include history; literature; theology; ethics;
Torah and ancient texts of Israel and the Middle East; Jewish music, art and film;
and more. Also offers Hebrew and Yiddish language classes for all levels. Classes
are located in Melrose Park, the Main Line and Center City.
Distinguished Scholar Lectures are open to the community (including the Shuster-
man and Stern community lectures), continuing legal education, as well as trips,
films and programs.
Hazon Philadelphia
5020 Cedar Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19143
877-537-6286 • phillyinfo@hazon.org • hazon.org/philly
Creates healthier and more sustainable communities in the Jewish world and
beyond. Effects change in the world in three ways: Transformative Experiences,
Thought-Leadership and Capacity-Building. Programs are multigenerational
and give entry points for Jews of all backgrounds who are concerned about the
environment and the world, with a particular focus on young adults interested
in developing the skills to take on leadership roles in their communities.
Institute for Jewish Ethics
1420 Walnut Street, Suite 1008 • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-782-8878 • IJE@IJEthics.org • www.IJEthics.org
Offers classes and seminars, as well as personal guidance presented by rabbis,
experts and professionals in various disciplinary areas. An accredited provider
of Continuing Legal Education by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, IJE
offers accredited courses for social workers, doctors and other professionals.
82 THE GUIDE 2015/2016
Jewish Learning Venture
Mandell Education Campus
7607 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-320-0360 • Fax: 215-635-8946
info@jewishlearningventure.org • jewishlearningventure.org
Offers various educational programs for adults and families.
jkidphilly: connects adults and families with young children, infants to
age 12, to the people, happenings, resources and voices of our Jewish
community through programs, relationship building and the
jkidphilly.org website. The website includes a community calendar of
events and programs, holiday resources and a searchable directory for
schools and early-childhood education programs. Contact:
215-320-6398; lrubin@jewishlearningventure.org.
PJ Library in Philadelphia: supports families on their Jewish journey by
sending Jewish-content books and music on a monthly basis to children
ages 6 months to 8 years living in the Greater Philadelphia area. The
program is funded by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Jewish
Learning Venture, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and
private donors.
“One Book, One Jewish Community: Connecting People One Book at
a Time” (OBOJC) is the largest community-wide Jewish literacy program
in the country. Each year, Jewish Learning Venture develops resource
materials about the selected book, and partners with synagogues and
agencies that adopt OBOJC as a vehicle for discussing, studying and cele-
brating the book, as well as the values and issues raised in it.
Jewish Life Seminars
22 Maple Avenue • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 • 610-860-9102
info@jewishlifeseminars.org • jewishlifeseminars.org
An educational initiative utilizing local and international speakers to
create learning opportunities for the Jewish community in the Greater
Philadelphia area.
LifeLong Learning Program
KleinLife • 10100 Jamison Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19116
and: KleinLife: Montgomery County, Old York Road, Elkins Park
215-698-7300 • kleinlife.org
Offers adult-education classes on diverse subjects, trips in and outside of the
city, cultural and educational programming, and other activities of interest to
adults and senior adults.
LifeLong Learning at Wesley Enhanced Living Main Line
(Formerly: Martins Run)
RELIGIOUS LIFE
100 Halcyon Drive • Media, PA 19063 • 610-355-1328
kdiorio@wel.org • www.wel.org/Delaware-County.aspx
Offers classes in a variety of subjects presented by prominent personalities, uni-
versity professors and experts from a variety of fields. Offers a library equipped
with several computers.
The Jewish community of Greater Philadelphia benefits from a wide diversity
of synagogues available. Nevertheless, all synagogues share a common mis-
sion and fulfill a common function: to preserve Jewish religious and commu-
nal traditions, not merely as a valuable heritage, but as a vital way of life. The
function is to provide a setting in which observance, education and commit-
ment can be carried out with other members of the community.
Chabad/Lubavitch Centers
Open to all Jews. Provides Shabbat and holiday programs, educational programs,
celebrations and other religious observances geared to children, adults and fami-
lies. See other Chabad/Lubavitch organizations in the chapter on Religious Life.
See page 88
Mekom Torah
P.O. Box 178 • Swarthmore, PA 19081 • 610-368-4065
helen@mekomtorah.org • mekomtorah.org
A community-based learning project, including a cross-denominational high
school program, some family programming and adult-study options. Programs
are offered in Delaware County and Center City.
Moving Traditions
261 Old York Road, Suite 734 • Jenkintown, PA 19046
215-887-4511 • info@movingtraditions.org • moving traditions.org
Advocates for a more expansive view of gender in Jewish learning and practice.
Programs for preteen and teenage girls and boys include “Rosh Chodesh: It’s a
Girl Thing!” and “Shevet Achim: The Brotherhood,” offered in partnership with
congregations and schools through the Greater Philadelphia area and nationally.
National Havurah Committee
SYNAGOGUES KEY:
C : Conservative
C-USCJ: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
I: Independent
O: Orthodox
RRC: Jewish Reconstructionist Communities
R-URJ: Union for Reform Judaism
T: Traditional
(Temple) Adath Israel of the Main Line
250 N. Highland Avenue • Merion Station, PA 19066
610-934-1919 • Fax: 610-664-0959
info@adathisrael.org • adathisrael.org • (C-USCJ)
(Congregation) Adath Jeshurun
7763 Old York Road • Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-635-6611 • Fax: 215-635-6165 • adathjeshurun.info • (C-USCJ)
(Congregation) Ahavas Torah
1425 Rhawn Street • Philadelphia, PA 19111
215-725-3610 • rabbi@ahavastorah.org • ahavas-torah.org • (O)
7135 Germantown Avenue, 2nd Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19119
215-248-1335 • office@havurah.org • havurah.org
A network of diverse individuals and communities dedicated to Jewish living and
learning, community building and tikkun olam (repairing the world). A nonde-
nominational, multigenerational, egalitarian and volunteer-run organization.
(Congregation) Ahavath Achim at Bristol Jewish Center
Philadelphia Community Kollel
Aish Village Shul
364 Montgomery Avenue • Merion Station, PA 19066
610-668-9557 • Fax: 610-668-9558
office@phillykollel.org • phillykollel.org
Educational center for Jewish studies. Open all day, with sessions for guided
Torah study afternoons and evenings, 7 days a week.
50 East Montgomery Avenue • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-668-9600 • phila@aish.com • aishphila.com • (T)
Rabbi Morris Goodblatt Academy
Class location: Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El
1001 Remington Road • Wynnewood, PA 19096
215-219-0184 or 215-848-9503
Goodblattacademy@gmail.com.org • goodblatt.org
Provides a 30-week “Introduction to Judaism” course, beginning in September
and January each year. Designed for Jews and non-Jews, singles and couples to
learn more about Judaism (history, language, culture). Interested students have
the opportunity to convert to Judaism under Conservative auspices following
the successful com pletion of the course. Sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly,
Mid-Atlantic Region.
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
216 Pond Street • Bristol, PA 19007 • 215-788-4995
info@bristoljewishcenter.org • bristoljewishcenter.org • (RRC)
(Historic Congregation) B’nai Abraham
527 Lombard Street • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-238-2100 • Fax: 215-238-2101
rabbi@phillyshul.com • phillyshul.com • (O)
(Congregation) B’nai Israel-Ohev Zedek
8201 Castor Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19152
215-742-0400 • president@bnaiisrael.us • www.bnaiisrael.us • (O)
(Congregation) B’nai Jacob
Starr and Manavon Streets (Route 29) • Phoenixville, PA 19460
610-933-5550 • Fax: 610-933-8197
cbjoffice@verizon.net • congbj.org • (C-USCJ)
(Congregation) Bais Medrash Harav/B’nai Jacob
7926 Algon Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19111
215-725-5181 or 215-342-5783 • (O)
1299 Church Road • Wyncote, PA 19095
215-576-0800 • Fax: 215-576-6143 • info@rrc.edu • rrc.edu
Rabbinical training institution of the Reconstructionist movement of Judaism.
Beit Harambam Congregation–Sephardic
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
(Congregation) Beth Ahavah
212-452-6723 or 1-855-URJ-1800 • rryba@urj.org • reformjudaism.org
Offers a course for anyone interested in exploring Judaism — interfaith couples,
those considering conversion and Jews looking for adult-level basics.
9981 Verree Road • Philadelphia, PA 19115 • 215-677-9675
rmoshefl@gmail.com • (O)
at Congregation Rodeph Shalom
615 North Broad Street • Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-627-6747 • Fax: 215-627-1313
BethAhavah@rodephshalom.org • BethAhavah.org • (URJ)
Beth Am Israel
1301 Hagys Ford Road • Penn Valley, PA 19072
610-667-1651 • Fax: 610-667-7860
info@bethamisrael.org • bethamisrael.org • (C-USCJ)
THE GUIDE 2015/2016
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