J EWISH G ENETIC D ISEASES
Jewish genetic diseases are a group of diseases for which screening is recom-
mended in the Ashkenazi population. One in five Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier
for at least one of the current 19 preventable and life-threatening diseases. Tay-
Sachs is an inherited genetic disorder — invariably fatal — that mainly affects
Jewish infants. It is inherited from two healthy parents who both carry the gene,
and there is a one-in-four chance that a baby will develop the disease if both
parents are carriers. A simple blood test can determine whether an individual
carries the Tay-Sachs gene. All Jewish people considering having children
should arrange for Tay-Sachs testing. Late onset Tay-Sachs disease is a degener-
ative genetic disorder that causes debilitating physical and/or mental symptoms.

Gaucher Treatment Center
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Department of Metabolic Diseases
Wood Center • 3615 Civil Center Blvd., 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-3376 • Fax: 215-590-4297
hartj@email.chop.edu • chop.edu
Offers diagnostic testing and patient evaluation for qualified persons in
collaboration with the National Gaucher Foundation. Two-thirds of
Gaucher patients are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases
Association of the Delaware Valley
Post Office Box 441 • Jenkintown, PA 19046
215-887-0877 • Fax: 215-887-1931
info@tay-sachs.org • tay-sachs.org
Nonprofit voluntary health organization devoted to eliminating Tay-Sachs,
Canavan disease and other fatal degenerative disorders through programs of
prevention, education, research and carrier screenings.

Victor Center for the Prevention
of Jewish Genetic Diseases
Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia
5501 Old York Rd., Levy 2 West • Philadelphia, PA 19141
877-401-1093 • victorcenter@einstein.edu • victorcenter.org
Provides genetic education, counseling and screening to individuals at risk of
being carriers of gene mutations for genetic diseases. Works with health care
professionals, clergy and the community offering education about the genetic
diseases affecting Ashkenazi Jews.

SERVICES FOR
NEW AMERICANS
HIAS Pennsylvania
2100 Arch St., 3rd Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0900 • Fax: 215-832-0919 • hiaspa.org
A legal and humanitarian service to people of all nationalities who come to the
United States for new lives. Provides legal services to low-income immigrants
and refugees, including political asylum, representation in deportation proceed-
ings, representation to survivors of domestic violence and immigrant youth, and
assistance with immigration applications, including naturalization, family visas
and applications for replacement green cards. Provides resettlement services
assisting refugees in becoming self-sufficient. Offers advocacy for the fair
treatment and integration into American society of immigrants and refugees
JEVS Center for New Americans
2770 Red Lion Rd. • Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-728-4210 • Fax: 215-728-4227 • jevshumanservices.org
Offers time-eligible refugees, asylees and victims of trafficking free services in
the following areas: employment counseling, job development and job placement/
job search/job retention workshops; Vocational English Language Training
(VELT) and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes; computer skills
classes, acculturation workshops, case management and individualized
assistance in developing and/or improving verbal language skills. Use of a
driving simulator is offered. Participants are served in Philadelphia, Bucks,
Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

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New American Outreach Program
KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia
10100 Jamison Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-698-7300, Ext. 175 • kleinlife.org
Sponsors a variety of programs for Russian-speaking Jews, including religious,
social, cultural and recreational activities. Offers activities for children, such as
Jewish Children’s Theater; Jewish history and tradition classes; ballet, ballroom and
rhythm dance classes; creative development classes for toddlers; music classes; and
swimming instruction. Programs for adults include Torah study; individual rabbini-
cal counseling; Judaica lectures and seminars; senior adult Jewish choir; Shabbat
services; yoga and aerobics classes; ballroom dancing; and a health club. Sponsor-
organized community events such as Chanukah, Purim and Israel Independence
Day celebrations, in addition to children’s concerts. Also provides traditional serv-
ices for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover and other Jewish holidays.

New American Russian-Speaking Seniors Program
KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia
10100 Jamison Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-698-7300, Ext. 155 • kleinlife.org
Geared to senior adults whose primary language is Russian. Offers kosher
lunches, computer instruction, cultural and educational programs, citizenship
preparation courses, ESL classes, Shabbat programs and entertainment.

Participants join with other Klein senior-adult participants in activities
and access to social services.

RAJE Philadelphia: Russian American Jewish Experience
Congregation Beth Solomon Community Center
198 Tomlinson Rd. • Philadelphia, PA 19116 • 215-671-1981
rabbiakiva@cbscommunitycenter.com • bscommunitycenter.com
For men and women ages 18 through 30. Offers a learning experience for those
who want to explore their Jewish heritage, meet friends, participate in Shabbat
meals and more.

CULTURAL AND
RECREATIONAL CENTERS
The Gershman Y
401 S. Brd. St. • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-545-4400 • Fax: 267-479-0304
info@gershmanY.org • GershmanY.org
Offers cultural-arts programming, including book readings, brunches, food
tours, film, language and cooking classes. It is one of Philadelphia’s arts, culture
and community centers — the only one with an emphasis on Jewish culture.

Home to the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, the Philadelphia Jewish Sports
Hall of Fame, and the Gershman and Open Lens Galleries.

Kaiserman JCC
45 Haverford Rd. • Wynnewood, PA 19096
610-896-7770, Ext. 111 • Fax: 610-896-5808
customerservice@phillyjcc.com • phillyjcc.com
Offers a full range of fitness, cultural and educational programs for all ages.

The Conston Fitness Center includes an outdoor seasonal pool, indoor
jogging track, sauna, steamroom, spinning studio and a fully equipped fitness
center. Fitness program highlights include group fitness classes, sports
leagues, martial arts, gymnastics, swimming lessons and personal trainers on
staff. Cultural and educational programs include adult education, and family
and holiday programs, the Robert J. Wilf Preschool and Kindergarten with an
infant room, as well as a comprehensive summer camp program for children
ages 4 months through eighth grade.





KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia (Formerly: Klein JCC)
Jewish Holocaust Survivor’s Program
10100 Jamison Ave • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-698-7300 • info@kleinlife.org • kleinlife.org
Offers extensive facilities for individuals from ages 2 to 102. The athletic
facilities include an indoor pool, indoor track, sauna, steam room, dance
studios, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, outdoor tennis courts, out-
door intramural fields and a complete cardiovascular fitness center. Athletic
programs include sports leagues, fitness classes, gymnastics and karate.

Cultural and educational programs include music, dance, theater, arts and
crafts, adult education (Lifelong Learning), senior programs, New American
programs, before- and after-school care (KidSpace), and teen and family
events. KleinLife is home to the Fred Wolf aGallery & Gift Shoppe, Summer
Day Camp, Ann’s Kids Child Care, and a 500-seat theater.

Provides survivors who lived under Nazi occupation with services such
as home care, counseling, housekeeping and caregiver support, as well as
funds for emergencies like special medical needs. Funds are available for
Holocaust survivors who cannot afford to pay for services on their own
or whose families need financial assistance to pay for the survivor’s care.

Funding is provided through a grant to JFCS from the Conference on
Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. Also offers survivors assistance
with filling out applications for Holocaust entitlements.

SERVICES FOR
SENIOR ADULTS
C ARE M ANAGEMENT
C OUNSELING
AND Abramson Center for Jewish Life
1425 Horsham Rd. • North Wales, PA 19454-1320
215-371-3400 or 1-888-340-0080 • Fax: 215-371-3032
info@abramsoncenter.org • abramsoncenter.org
Abramson Care Advisors: Senior care professionals available
24/7, providing telephonic advice to older adults and their families
who have questions or concerns regarding aging or aging services.

Provided free of charge.

Geriatric Care Management: Professional consultation,
intervention, support, coordination and oversight to family members with
aging loved ones. Provides a plan for each individual focused on keeping
seniors at home. This service is available for short-term crises or for
ongoing, long-term support. Hourly fee applies.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service
of Greater Philadelphia — Older Adult Services
7607 Old York Rd. • Elkins Park, PA 19027
1-866-JFCS-NOW or 1-866-532-7669 • jfcsphilly.org
Provides care management and counseling services to older adults with the goal
of supporting healthy, positive aging at home. Services include: Care navigation
to provide resources and access to aging services and to help clients and their
families move through the medical, financial, and emotional complexities of
aging; assistance with arranging direct care such as home care, chores, meals,
and transportation (available on a sliding scale fee basis); in-home assessments
and visits; collaborative and customizable plans to support each client’s needs
and goals; ongoing support and assessment to make sure the plan is working;
in-home and in-office counseling by licensed clinical social workers addressing
topics such as depression, anxiety, family issues and adjustment to illness
difficulties; in-home benefits assessment and enrollment; dental financial aid
and support based on eligibility; transportation to grocery store at regularly
scheduled times within specific geographical areas; support groups
Boarding Home Outreach Program
Outreach to Jews living in area boarding and personal care homes.

Program sponsors Jewish holiday celebrations and other Jewish life
activities providing enrichment to the lives of the residents.

Community-Based Aging-in-Place Services
Collaborates with the older residents of area apartment buildings and
other community partners, including apartment and co-op managers,
to create supportive “aging friendly” communities. Support programs
include providing individual social work consultation, group health and
wellness programs, limited transportation, and other services tailored
to specific needs.

RHAWNHURST NORC
7520 Bustleton Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19152
215-320-0351 • Fax: 215-728-5877 • gilbert@jewishphilly.org
Supports seniors (ages 60-plus) in their ability to remain living independently
in their own homes in Northeast Philadelphia (ZIP codes 19152, 19111 and
19149). Services include transportation for grocery shopping and medical
appointments within a seven-mile radius; home maintenance support; social-
ization and support groups; and a monthly newsletter of events information
benefitting senior adults in the community. The program is a joint effort of
the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Catholic Social Services.

Funding is also provided through foundations and private donations.

The Pew Charitable Trust specifically funds social-work assessment for home-
repair assistance through Rhawnhurst NORC, and meal delivery services in
partnership with the KleinLife Home Delivered Meals program. Information
and referral for other services and access to benefits is provided as needed.

A DULT D AY C ARE AND
T HERAPY P ROGRAMS
Abramson Medical Adult Day Services
12003 Bustleton Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-371-3400 or 1-888-340-0080 • Fax: 215-371-3030
info@abramsoncenter.org • abramsoncenter.org
Provides therapeutic programming, nursing and social services to older adults.

Also offers a nurse practitioner clinic. Kosher meals are provided.

Eagleville Hospital’s Geriatric Psychiatry Program
100 Eagleville Rd. • Eagleville, PA 19403
610-635-7400 • Fax: 610-539-9314
pr@eaglevillehospital.org • eaglevillehospital.org
Designed to meet the life changes experienced by people over 55 years of age.

An acute, short-term program for patients in need of a secure therapeutic
environment 24 hours a day. Patients are treated by a multi disciplinary team,
including nurses, activity therapists, medical doctors and psychiatrists.

Licensed social workers are available to meet patient and family needs as well.

JEVS Human Services — Community Collaborative
330 W. Chelten Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-844-7700 • Fax: 215-848-7715 • collaborative@jevs.org
Offers participants adult day services and a seniors program providing social
activities, social skills training and community involvement to adults with
developmental disabilities.

Outpatient Gero-Psychiatric Care
Einstein Healthcare Network
9880 Bustleton Ave., Suite 113 • Philadelphia, PA 19115
800-EINSTEIN or 215-827-1540 • einstein.edu
Board-certified geriatric psychiatrists and psychologists offer outpatient
services for older adults. Services include: comprehensive psychiatric
evaluations, psychotherapy for individuals, families and groups, and
medication management.

THE GUIDE 2016/2017
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