Hillel in Greater Philadelphia (HIP)
c/o Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, Steinhardt Hall
215 S. 39th St. • Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-8265 • Fax: 215-898-8259
info@phillyhillel.org • phillyhillel.org
Provides programming for Jewish students at smaller schools in the
Philadelphia area — Arcadia, Bryn Mawr, Bucks County Community
College, Haverford, Penn State Abington, Philadelphia University,
Swarthmore, University of the Sciences, Villa nova, West Chester
University and other Philadelphia-based schools — through a citywide
student network. Students throughout the Greater Philadelphia area are
welcome to participate.
Bryn Mawr College
217 Roberts Rd. • Bryn Mawr 19010 • 610-526-5538
(Mailing address:101 N Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Haverford College
794 College Ave. • Haverford, PA 19041 • 610-896-4988
Swarthmore College
21 Bond Hall • 500 College Ave. • Swarthmore, PA 19081
610-328-8615 Hillel’s Jewish Graduate Student Network
Steinhardt Hall • 215 S. 39th St. • Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-6451 • Fax: 215-898-8259
info@jewishgrads.org • jewishgrads.org
Works through campus-based and city-wide student networks to
inspire graduate students to create patterns of Jewish exploration and
community affiliation.
Penn State Hillel
114-117 Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3816 • Hillel@psu.edu • pennstatehillel.org
By engaging students in social, cultural, educational, and religious activities
both on and off campus, Penn State Hillel’s goal is to provide opportunities for
students to explore their Judaism in a way that is meaningful to them.
Franklin C. Ash Summer Internship Program
JEVS Internship Programs
1845 Walnut St., 7th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-854-1787 • Fax: 215-854-1880
AshInternship@jevs.org • jevshumanservices.org/Ash-Internship
A co-ed, nonreligious work experience for rising junior and senior Jewish
college students. Participants are selected for their interest in the Jewish
community, academic achievement, leadership qualities and willingness
to mentor high school students. The seven-week program provides an
internship at a Jewish community nonprofit; career-related workshops and
job shadowing; mock interviews; mentoring a high school student from the
Lasko College Prep Program; and a one-day mitzvah project. Stipend upon
successful completion.
Lubavitch House of the University of Pennsylvania
Perelman Center for Jewish Life
4032 Spruce St. • Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-746-6115 • Fax: 215-222-9635
rabbi@pobox.upenn.edu • lubavitchhouse.com
College campus facility of the Lubavitch organization, open to all Jews. Provides
Shabbat and holiday programs, celebrations and other religious observances.
(Steinhardt) Jewish Heritage Programs
215-746-6105 • Fax: 215-222-9635 • info@jhp.org • jhp.org
Geared toward unaffiliated students and young professionals. Provides
leadership training and mentoring opportunities with Jewish professionals.
Hosts retreats and trips, Shabbat dinners, speakers and holiday parties.
80 THE GUIDE 2016/2017
JEWISH EDUCATION
The Greater Philadelphia area offers a wide variety of formal and informal
Jewish 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,
Jewish high schools, supplementary schools, many synagogue-based Sunday
and afternoon schools, a college of Jewish studies, a rabbinical college, etc.
Jewish Federation’s Mandell Education Campus, a 28-acre site in Melrose Park,
is home to Jewish Learning Venture, 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 Family and Children’s Service of Philadelphia. The
35-acre Jewish Federation Radnor 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
Education and Outreach Services
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia
1501 N. Broad St., 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.
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 con-
ducts workshops for parents, teachers and other professionals.
Jewish Learning Venture
7607 Old York Rd. • Melrose Park, PA 19027 • 215-320-0360
info@jewishlearningventure.org • jewishlearningventure.org
Jewish Education and Leadership Development (JELD) experiences
for Jewish Educators provides opportunities to increase educators’
Judaic and pedagogic skills. Learning opportunities include conferences
(Yemei Limmud), single-session workshops for educators, multi-part
educational series for education directors, webinars, collaborative
cross-congregational working groups and more.
Harold and Renee Berger Network for Engaging Families with Young
Children encourages and supports congregations interested in developing
and implementing systemic approaches to attract and engage Jewish families
with young children to their congregation and to Jewish life. 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 participation rates in Jewish
communal life by Jewish teens through networking and collaboration efforts.
LeV: Getting to the Heart of Jewish Education works with cohorts of
congregational schools to initiate change in their current eductional programs.
Families Outside the Box
610-930-8778 • AyalaBCTVI@yahoo.com
Parent-run support for families in the Philadelphia area who would ideally
choose Jewish day school but have children with needs that are not currently
met in the day school setting, so are enrolled elsewhere, or are homeschooled.
Provides parent-to-parent connections, periodic e-mails, a resource list of
Jewish activities appropriate to day school families, a resource list of local
Judaic tutors familiar with the day school curriculum, and cohort development
when possible.
NEXT Program at Gratz College
Gutman Early Learning Center
7605 Old York Rd. • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-635-7300, ext. 135 • NEXT@gratz.edu • gratz.edu/NEXT
Professional learning program for supplementary school teachers. Offers free
classes, mentorships, assessment tools and professional growth plans for
supplementary school teachers.
7500 West Ave. • 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 tran-
sitioning 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
Orthodox dietary laws. Morah Debbie Ungar designed the Judaic class-
room (approved by Rabbi Dov Brisman of Young Israel of Elkins Park),
which also features special programming such as Kidnetics, sign lan-
guage and music. The program prepares children for enrollment in
Orthodox day schools. Offers full daycare five days per week. Summer
camp is available.
OROT Program
7601 Old York Rd. • 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 Rd. • Wyncote, PA 19095
215-576-0800 • Fax: 215-576-6143
info@rrc.edu • JewishRecon.org
Provides guidance, curricula and direct consulting to affiliated con gregational
synagogue schools.
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 Ave. • 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, preschoolers, 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 fulltime, though part-week enrollment is available at some locations. Jewish
programming is an integral part of the curriculum. Staff, in collaboration with a
child development specialist, maximizes the abilities and development 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 St. • Philadelphia, PA 19123
267-535-2643 • Buerger@FELSkids.org
Early childhood education program for infants, toddlers and
preschoolers. Full and part-week whole day schedules are available.
A secular curriculum 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 meet-
ing the eligibility requirements.
Kehillah Early Learning Center
Congregation Ohev Shalom • 2 Chester Rd. • 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 sub-
sidies are available for families meeting the eligibility requirements.
Kol Ami Early Learning Center
8201 High School Rd. • 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 Rd. • 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.
Lassin Early Learning Center
Myer and Rosaline Feinstein Campus
10800 Jamison Ave. • 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. THE GUIDE 2016/2017
81