Hosts for Hospitals — In-Home Hospitality
for Families and Patients
Mitzvah Food Project
Jewish Family and Children’s Service
of Greater Philadelphia Volunteer Services
Repair the World: Philadelphia
326 Conshohocken State Road, #2 • Gladwyne, PA 19035
484-380-2999 • Fax: 215-472-3803
lodging@hostsforhospitals.org • hostsforhospitals.org
Provides an opportunity to perform the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim —
the bringing in of guests. Volunteer hosts provide free lodging for out-of-
towners who travel to Philadelphia in association with patients who are
receiving care at area hospitals. Guests are responsible for their own food
and transportation.
7607 Old York Road (lower level) • Elkins Park, PA 19027
1-866-JFCS-NOW or 1-866-532-7669 • info@jfcsphilly.org • jfcsphilly.org
Opportunities to get involved include:
Opportunities at the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center
Hands-on service projects (Circle of Hands)
Delivering challahs to hospital patients (Challah Mitzvah Program)
Engaging with our clothing assistance program (Our Closet)
Bar/Bat Mitzvah projects
Jewish Information and Referral Service
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
215-832-0821 • info@jewishphilly.org
Volunteers answer the telephone and assist callers with information about the
Philadelphia Jewish community and its resources. Volunteers also work on
time-limited special projects.
Jewish Relief Agency
225 East City Ave, Suite 210 • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-0190 • Fax: 610-660-0191 • JRA@JewishRelief.org • jewishrelief.org
Connects volunteers of diverse ages and backgrounds to service opportunities
in the community. Opportunities include packing and delivering supplemen-
tary kosher food boxes to individuals and families, driving seniors to medical
appointments or the grocery store, making friendly visits to seniors, completing
minor home repairs, maintenance and yard work, and more. JRA has grown
to serve diverse low-income individuals and families throughout Greater
Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, including seniors, persons with dis-
abilities and chronic illnesses, people facing temporary financial emergencies,
immigrants and refugees. The Food Distribution Center is located at: 10980
Dutton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154. 215-281-1101
KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia
10100 Jamison Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-698-7300, ext. 196 • sudell@kleinlife.org • KleinLife.org
Sponsors many volunteers opportunities that help ensure that no home-bound
senior goes hungry. Opportunities include: helping to cultivate and harvest fruits
and vegetables at KleinLife; packaging meals with a local cooking group; volun-
teering to be a friendly visitor; and/or delivering meals to homebound seniors.
Donations of homegrown vegetables are also accepted.
215-832-0509 • mitzvahfoodprogram@jewishphilly.org • jewishphilly.org/mfp
Volunteers are needed to pack and deliver food packages, which include
non-perishable food and produce, to low-income households in Greater
Philadelphia. Monthly or bimonthly packing/delivery schedules available
depending on pantry location. Back-up delivery volunteers are also needed.
B’nai Mitzvah projects welcome. Pantry locations include: Jewish Community
Services Building (Center City); Brodsky Enrichment Center (Main Line);
KleinLife (Northeast Philadelphia); Congregation Tifereth Israel of Lower
Bucks County (Bucks County); and Beth Sholom Congregation (Elkins Park).
267-969-7159 • philadelphia@weRepair.org • WeRepair.org
Aims to make service and volunteering an integral part of North American
Jewish life. Offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including both one-time
and regular opportunities, and social events for volunteers to have a chance to
discuss local and national social justice issues.
RSVP Philadelphia
KleinLife • 10100 Jamison Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116
267-345-7787 • sudell@kleinlife.org • rsvphilly.org
Opportunities for individuals to volunteer in social service agencies, schools,
museums and consumer groups.
YOUTH GROUPS
BBYO Liberty Region
Aleph Zadek Aleph (AZA) & B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG)
8201 High School Road • Elkins Park, PA 19027
267-332-4501 • Liberty@bbyo.org • bbyo.org
Pluralistic Jewish teen movement for teens in grades eight through 12. AZA
and BBG chapters provide leadership programs and identity enrichment
experiences. Chapters have regular meetings, social, and community service
programming on some week nights and largely on the weekend. BBYO
chapters are creating a movement of Jewish teens committed to giving more
Jewish teens more meaningful Jewish experiences.
Bnei Akiva of North America
Lower Merion Synagogue • 123 Old Lancaster Ave. • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
484-557-2166 • lmbneiakiva@gmail.com • nebneiakiva@gmail.com
neiakiva.org Religious Zionist youth movement offering educational programs
for third through 12th grade. Three snifim:
Lower Merion — holds weekly Shabbat programs and special events
which take place in Lower Merion Synagogue, in collaboration with
Kohelet Yeshiva High School.
Northeast Philadelphia — sponsors weekly Shabbat programs and
special events which take place at B’nai Israel Ohev Zedek Synagogue.
Cherry Hill, N.J. — sponsors a Shabbat program once every three
weeks, in addition to special events. At Sons Of Israel Synagogue.
The Mitzvah Bowl
Boy Scouts of America
Cradle of Liberty Council Jewish Committee on Scouting
Mitzvah Circle Foundation
Habonim Dror Eizor Galil
info@themitzvahbowl.com • TheMitzvahBowl.com
A comprehensive website for finding mitzvah projects and volunteer
opportunities for Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and high school students looking
to fulfill community service hours. Offers resources for teens and families
seeking a way to help others and make a difference.
1561 Gehman Road • Harleysville, PA 19438
267-649-7610 • info@mitzvahcircle.org • mitzvahcircle.org
Nonprofit, not faith-based, organization providing material support to
individuals and families dealing with crisis, poverty, homelessness, and serious
illness throughout the Philadelphia region. Serving people who are unable to
obtain immediate or sufficient help from government agencies and traditional
service organizations.
1485 Valley Forge Road • Wayne, PA 19087
215-677-4147 • lenbrownstein@comcast.net • jewishscouting.org
Supporting Jewish Scouting in the five-county area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware,
Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties): Troop 185 in Elkins Park- Shomer
Shabbat; Troop 665 in Dresher - Kosher; Pack 498 in Blue Bell - Kosher.
2100 Arch St. • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0676 • RoshEizor@campgalil.org • campgalil.org
Labor Zionist youth movement for ages nine to 17. Emphasizes Jewish values
and social responsibility, with year-round activities for its members.
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National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY)
Atlantic Seaboard Region – Philadelphia and Cherry Hill
117 Bryn Mawr Ave. • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
215-341-2204 • 484-350-2426 • rabbiyitz@ncsy.org • bekharl@ncsy.org
atlanticseaboard.ncsy.org/philadelphia Open to all Jewish youth (grades five to 12) regardless of background affiliation.
Offers participants the opportunity to develop pride in their Jewish heritage,
strengthen their Jewish identity, promote the rights and interests of Jews
worldwide, and learn how to apply the principles of Judaism in their daily lives.
Halachah (“Jewish law”) is observed to Orthodox standards within the
NCSY movement.
North American Federation of Temple Youth
Union for Reform Judaism (NFTY-PAR)
212-452-6758 • awachstein@urj.org • nftypar@urj.org • Pennsylvania.nfty.org
P rovides teens with a Jewish community including learning opportunities
through leadership, development and m entorship. Teens come together
during the year for events offering learning, fun, worship, community service
and fellowship.
Sigma Alpha Rho Fraternity International
215-275-6378 • JESaylor23@gmail.com • sarfraternity.org
High school-based organization that offers programs in athletics, community
service and career educational opportunities.
Tzofim — Israel Scouts
Kaiserman JCC • 45 Haverford Road • Wynnewood, PA 19096
215-206-5609 • paamon@israelscouts.org • israelscouts.org/tzabar
Zionist Youth movement for Israeli, Hebrew speaking children in North
America that encourages its participants to explore different opportunities to
take a meaningful part in Israeli-American society. Weekly activities, which
take place at the Kaiserman JCC, are held in Hebrew, planned and executed by
high school children leading children in grades 3-9.
United Synagogue Youth (USY) Mizrach Region
c/o Adath Jeshurun • 763 Old York Rd • Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-870-7902 or 215-635-6611, ext. 155 • Bass@uscj.com MizrachUSY.com
Youth Groups for high-school students sponsored by the Conservative move-
ment. Encourages Jewish identity and observance, volunteer work and edu-
cation. Sponsors local trips, regional programs and trips to Israel. Kadima is a
youth group for middle school age children.
JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS
The Jewish community includes many different organizations and groups.
Cultural and social organizations provide a vehicle for learning about
the religion’s heritage. Community-service agencies assist Jews in need.
Community-relations and Jewish-advocacy groups help shape communal
positions on public-policy issues. Some organizations are fraternal, some are
charitable, some are ideological or denominational, and some bring together
Jews representing various segments of the community.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
B’nai Chaim Social
10100 Jamison Ave., Suite #207 • Philadelphia, PA 19116 • 215-676-4001
Raises money for charity. Members have cemetery privileges.
Bikkur Cholim of Philadelphia
c/o Jewish Information and Referral Service
215-832-0821 • Bikkurphilly@yahoo.com • bikkurcholimphilly.org
Volunteers provide kosher food, Shabbos meals and challah every week to any-
one who could benefit from this service. Games and toys are also made avail-
able to patients at CHOP. The program maintains an apartment for patients
and their families in need of extended treatment. The apartment, furnished,
and stocked with food, provide patients and their families with privacy and a
much needed respite.
Female Hebrew Benevolent Society
c/o Jewish Information and Referral Service
215-832-0821 • tikkun36@verizon.net • FHBS.org
Oldest continuously operating Jewish charitable organization in the United
States. Staffed by volunteers, it renders service to Jewish women in need of
emergency assistance. Referrals taken only from accredited social workers and
communal professionals.
Golden Slipper Club and Charities
215 N. Presidential Blvd., first floor • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-0510 • Fax: 610-660-0515 • info@goldenslipper.org • goldenslipperclub.org
Operates the Golden Slipper Camp, Golden Slipper Gems and Golden Slipper
Gems on the Main Line. Also gives aid to the needy, who must be referred by a
social-service agency, and has a college scholarship program.
Hebrew Free Loan Society of Greater Philadelphia
8231 Old York Road • Elkins Park, PA 19027
267-709-9652 • info@hflphilly.org • hflphilly.org
Provides no-fee, no-interest loans up to $7,500 to members of the Jewish com-
munity in need in Philadelphia and the surrounding 8 counties (Montgomery,
Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Mercer, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington).
Credit-worthy co-signers are required. Loans are repaid over a two- to three-
year period, though loans for educational purposes may be extended. New
loan program: Be A Family Fertility Fund offering loans of up to $15,000
to help cover ferility treatments and related expenses. Also provides no-fee,
no-interest business loans up to $15,000 in the same nine-county area. Again,
credit-worthy co-signers are required.
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
2100 Arch St. • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0500 • Fax: 215-832-0510 • info@jewishphilly.org • jewishphilly.org
Mobilizes financial and volunteer resources to address the community’s most
critical priorities in Greater Philadelphia, in Israel and around the world.
Jewish Relief Agency
225 East City Ave., Suite 210 • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-660-0190 • Fax: 610-660-0191• JRA@JewishRelief.org • jewishrelief.org
Serves vulnerable members of the community, low-income seniors and fam-
ilies, persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses, immigrants, refugees,
non-English language speakers, individuals and families facing temporary
financial emergencies, etc. Services include providing monthly home deliveries
of supplemental boxes of kosher food, rides to medical appointments and the
grocery store for seniors, and minor home repairs. Services are delivered by
corps of volunteers.
112 THE GUIDE 2018/2019