ISRAEL
The commitment of the Philadelphia Jewish community to Israel is
evidenced by the large number of organizations and programs whose goals
are to support the health, education, social, cultural and political institutions
in Israel; organizations that sponsor trips; and those that assist Philadelphians
who wish to make aliyah or to volunteer, travel or study in Israel.
GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS
Israel Bonds
Development Corporation for Israel
1500 Walnut St., Suite 1302 • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-545-8380 or 1-800-752-5671 • Fax: 215-545-6164
philadelphia@israelbonds.com • israelbonds.com
A FINRA-member broker dealer that underwrites securities issued by the State
of Israel in the United States. Advocates investment and pride in Israel through
the sale of Israel bonds. Proceeds from the sale of Israel bonds have played a
role in Israel’s evolution into a leader in high-tech, greentech and biotech.
Philadelphia-Israel Chamber of Commerce
200 S. Broad St., Suite 910-G • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-703-3135 • picc@phillyisraelchamber.com • phillyisraelchamber.com
Promotes business development with Israel. PICC is a member-based, inde-
pendent professional network serving Pennsylvania, Delaware and southern
New Jersey. Educates constituents about the range of business opportunities
available in Israel, and helps members to achieve their business goals through
referrals, consultation and access to business resources. Members represent
manufacturing, high technology, investment, professional and financial firms.
ISRAEL EXPERIENCES
Birthright Israel–Taglit
The Birthright Israel Foundation
33 E. 33rd St., seventh floor • New York, N.Y. 10016
1-888-99-ISRAEL or 1-888-994-7723 or 212-457-0036
information@birthrightisrael.com • birthrightisrael.com
Offers young adults ages 18 through 26 trips to Israel. The program covers
airfare and 10 days of land and program costs.
BBYO Passport
202-537-8091 • info@bbyopassport.org • bbyopassport.org
Provider of travel experiences for Jewish high school and middle school teens.
Passport programs span destinations on five continents and combine elements
of active touring, community service, and meaningful Jewish experiences.
Honeymoon Israel
610-246-5909 • 347-292-8809 • info@honeymoonisrael.org
honeymoonisrael.org A Jewish organization that provides trips to Israel for couples with at least one
Jewish partner. Each trip includes 20 diverse couples from the same city - cou-
ples with one Jewish partner, couples where both partners were born Jewish
and couples where one partner is converted/Jew-by-choice. The couples are in
their first 5 years of their marriage or lifelong commitment to each other and
are between the ages of 25-40. The trips are locally based, and there are two
trips from Philadelphia annually.
Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
Israel Aliyah Center
301-881-4407 • 866-835-0430 • aliyahny@jafi.org • jewishagency.org
Helps in bringing Jewish people to Israel to live (make aliyah) and ensure their
successful integration into Israeli society. Promotes Jewish-Zionist education
programs, and the partnership of Jews around the world with Israelis and
Israeli society.
116 THE GUIDE 2018/2019
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Travel With Purpose (Missions) 2100 Arch St. • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0629 • agarber@jewishphilly.org • jewishphilly.org/get-involved/missions
Sponsors missions to Israel for singles, couples and families. Provides
fast-paced, intense educational experiences for veteran travelers, as well as
for first-time visitors to Israel.
MASA Israel Journey
Philadelphia Regional Representative
212-339-6982• JuliaS@MasaIsrael.org • masaisrael.org
Connects Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 30, to programs across various interest
areas including: five- to 10-month gap year, study abroad, internship and vol-
unteer experiences in Israel. All Masa Israel participants receive an automatic
grant and can apply for additional needs-based financial aid.
No’ar Hadash
1299 Church Road • Wyncote, PA 19095
877-226-7573 or 215-576-0800, ext. 152
jsteinburg@rrc.edu • noarhadash.org
Four-week summer Israel experience for entering high school juniors,
one-week summer leadership experience for entering high school juniors
and seniors, and annual spring retreat weekend for teens.
Volunteers for Israel
P.O. Box 693 • Skippack, PA 19474
610-584-0468 • 215-646-6381 • Fax: 1-866-514-1948
philadelphia@vfi-usa.org • vfi-usa.org
Assists volunteers ages 17 and up who want to work in Israel on noncombat
IDF logistics and maintenance bases. VFI’s mission is to give support and help
strengthen America’s bonds with Israel. Volunteers live and work alongside
Israelis and other volunteers from around the world. Their jobs might include
packing medical supplies and equipment, repairing machinery and outdated parts,
building fortifications, assisting in the kitchen and maintaining the base. There are
one-, two- and three-week programs year-round. Special programs for students
include the summer International Youth Program (IYP) for young adults ages 17
to 25, and an add-on to Taglit-Birthright tours. There is also a new program that
subsidizes groups of 10-12 students who volunteer on VFI programs through their
campus Hillel. During the work week, participants get free housing, kosher meals,
work clothes and cultural programs. There may also be tours. Volunteers pay only
for airfare, weekend expenses and an application fee. VFI is a nonprofit, nonsectar-
ian, nonpolitical U.S. organization. Volunteers for Israel partners with SAR-EL, an
Israeli organization that oversees volunteers’ experiences on IDF bases.
SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY
AJC Philadelphia/South New Jersey
1600 Market St., Suite 1820 • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-665-2300 • Fax: 215-665-8737 • philadelphia@AJC.org • ajc.org
Advocates on behalf of Israel and Jewish communities around the world.
Adocacy priorities include: combatting global anti-semitism; promoting
Israel’s place in the world; combatting BDS and countering the spread of
radicalism and extremism.
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University
of the Negev
261 Old York Road, Suite 417A • P.O. Box 1128 • Jenkintown, PA 19046
215-884-4510 or 1-800-96-AABGU • Fax: 215-884-4870
winickc@aabgu.org • aabgu.org
Raises funds and public awareness for the university, which carries the
mandate to spearhead development of the Negev in the fields of industry,
agriculture, science, culture and education.
American Friends of Hebrew University
2100 Arch St., Suite 455 • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-330-6722 • SBloom@afhu.org • afhu.org
A national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising support for, and
awareness of, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Hebrew University is a
multicultural and pluralistic institution devoted to innovation and achieve-
ment across seven academic faculties.