Gratz College Adult Jewish Learning
Jewish Learning Venture
Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
at the University of Pennsylvania
Jewish Relationships Initiative
7605 Old York Road • Melrose Park, PA 19027
215-635-7300, ext. 182 • Fax: 215-635-7399 • lcohen@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 Israel and the Middle E.; Jewish music, art and
film and more. Also offers Hebrew and Yiddish language classes for all levels.
Classes are located in Melrose Park and Center City. Distinguished Scholar
Lectures are open to the community (including the Shusterman and Stern
community lectures), continuing legal education, as well as trips, films and
programs. Monthly “Lunch and Learns” round out the offerings. Also:
One Book, One Jewish Community (OBOJC) — Connecting people one
book at a time. Community-wide Jewish literacy program. Each year, Gratz
College develops resource materials about the selected book, and partners with
synagogues and agencies that adopt OBOJC as a vehicle for discussing, and
studying and celebrating the book, as well as the values and issues raised in it.
420 Walnut St. • Philadelphia, PA 19106 • 215-238-1290 • Fax: 215-238-1540
sas-katzcenter@sas.upenn.edu • katz.sas.upenn.edu
Post-doctoral research center whose studies concentrate on Jewish civilization
in all its historical and cultural manifestations. The Center’s fellows, who
are visiting scholars from around the globe, address local congregations and
schools with talks and lectures about their areas of expertise.
Institute for Jewish Ethics
215-782-8878 • IJE@IJEthics.org • IJEthics.org
Offers classes, seminars and guidance on Jewish ethics and an outlook for
living. Open to people of all backgrounds. PA accredited provider of
Continuing Legal Education.
Jerusalem U
888-515-5292 • TDworkin@jerusalemu.org • JerusalemU.org
Creates and distributes innovative feature films and film-based educational
programs with the goal of making young Jews feel proud of being Jewish and
connected to Israel.
Jewish Children’s Folkshul and Adult Community
P.O. Box 17 • Wyncote, PA 19095 • 215-248-1550
Meets at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy • 8000 Cherokee St. • Philadelphia,
PA 19118
folkshul@folkshul.org • folkshul.org
An inclusive, secular, humanistic, life-long engaged learning community that
invites all who identify as Jewish and/or who choose to learn and participate
in its range of Jewish inspired programs. The curriculum includes topics such
as: Jewish holidays, social action/justice, life cycles, ethics, history, music,
dance, and literature for all ages. Offers weekly Sunday morning classroom
programs for kindergarten through ninth grade students and monthly Sunday
Fundays programs for pre-schoolers and their families. Offers a personalized
student-driven Bar/Bat Mitzvah program that features an approach to coming
of age with an emphasis on Jewish identity. A Leadership Program for 10th
through 12th grade high school students, continues with experiential learning
as student’s serve as classroom and community paid assistants. The Folkshul
offers community holiday and life cycle events. There is an Adult Community
that hosts Sunday morning lectures, holiday celebrations, social justice actions
and events, as well as a Restaurant Club and other off-site activities.
The Pavilion • 261 Old York Road, Suite 720 • Jenkintown, PA 19046
215-320-0360 • Fax: 215-635-8946
info@jewishlearningventure.org • jewishlearningventure.org
jkidphilly connects families with infants and young children up to
age 12 to the people, happenings, resources and voices of our Jewish
community through programs, and relationship-building activities. The
website includes a community calendar of events and programs, holiday
resources and a searchable directory for schools and early-childhood
education programs. lrubin@jewishlearningventure.org
PJ Library and PJ Our Way supports families on their Jewish
journey by sending Jewish-content books and music on a monthly basis
to children ages 6 months to 11 years living in the Greater Philadelphia
area. The program is funded by Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Jewish
Learning Venture, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and
private donors.
484-679-6402 • JewishRelationshipsInitiative@gmail.com
JewishRelationshipsInitiative.com Dedicated to outreach and engagement. Connecting, teaching and carrying out
Jewish life-cycle events.
LifeLong Learning Program
KleinLife • 10100 Jamison Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116 • 215-698-7300
kleinlife.org and: KleinLife: Montgomery County • 7763 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA
215-635-5244 • kleinlifemc.org
Offers adult-education classes on diverse subjects, trips, cultural and educational
programming, and other activities of interest to adults and senior adults.
Lubavitch/Chabad Centers
Open to all Jews. Provides Shabbat and holiday programs, educational
programs, celebrations and other religious observances geared to children,
adults and families. See other Chabad/Lubavitch organizations in the chapter on
Religious Life.
Mekom Torah
P.O. Box 178 • Swarthmore, PA 19081 • 610-368-4065
info@mekomtorah.org • mekomtorah.org
Cross-denominational Jewish learning project comprised of a collaboration
with Congregation Beth Israel of Media, Congregation Ohev Shalom of
Wallingford, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. The high school
program is for high school juniors and seniors, some family programming, and
adult study options. Programs are in Delaware County and in Center City.
Moving Traditions
8380 Old York Road, Suite 4300 • Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-887-4511 • info@movingtraditions.org • movingtraditions.org
Creates experiences that inspire Jewish teens to explore fundamental questions
of identity and society. The programs help teens reach their potential by
connecting relevant content with enduring Jewish values, and by fostering
positive peer-to-peer relationships through trained mentors. Programs include:
Rosh Hodesh, Shevet Achim, transgender/nonbinary online group, b’nai
mitzvah group, and @13 podcasts.
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The New Shul
215-385-0778 • info@ newshulofamerica.org • facebook.com/groups/
TheNewShulPhilly An emerging community, from all streams of Jewish life, dedicated to building
something new with the study of the Jewish story as its guide.
Philadelphia Community Kollel
364 Montgomery Ave. • 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, seven days a week.
Rabbi Morris Goodblatt Academy
Classes located in Greater Philadelphia area, NJ and DE
732-841-4876 • Goodblattacademy@gmail.com.org • Goodblattacademy.org
Offers an introduction to Judaism course designed for those who are curious
about Judaism and want to know more. The academy serves as the training
institution, under the auspices of the Rabbinical Assembly of Philadelphia, for
those considering conversion to Judaism or for non-Jews sharing their lives
with Jews. Those who intend to convert are mentored from the outset by local
Conservative rabbis. Classes are offered weekly over a period of 23 weeks at
various satellite locations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. Those
who enroll will gain an understanding of Jewish history, culture, holidays,
life cycle and practice. In addition, five holiday-themed gatherings will allow
participants from all locations to meet and celebrate together.
(Congregation) Raim Ahuvim
5854 Drexel Road • Philadelphia, PA 19131
215-473-4502 • rabbi@raimahuvim.org • raimahuvim.org
The Austro-Hungarian Chevra in Philadelphia.
Union for Reform Judaism
Introduction to Judaism Program
212-452-6745 • reformjudaism.org/learning
Offers courses for anyone interested in exploring Judaism interfaith couples,
those considering conversion, and Jews looking for adult-level basics.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
The Jewish community of Greater Philadelphia benefits from a wide diversity
of synagogues available. Nevertheless, all synagogues share a common
mission and fulfill a common function: to preserve Jewish religious and
communal 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
commitment can be carried out with other members of the community.
SYNAGOGUES, HAVURAHS
AND MINYANS
KEY: C : Conservative
C-USCJ: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
I: Independent
O: Orthodox
R: Reform
R-URJ: Union for Reform Judaism
RJ: Reconstructing Judaism
T: Traditional
Adath Israel of the Main Line
250 N. Highland Ave. • 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 St. • Philadelphia, PA 19111
215-725-3610 • rabbi@ahavastorah.org • ahavas-torah.org • (O)
Aish Chaim Village Shul
345 Montgomery Ave. • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
610-668-9600 • phila@.com • phila.com • (T)
(Historic Congregation) B’nai Abraham
527 Lombard St. • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-238-2100 • Fax: 215-238-2101
rabbi@phillyshul.com • phillyshul.com • (O)
(Congregation) B’nai Israel-Ohev Zedek
8201 Castor Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19152
215-742-0400 • info@biozshul.org • biozshul.org • (O)
(Congregation) B’nai Jacob
Starr and Manavon streets • P.O. Box 461 • Phoenixville, PA 19460
610-933-5550 • Fax: 610-933-8197 • admin@congbj.org • congbj.org • (C-USCJ)
(Congregation) Bais Medrash Harav-B’nai Jacob
7926 Algon Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19111
215-725-5181 or 215-342-5783 • ephraim@geretz.com • bmhbj.org • (O)
Beit Harambam Congregation
9981 Verree Road • Philadelphia, PA 19115 • 646-280-6918 and 215-677-1243
rmoshefl@gmail.com • Sephardic • (O)
Beiteinu P.O. Box 231 • Haverford, PA 19041 • 484-432-0931 or 215-309-2883
rabbi@beiteinu.org • beiteinu.org • (I)
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)
(Temple) Beth Ami
9201 Old Bustleton Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19115
215-673-2511 • templebethami2@gmail.com • TBAPhilly.org • (T)
104 THE GUIDE 2019/2020