Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region
South Office: 754 S. Ninth St. • Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-574-1765 • Fax: 270-574-1766
info@phillyfriendship.com • phillyfriendship.com
North Office: 25 N. State St. • Newtown, PA 18940
215-497-9925, ext. 17 • Fax: 215-497-9929 • jamie@fcpa.info • fcpa.info
Connects teens and young adults to youth with special needs and their
families, offering Jewish and social experiences; developing friendships while
participating in creative arts group activities, Jewish holiday celebrations,
weekly play dates and more. Fosters the development of a caring, supportive
community. There are volunteer opportunities for adults as well.
Hosts for Hospitals — In-Home Hospitality
for Families and Patients
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.
Jewish Family and Children’s Service
of Greater Philadelphia Volunteer Services
The Barbara & Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center,
345 Montgomery Ave. • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
1-866-JFCS-NOW or 1-866-532-7669 • 267-314-0909
info@jfcsphilly.org • jfcsphilly.org
Opportunities at the Barbara and Harvey Brodsky Enrichment Center:
Hands-on service projects (Circle of Hands, Circle of Wisdom); Delivering
challahs to hospital patients (Challah Mitzvah Program); Engaging with
our clothing assistance program (Our Closet); Bar/Bat Mitzvah projects;
Teen Empowerment Program. JFCS can also help individuals and groups
plan community service 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
JRA’s mission is to serve over 6,000 diverse, low-income individuals across
Greater Philadelphia by relieving hunger, improving lives, and strengthening
our community each year. JRA offers many volunteer opportunities. Through
our Monthly Food Distribution Program, volunteers can assist in packing
and delivering boxes of nutritious food to families and individuals in need.
JRA offers a Route Owners program where a volunteer delivers to the same
households month after month, allowing for a meaningful relationship to form
between the client and volunteer. JRA also offers the Tiny Tots program where
families with small children ages 3-6 years old participate in an environment
catered to them. JRA offers volunteer opportunities for groups, such as teens,
university organizations, camps, synagogues, community groups and more.
Through our B’nai Mitzvah program, many students choose to complete their
service project with JRA. We offer a Birthday Card Program, where volunteers
can decorate and send birthday cards to JRA recipients.
KleinLife: Northeast Philadelphia
10100 Jamison Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19116
215-698-7300, ext. 192 • 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.
The Mitzvah Bowl
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.
Mitzvah Circle Foundation
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.
Mitzvah Food Program
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).
Repair the World: Philadelphia
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 • jeskate@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
610-757-8905 • philadelphia@bneiakiva.org • bneiakiva.org
Religious Zionist youth movement offering educational programs for third
through 12th grade. Three snifim:
Lower Merion — holds weekly Shabbat programs and special events at
Lower Merion Synagogue, in collaboration with Kohelet Yeshiva High
School. Northeast Philadelphia — sponsors weekly Shabbat programs and
special events 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.
Boy Scouts of America
Cradle of Liberty Council Jewish Committee on Scouting
1485 Valley Forge Road • Wayne, PA 19087
215-677-4147 • lenbrownstein@gmail.com • jewishscouting.org
Supporting Jewish Scouting in the five-county area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware,
Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties): Troop 185 in Somerton (CBS
Community Center) - Shomer Shabbat; Troop 665 in Dresher - Kosher; Pack
498 in Blue Bell - Kosher.
THE GUIDE 2019/2020
119
Camp Galil—Year Round Program
2100 Arch St. • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0676 • RoshEizor@campgalil.org
campgalil.org/year-round-program Labor Zionist youth movement for ages nine to 17. Emphasizes Jewish values
and social responsibility, with year-round activities for its members.
Camp Havaya—Camp Year Round
Reconstructing Judaism
1299 Church Road • Wyncote, PA 19095
833‑CAMP‑HAV (833‑226‑7428) • Fax: 215-576-0465
Hello@CampHavaya.org • camphavaya.org
Weekend events to see Camp friends – or to check the community out for
the first time.
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 • freundm@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 mentorship. 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 JCC, are held in Hebrew, planned and executed by high school
children leading children in grades 3-9.
United Synagogue Youth (USY) Mizrach Region
7763 Old York Rd • Elkins Park, PA 19027
215-870-7902 • Bass@uscj.com • MizrachUSY.com
Youth Groups for high-school students sponsored by the Conservative
movement. Encourages Jewish identity and observance, volunteer work and
education. Sponsors local trips, regional programs and trips to Israel. Kadima is
a youth group for middle school age children.
120 THE GUIDE 2019/2020
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
Bikkurphilly@yahoo.com • bikkurcholimphilly.org
Volunteers provide kosher food, Shabbos meals and challah every week to
anyone who could benefit from this service. Games and toys are also made
available 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
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@hebrewfreeloanphila.org • hflphilly.org
Provides no-fee, no-interest loans up to $7,500 to members of the Jewish
community 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 fertility treatments and related expenses. Also
provides no-fee, no-interest business loans up to $15,000 in the same nine-
county area. 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.