JEWISH WAR VETERANS POSTS
Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV)
Philadelphia County Council
609-238-1912 • richfine@hotmail.com • jwv.org
Serves in an advocacy role in presenting veterans’ pension, disability and
other claims before the Veterans Administration and other agencies. Combats
anti-Semitism and bigotry. Assists the Office of Special Investigations in
pursuing Nazi war criminals. Supports American youth through scouting,
scholarships and anti-drug programs. Assists oppressed Jews worldwide.

Supports strong U.S.-Israel relations.

Drizin-Weiss Post No. 215
913 Tyson Ave. • Philadelphia, PA 19111 • 215-728-9368
Post 215 is an active progressive group with members ranging from 20 to
101 years old and from all neighborhoods of Philadelphia and surround-
ing counties with the Mission of “Veterans Helping Veterans and the
Communities we Serve.” Membership is open in several classifications.

Post 215 is a regional post serving personnel on active military duty,
reservists, and the National Guard, along with discharged members, in 14
states and foreign bases. Maintains active VSO (legal reps) in an advocacy
roll representing active duty separating personnel, of every race, creed
and religion. VSO also pursues claims for veterans pensions, disability
and other claims before the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and other agen-
cies. Logistically and financially supports military missions, government
events, worthwhile charities, and operations of other Posts. Provides
honor guard along with funeral detail. Provides grave sites, U.S. flags and
presentation at grave sites. Offers resources for anti-drug and recovery
programs. Members meet at the post and online. The post provides
special events; speakers; benefit services; 501(c)(3) receiving and giving of
charitable tax deductions; fundraising; scholarships for family members
high school to college entry; and G.I. supplemental college scholarship
funding. Supports membership within synagogues in seven Philadelphia
area counties, and in other states, along with communication with
non-Jewish institutions. Combats anti-semitism and bigotry. Sponsors a
Ladies Auxiliary to assist and plan local, regional and national programs,
as well as supporting oppressed Jewish issues worldwide.

Fegelson-Young-Feinberg Post 697
P.O. Box 802 • Levittown, PA 19058 • 267-573-9697
jewishvetspost697@gmail.com • jewishvetspost697.jwv.org
Sponsors programs for all ages that promote patriotism and love of
country. Post 697 offers a variety of memberships that will allow both
veterans and non veterans of all faiths the privilege of becoming associ-
ated the veteran community. Ongoing programs includes scholarships
for descendants of JWV members, providing Veterans Service Officers
representing veterans and their families before the Department of
Veterans Affairs, membership life and health insurance coverage and
prescription program, audio-visual library resources. The JWV disaster
relief fund, care packages to service personnel and other programs will
make a difference in the lives of others. Also has Ladies Auxiliary.

Post 305
215-459-1261 • henrynco@comcast.net
Meets at Adath Israel, 250 N. Highland Ave., Merion Station.

Geographic area includes West Philadelphia and the western suburbs.

Activities include visiting residents at the Coatesville VA Medical
Center, conducting Memorial Day ceremonies at Delaware County
cemetery monuments, hosting speakers at monthly meetings,
and supporting the Department of PA and JWV national organizations.

Post 98
856-468-2678 • edyndon@aol.com
Both Post 98 Members and the Ladies Auxiliary meet at Tiffany’s Diner,
9010 Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, PA. The post promotes Judaism,
patriotism and veteran’s services. Ongoing programs include providing
scholarships for descendants of JWV members, and tending to
memorials and grave sites of members in area cemeteries.

100 THE GUIDE 2020/2021
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
1511 Walnut St., Suite 301 • 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
1401 Walnut St., 9th Floor • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-703-3135 • picc@phillyisraelchamber.com • phillyisraelchamber.com
Promotes business development with Israel. PICC is a member-based,
independent 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, advanced technology,
investment, academia, professionals and financial firms.

ISRAEL EXPERIENCES
Birthright Israel–Taglit
The Birthright Israel Foundation
1-888-99-ISRAEL or 1-888-994-7723
info@birthrightisrael.com • birthrightisrael.com
Offers young adults ages 18 through 32 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
347-292-8809 • info@honeymoonisrael.org
honeymoonisrael.org • 2ndhoneymoonisrael.org
Provides trips to Israel for couples with at least. one Jewish partner. Each
trip includes 20 couples from the same city: couples 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 marriage or
lifelong commitment to each other and are between the ages of 25-40. The trips
are locally based, and there is one trip from Philadelphia annually. In addition,
Honeymoon Israel runs a luxurious nationwide Israel travel experience called
“2nd Honeymoon Israel,” for couples and individuals aged 50+. The program
is inspired by the popular Honeymoon Israel trip for young couples, and is not
locally coordinated or subsidized.

Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
Israel Aliyah Center
866-835-0430 • PniyotTzibor@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.




Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
American Friends of Magen David Adom
MASA Israel Journey
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
Travel With Purpose (Missions) 2100 Arch St. • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0629 • ashemesh@jewishphilly.org • jewishphilly.org/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.

1-866-864-3279 • masainfo@masaisrael.org • masaisrael.org
Connects Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 30, to programs across various inter-
est areas including: five- to 10-month gap year, study abroad, internship and
volunteer experiences in Israel. All Masa Israel participants receive an automatic
grant and can apply for additional needs-based financial aid.

Volunteers for Israel
610-584-0468 • 215-646-6381 • National: 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, nonsectarian,
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.

Advocacy priorities include: combating global anti-Semitism; promoting Israel’s
place in the world; combating 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 has the mandate
to lead 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 • RSigman@afhu.org • afhu.org
A national nonprofit organization dedicated to raising support for, and
awareness of, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Hebrew University
is a multicultural and pluralistic institution devoted to innovation and
achievement across seven academic faculties.

American Friends of the Kaplan Medical Center
152 Bateman Road • Langhorne PA 19047
215-932-2974 • lbalcher@afkmc.org • afkmc.org
National headquarters for fundraising support for one of Israel’s major
general hospitals, serving Israelis in Rehovot. The center is working to build
the largest high-tech cardiac center in the Middle East.

215-947-7007 • Philadelphia@afmda.org • afmda.org
Israel’s ambulance, blood-services, and disaster-relief organization, serving
as emergency medical first responders. MDA is the organization mandated
by the Israeli government to serve in this role, but it’s not a government
agency. It relies on donations for funding.

2100 Arch St., fifth floor • Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-587-4104 • philly@aipac.org • aipac.org
Pro-Israel lobbying organizations working with both Democratic and
Republican political leaders to enact public policy strengthening the U.S.-Israel
relationship. Works with Congress and the executive branch on initiatives from
securing foreign aid for Israel to stopping Iran’s nuclear program.

American Technion Society-Philadelphia Chapter
Four Tower Bridge • 200 Barr Harbor Drive, 400• West Conshohocken, PA 19428
610-940-3800 • Philadelphia@ats.org • ats.org/location/philadelphia
Supports the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel’s oldest
scien­tific and technical university.

AMIT-Mid-Atlantic Regional Office
410-484-2223 or 1-800-989-AMIT
AMITMidAtlantic@AMITchildren.org • amitchildren.org
Supports educational and social-welfare institutions throughout Israel,
helping disadvantaged youth become constructive citizens in Israeli society
through educational programs, teaching Torah and Jewish tradition, and
promoting a sense of unity among Jews.

Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
1500 Market St. • Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-568-2223 • philadelphia@adl.org • philadelphia.adl.org
Fighting Hate For Good. Advocates actively on behalf of Israel. Monitors and
tracks extremists and hate groups, educates children and adults, and protects
constitutional rights and religious freedoms.

Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America
333 E. Lancaster Ave., #351 • Wynnewood, PA 19096
215-887-1590 or 1-800-469-2697
btjphilly@boystownjerusalem.org • boystownjerusalem.org
Support group for residential educational institution in Jerusalem offering
dis­advantaged youth, ages 12 to 20, an intensive multi-disciplinary curriculum
emphasizing technology, academics and religious studies.

Friends of the Israel Defense Force (FIDF)
Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey Chapter
500 Office Center Drive, Suite 400 • Fort Washington, PA 19034
215-383-2890 • Philadelphia@fidf.org
fidf.org/pennsylvania-southern-new-jersey-chapter Initiates and helps support social, educational, cultural and recreational programs
and facilities for the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the
Jewish homeland. Also provides support for the families of fallen soldiers.

Israel American Council Philadelphia
45 Haverford Road • Wynnewood, PA 19096
267-515-3270 • Philadelphia@israeliamerican.org • israeliamerican.org
The mission of the Israeli-American Council (IAC) is to build an engaged and
united Israeli-American community that strengthens the Israeli and Jewish
identity of our next generation, the American Jewish community, and the bond
between the peoples of the United States and the State of Israel.

ConnecTivism program
Through interactive online sessions, students will learn about the terminology
of Israel activism, practice how to respond to tough questions, learn about the
current state of antisemitism, and the difference between productive criticism of
Israel and anti-Zionism. israeliamerican.org
THE GUIDE 2020/2021
101