COMMUNITY RESOURCES
with discharged members, in 14 states and
foreign bases. Maintains active VSO (legal
reps) in an advocacy role 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 agencies.

Logistically and financially supports
military missions, government events,
worthwhile charities, and operations of
other Posts. Provides honor guard along
with funeral detail. Provides gravesites,
U.S. flags and presentation at gravesites.

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
antisemitism 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 associated the veteran
community. Ongoing programs include
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.

60 Philadelphia Guide to Jewish Life 2022-2023
Post 305
2763 Island Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19153
Adjultant: Henry Frank
henrynco@comcast.net We meet at the Kaiserman JCC, 45
Haverford Ave., Wynnewood. 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.

1 ISRAEL ADVOCACY
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.

Israel Experiences
& Advocacy
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.

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.

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.

*Denotes Paid Advertiser



Jewish Federation
of Greater Philadelphia*
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
1-866-864-3279 masainfo@masaisrael.org
masaisrael.org Support and Advocacy
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
Philadelphia/Southern NJ
1600 Market St., Suite 1820
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-665-2300 AJC.org
Regional Director: Marcia Bronstein
philadelphia@ajc.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
volunteer experiences in Israel. All Masa
Israel participants receive an automatic
grant and can apply for additional needs-
based financial aid.

AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being
of the Jewish people and Israel, and to
advance human rights and democratic
values in the United States and around
the world.

Volunteers for Israel
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
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 non-combat
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.

American Associates,
Ben-Gurion University
of the Negev
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, &
education. American Friends
of Hebrew University
P.O. Box 2147
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 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 Hi-Tech Cardiac Center in the
Middle East.

Americans for Ben-Gurion
University 261 Old York Rd Suite 701
Jenkintown, PA 19046
AmericansforBGU.org Philanthropic Relationship Officer:
Claire Winick
Claire@americansforBGU.org COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Travel With Purpose (Missions)
2001 Market St., Suite 2300
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0629 ashemesh@jewishphilly.org
jewishphilly.org/missions 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.

A4BGU raises funds and friends for
Ben-Gurion University, Israel’s youngest
and most dynamic research and
higher education institution, charged
by government mandate to develop
the Negev.

American Friends of
Magen David Adom
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.

American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC)
2001 Market St., Suite 2300
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.

2022-2023 Philadelphia Guide to Jewish Life
61