Don’t miss the chance to be part of an unforgettable experience celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Jewish State’s founding. As a stakeholder in our community, we invite you to join the Jewish Federation on a unique journey through Israel with the opportunity to customize an experience that speaks to your passions, interests, and how you want to hear, feel, see, smell, and taste Israel. Spots will fill quickly. Click here to learn more and express interest in the May 14 - 21, 2023 trip.

In partnership with the Friends of Jewish Cemeteries, this special initiative of the Jewish Federation is helping find long-term solutions to repair our region’s Jewish cemeteries and reconnect our community to its deep local roots. As a community convener, this is a beautiful example of the Jewish Federation's ability to leverage resources and connections to meet unmet needs within our community. 

The pilot project to restore a small section of Har Nebo Cemetery is well underway. This week, we worked with cemetery preservation specialist Joe Ferrannini, Owner of Grave Stone Matters, to restore 25 tombstones over the course of 8 days.  

Last fall, the Jewish Federation connected Ilana Horwitz, a sociologist of religion and education at Tulane University, with local Jewish community members as part of a study about whether the need to social distance affects how social capital gets activated during a pandemic. Ilana interviewed a group of middle- and
low-income Jewish parents in the Greater Philadelphia area who had school-aged children to learn more about how engagement in Jewish life influenced their connection to resources during the pandemic. Horowitz and Brian Gralnick, Director of Social Responsibility, presented initial findings in their session titled “COVID and the Jewish Community: Research and Action” during the 2020 General Assembly.

Check out recent coverage on this topic: 

• "Is social distancing unraveling the bonds that keep society together?" The Conversation 
• "Professor Details COVID’s Impact on Local Jews"
  Jewish Exponent

"I love the opportunity of working with the Buxmont community and being a resource to connect people to Jewish life."

Philly born, North Jersey and Israel raised, Nomi Shapiro returned to the Delaware Valley to raise her family and plant roots. A product of Camp Ramah and Jewish day schools, Nomi graduated from Barnard College in 1986. A longtime Ramah Day Camp staff member, Nomi has pursued her passion for making connections and building community as an art teacher and Jewish educator. As Coordinator of the Buxmont Kehillah, Nomi is thrilled to continue facilitating enduring relationships and connections across our unique Buxmont neighborhood.

Nomi would love to meet and hear from you! Reach out to her at buxmont@kehillah.jewishphilly.org

Six representatives from Philadelphia attended JFNA’s Cabinet retreat in San Diego this week, an opportunity to exchange ideas, build leadership skills and connect to the global Jewish community. This year’s retreat theme was “Ometz Lev” or Courageous Heart. The cohort had strategic discussions about the future of our community, and are bringing back ideas and stronger connections to help effect change and innovation through the Jewish Federation system.

National Young Leadership Cabinet is JFNA's premier young leadership development program that educates and connects the next generation of global Jewish leaders and philanthropists. There are more than 200 Philadelphia alumni of the program who have gone on to have key leadership roles within our Jewish community. One of the featured offerings of the program is the opportunity to travel with your peers for an inspiring retreat. Cabinet just announced that next year’s spring retreat will be hosted in UAE and Israel. Applications for the program will be opening soon.