In a time when it’s easy to feel isolated, please remember that there are so many ways to connect within our community. The Jewish Federation is a central resource and community convener, hosting virtual gatherings and high-level national updates. Or consider joining one of our partner agencies in exciting programs for individuals, kids, families, and more.
Jump to sections:
Events for Young Professionals
Programming from the Synagogues
Community Updates
Jewish Population Study: Community Town Hall Meetings
The Jewish Federation’s 2019 Community Portrait Jewish Population Study provides a wealth of information to allow our communities to better understand the basic socio-economic, demographic and public health trends across the region’s Jewish population. Join virtual Town Hall Meetings to learn the interesting findings from the study about each of our unique communities within the Greater Philadelphia area. There are two time options for each region; a Jewish Federation representative will present the same information at both times. Each presentation will be tailored to that specific region and followed by a Q&A session. You are welcome to register for as many sessions as you’d like to attend.
May 5th: Center City hosted by Sara and Adam Laver
Register here for the afternoon session: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register here for the evening session: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
May 7th: Chester County
Register here for the afternoon session: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register here for the evening session: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
May 11th: Bucks County hosted by Alan Sheinberg & Jon Stevens
Register here for the afternoon session: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register here for the evening session: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
May 14th: Northeast Philadelphia hosted by Ezra Wohlgelernter
Register here for the afternoon session: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register here for the evening session: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
May 18th: BuxMont hosted by Mary Relles
Register here for the afternoon session: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register here for the evening session: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
May 20th: Orthodox Community hosted by Gittel Hilibrand
Register here for the afternoon session: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Register here for the evening session: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m
Sessions for Old York Road Corridor, Delaware County and the Main Line are scheduled for June.
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Family Programming
BBYO On Demand is a virtual experience for Jewish teens worldwide. The programming is like a ‘TV channel’ that you can tune into and enjoy from whatever time zone you’re in as often as you’d like. Click here for more information.
Camp Ramah created Ramah BaWeb to provide live, virtual programming for the entire community.
Expedition Nai: April 24 - May 22 is a virtual challenge designed to connect Jewish folks around the world to participate in the biggest Color War we’ve ever seen. Join any time; new challenges are released every Friday and winners will be announced each week. Presented by Moishe House & Camp Nai Nai Nai. Register here.
All JCC classes, including entertainment, education and fitness are free to stream online.
Kaiserman JCC offers a variety of classes and videos.
Moving Traditions has a variety of resources for teens on their site.
PJ Library offers a variety of digital resources online, as well as daily activities:
- Daily Storytimes and Craft-Alongs at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Daily Virtual Field Trips at 12:00 p.m.
- Join PJ Library through their facebook page for daily activities.
jkidphilly has an abundance of resources, activities and ideas on their jkidREMOTE site.
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Adult Educational Programs
May 4th from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Webinar with David Horovitz
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of the online newspaper Times of Israel, will discuss the formation of a new government in Israel after three national elections in the past year, along with other pressing issues facing Israel and the Middle East. Register here.
May 5th from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Cooking from Your Pantry
Join JFCS to learn tips and recipes to cook creatively with pantry staples, canned goods, and leftovers so you can grocery shop less often. Register here.
May 5th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Collective Compassion: Responding to Teen Mental Health & Wellness
The Jewish Teen Funder Collaborative has been prioritizing mental health in the teen space, work all the more relevant now. Kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, which falls in May, with experts for a deep dive into issues impacting teens, best practices in wellness programming for teens and parents, and an exploration of Jewish texts that highlight our communal responsibility to support those growing up right now. Learn more about Collective Compassion. Register here.
May 5th from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Stolen Legacy: Nazi Theft and the Quest for Justice
When she was growing up in England, Dina Gold used to listen to her grandmother’s stories about her glamorous life in 1920s Berlin and of her dreams of one day recovering the building which, she claimed, had been stolen from the family by the Nazis. Dina will talk about her search to unearth the details of her long-dead grandmother’s claims and the legal case she launched to recover the property. Presented by Moment Magazine. Registration coming soon.
May 7th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Roadmap to Action in Israel & the World
As global anxiety has frozen the capital and labor markets, paralyzed the economy, and impinged on individual physical and mental well-being, the exclusive focus on disaster relief is delaying critical financing for innovative biomedical technologies that can solve both the public health and financial crises. Join this panel for an in-depth discussion on both a global and Israeli perspective on how innovations in biomedical research responds to these pandemics. Register here.
May 7th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Discovering the Art Within: Creating a Still Life
JFCS’ art class explores different artistic techniques to get creative while at home. Register here.
May 12th from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Cooking with Chef Vered Guttman
The holiday of harvest, in which we celebrate receiving the Torah, is known for its delicious dairy dishes. In her online cooking class, chef Vered Guttman will explore the origins of this tasty tradition and demonstrate some of her favorite Shavuot dishes from across the Jewish diaspora. Presented by Moment Magazine. Registration coming soon.
Discussion Series: Confronting Racism as Jews
Co-Sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation and Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel. Rabbi Batya Glazer, Director of the Philadelphia JCRC, will provide a forum to engage around issues of racism as members of the Jewish community. Delve into issues of racism in the United States, and how our identities as Jews are an influence on our views and understandings. Register for the series here.
- May 13th at 7:00 p.m.: Anti-Semitism and Racism
- May 20th at 7:00 p.m.: Relationship between Black and Jewish Communities
- May 27th: Racism within the Jewish Community
May 14th from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Discovering the Art Within: Landscapes
JFCS’ art class explores different artistic techniques to get creative while at home. Register here.
May 19th from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.: Broadway Songs about the Jewish Experience You May Not Know
Join Broadway Performance Coach and Music Director Michael Lavine as he plays piano and introduces us to great Jewish Broadway songs from Education of Hyman Kaplan, The Zulu and The Zayda and The Last Five Years. Presented by Moment Magazine. Registration coming soon.
May 21st from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Discovering the Art Within: Abstraction
JFCS’ art class explores different artistic techniques to get creative while at home. Register here.
May 27th from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Cooking Around the World: Italy
Join JFCS to explore new foods and cultures from the comfort of your own home. Learn the basics of Italian cuisine and try out a few simple recipes you can make with pantry staples. Register here.
May 27th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Special Author Event: Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner
When a baby is left on the doorstep of a Cape Cod beach house, an unlikely group of women risks all they hold dear to harbor and protect her in this "touching, nuanced summer yarn." Enjoy this great beach read and then join author Jamie Brenner for a program with JFCS’ to discuss Summer Longing (available May 5.) Register here.
May 28th from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Knitting with a Mission
Join JFCS and fellow knitters for conversation and community as you knit unique items for vulnerable individuals. Register here.
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Events for Young Professionals
May 1st from 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.: Shabbat Throughout the City: A Salute to the 2020 Grads
Enjoy community and togetherness as well as breakout sessions to discuss your reflections during quarantine in a more intimate setting. As a special “Challah” to our class of 2020 graduates and students who just wrapped up their year, we encourage everyone to wear some of your high school or university swag (sweatshirt, hat, etc…) on the call! Register here.
Co-sponsored by: The Jewish Federation, ADL Philadelphia, Jewish Graduate Student Network, Moishe House, Neshama Hadassah, NextGen, Repair the World Philadelphia, RSJ Moishe House, The Chevra and Tribe 12.
May 4th from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Stretch and Snack with Mallory & Ross
Join Tribe 12’s live broadcast where Mallory from the Jewish Graduate Student Network will do yoga sets. And in between yoga, Ross from Tribe 12 will lead snack making. Register here.
May 4th at 7:30 p.m.: Quizzo Night: May the Fourth Be With You Edition
Join RSJ Philly Moishe House for a Star Wars-themed quizzo night as a Zoom call! Grab your teammates (virtually or those you live with), come prepared with a cool team name, and register here to secure your spot.
May 8th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.: BYOP: Bring Your Own Pet to LunchJoin the call with NextGen and the Jewish Graduate Student Network, and have lunch with your furry friend over Zoom! De-stress and unwind with the pet community, and ask questions about your best friend to Dr. Colette the Vet. Register here.
May 9th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: Victory Day
Victory Day is widely celebrated in countries that made up the former Soviet Union to commemorate the fall of Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Learn more from Moishe House’s Jewish Educator, Tanya, about the forgotten Jews of the Red Army during our conversation about Victory Day (День Победы). Register here for the Zoom link.
May 11th from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: Lag B’Omer Virtual Bonfire
Join Moishe House on Zoom for a bonfire and celebration from the comfort of your own home. We'll bring the bonfire, you bring the smores! Send a message on Facebook or email moishehousephilly@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
May 12th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: 10th Annual Tribe 12 Fellowship Launch Night: The Beginning
Join the 10th cohort of Tribe 12 Fellows as they present their socially-conscious businesses, nonprofits, and projects that will change our communities and the world! Join us to discover what ventures our Fellows have created, share your insights in a small group of like-minded individuals, and learn what you can expect from the Fellows and their ventures at our future Tribe 12 Fellowship 2020 Launch Night - The Culmination. Register in advance to receive the zoom link.
May 14th from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: The Ultimate Game Night
Join RSJ Philly Moishe House for the first-ever Ultimate Game Night (TM). Bring your competitive spirit for a tournament-style game of Tic Tac Toe, Connect Four, Go Fish, Uno, and more. Register here.
May 19th from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.: Local Learning Series: Rabbi Bonder
What happened at Mount Sinai And should you care? Join Moishe House for the continuation of their Local Learning Series with Rabbi Jason Bonder of Congregation Beth Or. Message them on Facebook or email moishehousephilly@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
May 21st at 7:00 p.m.: Hermitage: A Virtual Tour
Join RSJ Philly Moishe House for a virtual stroll through the grandiose halls of Hermitage, one of Russia’s most renowned art museums.Each exhibit will be accompanied by an introduction about the painter and the theme of the painting. Register here.
May 27th from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Improv Night: Bear Jokes Edition
Join RSJ Philly Moishe House in welcoming Andrew from the Bible Players for a lesson on Improv with a Jewish-flair. And, as if we aren't having enough fun, we will get to take on the roles of Mafiosos, Police Officers, or Civilians for a game of Mafia (kind of like a Russian version of Heads-Up-7up). Register here.
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Programming from the Synagogues
Each synagogue provides many virtual offerings for Torah Study, Shabbat Services, lectures, family gatherings and more. Click on the synagogue name to view their calendar.
Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park
Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park
Congregation Beth Israel of Media
Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen
Congregation Beth-El in Yardley
Congregation Brothers of Israel of Bucks County
Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park
Congregations of Shaare Shamayim in Northeast Philadelphia
Germantown Jewish Centre in West Mt. Airy
Har Zion Temple of the Main Line
Society Hill Synagogue in Center City
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Volunteer Opportunities
Mitzvah Food Program
Deliver pre-packed bags of food and emergency supplies. Drivers are needed from the Mitzvah Food Pantry sites in Center City, Main Line and Northeast Philadelphia. Someone will be in touch to schedule your exact pickup time. Sign up to volunteer here. Deliveries generally take less than two hours.
KleinLife
KleinLife Home Delivered Meals program is an essential need for 700 homebound seniors. Help deliver these pre-cooked meals each Tuesday. In the loading dock you will be given gloves, meals packed in freezer bags, and a delivery route. After delivery, emptied freezer bags should be returned to Kleinlife. To volunteer and coordinate a time, please contact John Eskate at jeskate@kleinlife.org.
Jewish Relief Agency
Deliver pre-packed boxes of food and emergency supplies to individuals across the region. Visit the JRA website to RSVP for a specific time and sign up for a route.
Phone-a-Friend: Volunteer Virtually with the Jewish Federation
Can you make regular friendly phone calls to check in with a local older adult in our Jewish community? Fill out the form to be matched with an isolated community member. This service may expand to include the option of helping a senior order groceries online.
