Community Bulletin Board

Event

In observance of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), join us on Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 PM as we stand together, l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation to say Never Again.

Jewish Federation of Great invite you to join our 61st annual ceremony as part of our community’s tradition to ensure that we Never Forget about the six million Jews who perished in the Shoah and that we continue to honor the Survivors. The ceremony will include candle lighting, music and prayers. At Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza/16th Street at Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Register here.

Event

The October 7 pogrom in Israel was the worst massacre of Jews since the days of the Holocaust, yet rather than rally to the victim’s side with empathy and compassion, the international community has, confoundingly, exploded with Jew-hatred.

The film, Tragic Awakening: A New Look at the Oldest Hatred is therefore a profound and timely documentary that delves deeply into the roots of antisemitism and provides sobering revelations about the world’s oldest hatred. Where does such unbridled hatred come from, and can it be harnessed into a force for good? Tragic Awakening answers these and so many other questions with unvarnished candor.

The screening will include a conversation with Rawan Osman. Osman is a Syrian-Lebanese/German activist advocating peace with Israel. She served on the PeaceComms executive committee, speaks for SharakaNGO, and studies Islamic and Jewish Studies at Heidelberg University. Osman founded ArabsAsk and chairs PostOctober7 e. V., documenting persecution of pro-Israel Arab activists and organizing Abraham Accords speaking tours.

The film will be screened at The Weitzman Jewish Museum on Sunday, April 6 at 1:00 PM. You can find out more and register here. Students can get free tickets to the film screening by typing in SCHOLARSHIP for the Promo code when registering.

Event

Who Will Bear Witness? The Future of Holocaust Education Through Technology

On Sunday, March 30, Gratz College will present the 2025 Arnold and Esther Tuzman Memorial Holocaust Teach-In from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. (Special Educator Sessions from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM)

Each day we lose more and more survivors and rescuers. What will happen when all the eyewitnesses are gone? How will we impart the lessons of the Holocaust to future generations? Consider Holocaust education through technology… Drawing from over a decade of experience creating media for Holocaust institutions, Ken Winikur will explore the progression of technology from films to virtual reality, the evolution of the visitor journey, and increasing expectations of “experience” over information. He will include clips from finished work and touch on issues of “dark” tourism, effective use of media, and current and future trends in both content and technology. The keynote will be livestreamed but all of the breakout sessions are in-person only.

Click here to learn more and to register. You can download a flyer here.

Event

The Bible Players are visiting the animals! They will be performing for the first time at the Philadelphia Zoo at the Purim festival on Sunday, March 16. Their shows will be at 12:00 PM  and 1:00 PM and there's so much else to see too. If you're a member, it's included with admission, and anyone else can snag a discounted ticket using the QR code above or clicking here.

Events

Clothing Drive for Our Closet
Clean out your closets and donate gently used men’s clothing, shoes and coats to Our Closet, a free program that provides individuals with basic necessities. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, stay to chat or simply drop off your items. No sign-up is required. Donations will be collected during the following date:

• Friday, March 7 | 8:30 – 10:30 AM
  Home of Rachel Steinberg
  1283 Tressler Drive, Fort Washington, PA

Spring Event at Mitzvah Circle
Join other Women’s Philanthropy members at Mitzvah Circle to pack and sort donated clothing items for families in need. There are two volunteer time-slots; some walking and some light lifting is involved for this program. Volunteers should sign up in advance as Mitzvah Circle does not accept walk-in registrations and space for each session is limited. To participate, click here.

Wednesday, March 19 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM or 12:30 – 2:30 PM
435 Doylestown Road, Lansdale, Pa. 19446

Event

Congregation Kol Ami will be presenting the Bible Players on Sunday, February 23 at 3:00 PM. It will be held at Shaare Shamayim, and is a wonderful family event for all ages. Shaare Shamayim is at 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park (KI building). Suggested donation: Adults: $18; Seniors and Children under 12: $9. You can see a promo video here.

Event

Beth Sholom Community Players will be presenting "The Wizard of Oz" on Thursday, February 20 at 7:30, Saturday, February 22 at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, February 23 at 3:00 PM. The Wizard of Oz is a stage adaptation of the beloved film. The story follows Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas whisked away by a tornado to the enchanting land of Oz. She meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, and together they seek the help of the great Wizard. With the Wicked Witch of the West hot on their trail, they must rely on their newfound courage and friendship. Featuring the iconic songs and characters from the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz is a heartwarming tale of adventure, bravery, and the timeless lesson that there’s no place like home. Performances will be at Gratz College, 7605 Old York Road, 19027. You can find out more at at bethsholomplayers.org.

Event

Meeting: Thursday, January 23 at 6:00 PM at Rodeph Sholom

From the AJMA: In the past few days, we have witnessed an outrageous and deeply disturbing act of antisemitism at the University of Maryland’s Medical School. The January 16 event featuring Brigadier General Elon Glassberg, MD—a top IDF physician and former Surgeon General of the IDF Medical Corps—was shockingly canceled due to so-called “safety concerns.”

This strikes at the heart of what we are doing with AJMA here in Greater Philadelphia. Many of you remember Dr. Glassberg from our first event, where he spoke about life-saving medical interventions while avoiding any political discourse. His compassion and professionalism inspired so many of us—and now, this amazing man was canceled! Such a blatant act of antisemitism in a major public medical institution is an attack on Jewish healthcare providers everywhere. It’s yet another horrific reminder that Jew-hatred is not only alive but growing—even within our profession.

Our AJMA event on January 23 is more critical than ever. As Jewish healthcare providers, we must stand united against this escalating wave of antisemitism and fight back with strength and solidarity. This is not just about protecting ourselves; it’s about defending the principles of our profession and ensuring the best care for the patients we serve.

We cannot stay silent. Join us on January 23 to confront antisemitism in healthcare and send a clear message that we will not be intimidated. We would like to warmly invite every one of you, as leaders of the community, to join us at this important event. Thank you to those who have already responded and helped spread the word. Please feel free to share this with any healthcare provider in your community who may find it relevant. RSVP here. Learn more about the canceled event here.

Event

On January 27 at 5:30 PM, there will be a special commemorative event at the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The event will include a brief program, candle lighting, and speakers. It is open to the public and will last approximately 45 minutes. Note that as the Holocaust Memorial Plaza is an outdoor space, the program will not take place in the event of extreme inclement weather, such as icy conditions or dangerously low temperatures. 

This program is part of the Light It Up Yellow Initiative, led by 3G Philly, a dedicated group of grandchildren of Holocaust survivors who aim to continue the legacy of Holocaust remembrance. As part of this initiative, on the afternoon and evening of January 27, building facades across Pennsylvania will be illuminated yellow in recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Pennsylvania General Assembly will also pass a resolution on January 27 recognizing this important commemoration. If you would like to visit Harrisburg to hear the resolution read, please RSVP here.

The Associate Director of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation is Sophie Don, granddaughter of Shirley and Samuel Don z"l. Both Shirley and Samuel were survivors and active at AJ for many decades. Shirley spoke to teens candidly of her experiences and Sidney wrote a book, Prisoner 83571.

Open House Event

Ramah Day Camp is having an Open House for prospective families. It will take place on Tuesday, February 2nd, at 1:00 PM, at camp: 7601 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. They are asking folks to RSVP if they plan on coming, so they can account for numbers. Please RSVP here. 

Tax Information

Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit program allows businesses and individuals to redirect their PA tax dollars to support critical scholarships for students at Jewish day schools and synagogue-based kindergarten and preschool programs. EITC participants receive a 90% PA tax credit for their contribution and may also claim the remaining 10% as a charitable deduction. If you have at least $6,000 in PA tax liability, you can participate by joining an EITC entity at Pennsylvania Education Partnership LLC. You can get started by emailing Gwen Horowitz at Gwen@paeitc.com or visiting www.paeitc.com.

Art Commission

The Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation and Mural Arts Philadelphia are proud to announce the selection of Ella Ponizovsky Bergelson as the artist for the mural at the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Ella was selected from a nearly year-long process that included a pool of over 50 applications from around the world. The roughly 2,500-square-foot mural — which will serve as a backdrop to the nation’s oldest public Holocaust monument and represent the first large-scale mural dedicated to the Holocaust in a public space — will enrich the Memorial Plaza and enhance its significance as a site for reflection and education. (At left, a recent mural of the artist in Berlin, Germany.)

About Ella Ponizovsky
Ella is a visual artist with significant experience creating powerful public artwork, including several murals across international locations. Her work often focuses on the experience of being uprooted from one’s homeland, a topic she understands intimately, having moved from Moscow to Israel as a child after the fall of the Iron Curtain and then later from Israel to Germany. She was specifically selected for her refreshing take on exploring the Holocaust. The central themes of her proposed mural are discrimination and displacement during the Holocaust and WWII, as well as the subsequent cultural and linguistic diversity these displacements triggered. You can see some of her work here.

Expected Timeline
After the community meetings, Ella will begin working on her design, which will go through a multi-stage review and approval process throughout Spring 2025. The mural will be installed in Summer 2025, with a public dedication ceremony in September 2025.

Mitzvah Opportunity

From Cradles to Crayons^®: At Cradles to Crayons, we imagine a world where no child worries about having the clothes they need. Where warmth, comfort, and dignity are a given, not a privilege. This time of year, children's need for our services is especially urgent. For children waiting for the bus, walking to school, or playing outside without proper winter gear, the cold is more than just uncomfortable—it can affect their health and well-being. A warm, weatherproof coat can be a lifeline, yet is unattainable for too many families. That’s where you come in. When you support Cradles to Crayons this season, you'll help us reach our goal of distributing 20,000 winter coats to keep local kids safe and warm. Plus, your dollar goes further with us: a gift of only $15 can provide a child with a brand-new winter coat that has a suggested retail price several times higher than we pay. You can donate money here. If you would like to drop off a coat, there will be boxes at AJ's Early Learning Center entrance or you can find a list of drop-off locations here.

Event

Sponsored by the Israeli American Council (IAC): As the war in Israel continues and antisemitism rises globally, our Jewish and Israeli-American community needs spaces for meaningful dialogue and connection. This unique event on Monday, November 18 brings together distinguished speakers to explore the IDF's ethical code — a framework that bridges Israel's democratic values with Jewish historical ethics.

Dr. Raviv Allon, from the IDF's elite rescue unit 669, will share firsthand experiences of providing medical care in impossible conditions to both Israeli soldiers and uninvolved Palestinian civilians. Dr. Yakir Englander (IAC, Fulbright Scholar and author) will provide a comprehensive analysis of the IDF's moral code, explaining its core principles, practical implementation, and the complex ethical decisions it guides in combat situations. Together with Dr. Yair Lev and Rabbi Geri Newburge, they will examine how these ethical guidelines shape Israel's military operations while upholding humanitarian values.

Join us to meet each other – American Jews and Israeli Americans.

Details:
Date: Monday, November 18 at 7:30 PM
Language: English
Location: Main Line Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave, Wynnewood, PA 19096

This event is limited to limited to 75 participants. Register here: https://iac360.org/iac-events/ethicspa/#

Film Festival

Philadelphia Jewish Film + Media (PJFM)’s annual film and media festival returns November 14-24, 2024, to Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Twelve films, including a shorts program, master class, family event, comedy night, and so much more! Ten days of unforgettable Jewish cinematic and digital storytelling. PJFM’s 44th festival brings the most unique Jewish international films and digital media content from across the globe, from Philadelphia movie premieres to repertory cinema and collaborative events with local organizations. Events take place at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, Gratz College, Ambler Theater, Kaiserman JCC, Penn Hillel, and Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel. Find out more here!