Job Title: Experiential Jewish & Inclusion Educator (Contract Position)
Department: Outreach & Engagement
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Effective Date: June 2024
Responsible for Jewish education/engagement and inclusion education aspects of our programs. Philly Friendship Circle’s Experiential Jewish and Inclusion Educator will plan, facilitate and evaluate the following programs: Mitzvah Volunteer Program, Friendship 101 (teen orientation time) at Sunday Circle, and Community workshops. This educator will lead and/or support experiential Jewish learning/living activities at Sunday Circle, Young Adult programs and Friends@Home. While curriculum and activities exist for some of the programs listed above.
Some curriculum development (lesson planning) is required.
Sunday and evening work is required during the program year (September-June).
– None.
Salary Range: Contract Position, $40-65/hour depending on experience
Ability to engage in physical activity with members.
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Submit cover letter and resume to operations@phillyfriendship.com.
5:00-6:00 pm on most Thursdays from September-June (and 4 Thursdays during the summer)
Are you a young adult connected to Philly Friendship Circle?
A current member or alumnus?
Come join our virtual Young Adult Happy Hour where we hang out, do fun activities together, and play some games!
This is a great way to stay connected to Philly Friendship Circle even if you have graduated, live away from home, or find it easier to connect with friends virtually! To join virtual Young Adult Happy Hour, please check our weekly emails for the Zoom link OR contact outreach@phillyfriendship.com.
These 6 in-person events offer dinner in the sukkah, 4 art & dining programs, plus a night out at a restaurant with the warm fuzzy feelings we are known for!
We provide a lot of support via our full-time staff and also have a full team of Friendship Experts on site, who are professionals in the special needs field.
The art & dining programs also empower young adults to work with “Mentor Artists”, as part of our Art Studio–which culminates in our annual Art Show! (Art made during the art & dining events will be displayed and available for purchase at the Art Show.)
Join us to hang out and get to know fellow young adults in the community.
This program is made possible with the support of the Jewish Federation’s Community Fund.
Gather for group walks and hikes in the great outdoors with Rabbi Zev and Chani Baram!
These are also great opportunities for families to reconnect and schmooze while strolling.
In the winter, Sunday Strolls may transition to indoor volunteering opportunities.
Birthright Israel provides a free trip to Israel for all eligible young Jews. Over 10 years ago, through Birthright Israel trip providers, we began leading accessible trips for young adults with disabilities. (Please note that this trip is initiated and run by Birthright Israel, and Philly Friendship Circle works with Birthright Israel to make it as accessible as possible.) Our goal is to provide an authentic Birthright Israel experience with a mindfulness to accommodate everyone and ensure memorable connections with the land and with each other.
This 10-day trip offers an immersive experience for participants. On our must-see list, we visit the Kotel, Masada, Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Safed, and more. We infuse these stops with Israeli food, music, shopping, and activities. We discuss how we each practice Judaism, what it means to be an American Jew and our shared heritage. The trip is an incredible experience for participants–returning rejuvenated, confident, independent, and ready to take on challenges while forming new friendships. Check out our whole highlight of the 2023 trip on our Instagram, right here!
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL NOT BE HAVING A 2024 TRIP. STAY TUNED FOR 2025 TRIP.
Eligibility
Each applicant is treated as an individual when determining their eligibility for the trip. While Philly Friendship Circle staff is open to a vast array of circumstances and encourages anyone interested in an inclusive, accessible trip to inquire further, ultimately Birthright Israel is responsible for the application and decision process. If you know anyone who may be interested in the trip, forward them this information. Please keep in mind the following Birthright guidelines. Participants must:
* Please contact us if you have any questions about eligibility criteria.
* If the applicant is between 27-32 years old, please contact us if the system does not accept your application.
Typically, registration opens in January or February and closes within 2-4 weeks.
Limited Spots Available
Connect with your Philly Friendship Circle community by helping to distribute holiday packages throughout the year! You’ll enjoy doing a hands-on activity that is also a very memorable mitzvah.
Email us for more information.
MVP is our inclusive access point for tweens and teens (6th & 7th grade) who are interested in getting involved in Philly Friendship Circle & being inclusive friends. MVP is also an engaging and meaningful Bar/Bat Mitzvah program. This service learning opportunity builds a foundation to understand and accept each other’s differences and how to apply those lessons at school, synagogue, home, and future Philly Friendship Circle programs!
“Although I was apprehensive at first to join Philly Friendship Circle, the more I participated, the more comfortable I felt. Philly Friendship Circle taught me kindness and respect because I learned… how to embrace other people’s differences.” – Mia, graduate of our MVP program, from the pulpit at her Bat Mitzvah
Through activities, games, and multimedia presentations, MVP participants learn about communication, human development, diagnosis and more. We teach these subjects through special needs advocacy, Jewish values, and current events. This dynamic and interactive approach opens doors to meaningful discussion and personal growth for participants. In addition to weekday gatherings, participants and their parents attend Sunday Circle to get hands-on experience participating in our programs.
Email outreach@phillyfriendship.com to learn more!
Think of Sunday Circle as an awesome day camp, with 4 groups rotating from activity to activity. As much as Sunday Circle is a structured environment, we also seek to create a customized experience for everyone and their unique needs. We encourage friends to at least try each activity, but you will also see pairs of friends going on walks throughout the program, or sitting down on the floor to read a book together.
Our only 2 rules are BE YOURSELF and HAVE FUN!
We provide a lot of support via our full-time staff and also have a full team of Friendship Experts on site, who are professionals in the special needs field. In addition, our activities are led by professional facilitators and educators.
We rotate our Sunday Circle activities from week to week, always giving friends a chance to explore new ways to have fun! However, there is always one steady presence on our activities schedule, which is… our Art Studio! The Studio is led by our dedicated Art Therapist, and culminates in a gallery-style show of the work that our youth artists create throughout the school year. (At the end of the school year, all artists’ work is made available for purchase.)
Meanwhile, parents can join our popular networking and information sessions (or simply enjoy some free time) in our specially dedicated Parent Lounge.
Friends@Home is a unique weekly program that brings two people together to build a genuine friendship, unlike any other.
Our Friends@Home team works diligently to match up pairs of friends based on age, interests, and geographic location. Friends@Home pairs play games, create unique artwork, or do any other fun activities they choose!
Participating in Friends@Home is an incredible step toward building a lasting relationship between two friends who may not have met otherwise!
Email our Member Support Coordinator to learn more.