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.
Join the friendliest group of young adults for socializing, laughter, and yummy food!
Some of these events feature our Art Studio which empowers young adults to work with “Mentor Artists”, and culminates in our annual Art Show! (Art made in the Studio will be displayed and available for purchase at the Art Show.)
Our full-time staff and team of Friendship Experts (professionals in the special needs field) are always on-site at events.
Come 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.
Join us for group adventures like exciting sporting events, fun-filled bowling outings, captivating zoo visits, sunny summer beach days, and refreshing nature walks. Enjoy great times with friends, laughter, and camaraderie every step of the way!
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 and other service opportunities throughout the year! You’ll enjoy doing hands-on activities that are also very memorable mitzvahs.
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 throughout the school year, with four 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 who empowers and supports our youth artists as they learn from Mentor Artists. This experience culminates in our annual Art Show where all artists’ work will be displayed and available for purchase.
Email us to learn more.
Drop your kids off and treat yourself to some well-deserved “me time.” Whether you return at dismissal or hang out in our cozy Parent Lounge, (always available during Sunday Circle hours) you’ll find plenty of options to relax and connect.
Join our popular networking and information sessions, catch up on some work, or simply unwind with fellow parents.
We invite you to join our Community Celebration during the last 15 minutes of the final Sunday of each session, where we come together to celebrate friendship and Jewish holidays.
9/15- Parent Lounge: Learn from Mentor Parents
9/22
9/29- Community Celebration (3:30)
11/24- Parent Workshop: Self Care, led by JFCS
12/8
12/15: Community Celebration (3:30)
1/26: Parent Lounge: Gala Note Writing
2/2: Parent Lounge: Learn from Mentor Parents
2/9:Community Celebration (3:30)
2/23:Parent Workshop: Future Financial Planning with Bruce Sham
3/2
3/9:Community Celebration (3:30)
4/27:Parent Lounge: Learn from Mentor Parents
5/4
5/18:Community Celebration (3:30)
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.