Our Community
An Inclusive Jewish Learning Experience
Makom Community is a Jewish enrichment center that creates family-centered Jewish experiences. We empower parents to build a Jewish life that is meaningful for their family. We welcome the excitement of children. And we strive to create an environment where it is safe for parents to learn alongside their children. We cultivate fluency and comfort in Jewish tradition through our joyful youth and family experiences. Not only is Makom Community a Jewish community committed to creating a more just world, we’re also committed to building a Jewish community that is open to anyone who wants to engage with Jewish traditions alongside their family.
Quick Facts about Makom Community
- Daily, High-Quality Jewish Education at the core of Afterschool Enrichment
- Children Ages 4-13 (Pre-K through 7th grade)
- 5th-7th Grade Students in Anafim as they journey toward BMitzvah
- Locations in Center City and South Philadelphia
- Project-Based and Child-Led Learning
- School’s Out Camps During School Closures (including Snow Days) and Perelman Jewish Day School Closures
Our Families
Our families live in and near Center City and South Philly. The diversity of each of our families adds to the richness of Makom Community, whether they are lifelong Philadelphians or new to the City of Brotherly Love, born Jews or Jews by choice, single-faith or interfaith families, straight-identified or LGBT-identified, with a pet goldfish or without a pet goldfish… well, you get the idea. We’re eager to include families with a variety of structures, shapes, and Jewish backgrounds.
Our Kids
The kids who are part of our Jewish Enrichment go to public schools, charter schools, and a variety of private schools. While at Makom Community, our students make new friends and build lasting relationships with Jewish peers and role models. Students also get to play and explore LOTS of ways to immerse themselves in Jewish life.
Shabbat at Makom Community
We create moments of quality family time on Shabbat in a multitude of ways. Our goal is to invite all parents and kids to interpret and transmit Jewish ideas for their families in a way that works for their life. In the Fall, each week at 5:30pm, we gather for Friday night services filled with ruach– energy, age-appropriate activities, and movement for children and adults. This fun, family-oriented Shabbat celebration is always open to the community.
Visit our calendar to see when each of these fabulous celebrations are happening!
Our Commitment to our Earth
Makom Communnity’s efforts to protect the environment are rooted in our brit, two way promise, with our learners who will inherit the Earth we leave them and with our Jewish tradition that inspires us to protect the Earth. Our tradition asks us to live lightly on God’s good Earth, to serve and to protect it (Gen. 2:15), to minimize waste (bal tashchit / בל תשחית), to limit our impact and respect the Earth as God’s (Lev. 25 & Ps. 115:16). At Makom we are active citizens of environmental responsibility:
- We use dishes for daily snack and have dishwashers in both locations.
- We use cloth towels for cleaning and hand washing, instead of paper towels.
- We prioritize recycled materials in our classroom projects.
There’s nothing quite like dancing. At Makom Community, Tefilah: Prayer, Music and Movement is always an opportunity to dance. We love to see the kids feeling free to be their most authentic selves, whether that comes through as a subtle sway or a dramatic break dance. ... See MoreSee Less
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Our South Philly Nitzanim (2nd-4th grade) learners had a blast preparing and facilitating the booths for the Garinim (PreK-2nd grade) kids at the Purim Carnival. Stations included a highly frequented "throw a ball at Haman", and a station where attendees could get their portraits drawn as a character from the Purim story. One of the Garinim students said "I can't wait to see what the Nitzanim plan next for year"! ... See MoreSee Less
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The Center City Nitzanim (3rd and 4th graders) did a scavenger hunt through their classroom. They puzzled out the clues as a team to discover this unit’s theme: Building Kehillah (Community). The activity left the kiddos energized and excited for more opportunities to build community together. We can't wait to see how the Nitzanim use the text to make our community more holy. ... See MoreSee Less
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