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Named & Special Purpose Funds

Congregation Rodeph Shalom has a diverse array of named and special-purpose funds, which support specific priorities and initiatives throughout our community.

Critical Funding Initiatives

  • Synagogue Support: Allows for the operation of our beloved organization, helping to ensure the presence of a progressive Jewish institution in Philadelphia.

  • The Endowment Fund: Provides unrestricted support for our educational, religious and cultural programs, as well as for the maintenance of our infrastructure. The principal of these funds remain in perpetuity while the yearly earnings support the operations of our Congregation.

  • Memorial Fund: Community members are able to make a contribution in memory of a loved one.

  • Clergy Philanthropic Funds: These funds often help mark important lifecycle events in a community member’s life.

Arts, Music, & Culture Fund

Supporting the cultural, musical, and artistic endeavors of our congregation.

  • Ani Kinor: The RS Orchestra Fund (Founded by Edward and Gail Snitzer): Supports the involvement of professional musicians for many of our Shabbat services and the High Holy Days.

  • Lee Stanley Music Fund: Honoring the memory of our beloved congregant and his love of music.

  • Miles Jellinek Music Fund: Deepening the community’s connection to Jewish music through artist-in-residence programs and unique performances.

  • PMJA Fund: Supports the Philadelphia Museum of Jewish Art, housed at Congregation Rodeph Shalom.

  • Roberta Lee & D. Arthur Magaziner Music Memorial Fund: Supports the involvement of a professional choir to enhance the music and experience of our High Holy Days services.
Community & Jewish Life

Funds supporting the communal and Jewish life of our congregation.

  • Berkman / Seidl Torah Maintenance Fund: This fund helps support the maintenance and restoration of Rodeph Shalom's sacred scrolls.

  • Beth Ahavah LGBTQ+ Heritage Fund: Established in 2015 with the merger of Rodeph Shalom and Beth Ahavah, this fund supports the upkeep of the Beth Ahavah Historical Sacred Space.

  • Caring Community Fund: This fund allows our community to gather around one another in times of need. This includes sending cards or meals in times of joy and grief as well as making calls to check in on one another throughout the year.

  • Clergy Philanthropic Funds (Including Rabbi Maderer’s Fund, Rabbi Freedman’s Fund and Cantor Hyman’s Fund): These funds often help mark important lifecycle events in a community member's life.

  • Community Engagement Innovation Fund: Established by former Director of Membership & Philanthropy Catherine Fischer and her husband Richard, the Community Engagement Innovation Fund allows Rodeph Shalom to engage in new and exciting programs, in conjunction with our Strategic Plan initiatives.

  • High Holy Day Appeal: By contributing to this fund, community members allow for one another to gather for the Holy Days.

  • Israel ConnectRS Fund: Helps provide support for Israel-related programming and initiatives

  • The Memorial Fund: Community members are able to make a contribution in memory of a loved one.

  • pRiSm Fund: Supports the programming of our LGBTQIA+ congregants

  • Prayerbook Fund: Supports the upkeep of our prayerbooks as well as the purchase of new prayerbooks. To dedicate a prayerbook, please contact Noah Levine, Philanthropy Manager.
Facilities & Technology

Funds supporting the physical & technological infrastrcuture of our Congregration.

  • Building Fund: Generates essential revenue to ensure the structural integrity of our sacred space.

  • Sanctuary Preservation Fund: Allows for the ongoing vitality of this awe-inspiring space
Lifelong Learning

Funds supporting meaningful opportunities to learn and connect with Judaism, with our world, and with each other.

  • Adult Education supports continued learning in our adult population as well as the discovery of Judaism for adults new to being Jewish.

  • Alfred & Helen O. Sellers Lecture Fund: Established by brothers David and Joseph Sellers in memory of their parents, this fund supports our speakers series programs, as well as those focused on Jewish arts and culture.

  • Behrend Lecture Fund: Supports our musical and performing arts centered events at Rodeph Shalom.

  • Benjamin Martin Kates Fund: Supports post B'nai Mitzvah education.

  • Bette Lavine Children with Special Needs Fund: supports the inclusion of special needs religious school students at Berkman Mercaz Limud.

  • Berkman Mercaz Limud Fund: Supports our religious school for students from PreK to 12th grade, Berkman Mercaz Limud (Center of Learning), enriching our innovative curriculum of Torah, Jewish history, Hebrew language, Israel and our shared Jewish values. Berkman Mercaz Limud students are encouraged to ask deep questions, to wrestle with God, to think critically when confronted with new ideas, and to explore their own Jewish identities as we prepare them for their lives outside of these walls.

  • Buerger Early Learning Center Fund: Supporting our smallest members in the biggest way, this fund endeavors to enrich our educational programming for infants through preschool aged children at Buerger Early Learning Center.

  • Education Innovation Fund: supports new programming which allows RS to remain innovative and on the cutting edge of Jewish Education.

  • Judith Gross Torah Fund: Established by the family of Judith Gross in her memory, this fund supports Torah Study and other Torah-centric adult education programs.

  • Leo Brenner Holocaust Memorial Fund: Established by Ira and Roberta Brenner in memory of Ira’s father, a survivor of the Holocaust, this fund supports Holocaust-education programs for our entire community.
Scholarships

These funds directly enable those who might not otherwise have been able to attend a program to attend the programming in which they are interested. 

  • Education Scholarship helps enable education opportunities to be available to those who might not otherwise have had access.

  • Rabbi Alan and Carol Fuchs Camp Harlam Campership Fund: Supports kids attending Camp Harlam, a Union for Reform Judaism sleepaway camp in the Poconos.

  • Walter Camping Scholarship is used to allow students access to camping opportunities to attend Camp Harlam in the Poconos.
Social Action

These funds ensure Rodeph Shalom can pursue tikkun olam (repairing the world) and deepen our connection with our community at large. 

  • Breaking Bread on Broad: assists our congregants in getting food and supplies to nearly 200 neighbors every Wednesday morning.

  • Social Action Fund: Fulfullinfg Judaism’s commitment to tikkun olam (repairing the world)