What Congregation Rodeph Shalom does

Congregation Rodeph Shalom is a private, nonprofit Reform Jewish congregation headquartered at 615 N. Broad Street in Center City Philadelphia and the largest Jewish congregation in the Philadelphia region. Founded in the 1800s and affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, it operates with 23 employees under lay and rabbinic leadership (including Rabbi Jill Maderer, Rabbi Freedman, Rabbi Emeritus Bill Kuhn, Rabbi Emeritus Alan Fuchs, Executive Director Josh Laster, and President Jon Broder transitioning to Marsha Weinraub). Its service portfolio is organized around worship (Shabbat Friday 6 pm, Saturday Torah Study 9:15 am, Shabbat Morning 10:45 am, High Holy Days), education (Berkman Mercaz Limud religious school, Buerger Early Learning Center, youth learning, adult education), social services (Breaking Bread on Broad food pantry serving 180+ families weekly, Prism LGBTQ+ inclusion, Caring Community pastoral care, social justice initiatives including gun violence prevention, environmental sustainability, and New Sanctuary Movement partnership), and youth development (The Clubhouse). Ancillary revenue is generated through facility rentals across multiple venues including a 1,200-seat sanctuary, a 250-seat auditorium, and smaller event spaces.

The congregation's underlying technology stack is a conventional nonprofit web/content platform (rodephshalom.org on a JupiterX theme, FlipBuilder for eBulletins) with YouTube/Facebook/Instagram for distribution and livestream capabilities for remote participation. There is no proprietary platform, no API/SDK surface, and no AI/ML components. Distribution is primarily in-person regional, with global reach only via livestream. Security is operationalized through a coordinated public-safety partnership network with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Philadelphia Police Department (armed officers during services with 1–2 minute response time), the FBI / Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, and Pennsylvania State Police.

The business and revenue model is a hybrid of recurring and transactional charitable revenue: annual membership dues, donations and philanthropic giving (tribute gifts, planned giving, named/special purpose funds), religious school tuition (Berkman Mercaz Limud), and facility rental fees for weddings, B'nai Mitzvah receptions, meetings, and performances, supplemented by earned income sub-brands such as Breaking Bread on Broad and The Clubhouse. Go-to-market is community-and-referral-based, supported by a multi-channel digital presence and outreach programs for young adults and prospective members.

Name

Congregation Rodeph Shalom

Legal name

Congregation Rodeph Shalom

Website

https://rodephshalom.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1800

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Congregation Rodeph Shalom is a historic, nonprofit Reform Jewish congregation and the largest Jewish congregation in the Philadelphia region, serving member families with worship, education, social services, and youth programming from its Center City facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Reform Jewish Congregation

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Religious congregation services
• Jewish education programs
• Reform synagogue worship
• Community social services
• Religious school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Congregation operates primarily through membership contributions and annual dues
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Voluntary donations, tribute gifts, and planned giving programs support congregation operations
3. Facility Rentals: Venues available for parties, meetings, conferences, weddings, and events including Community Room, Gutman Room, Sanctuary, Teller Auditorium, and courtyard spaces
4. Religious School Tuition: Berkman Mercaz Limud religious school operates on Sunday mornings and Wednesday Hebrew program with tuition

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Congregation Rodeph Shalom operates as a Reform Jewish synagogue delivering weekly Shabbat and High Holy Day worship services, comprehensive Jewish education from early childhood through adulthood, and lifecycle event programming for member families. The congregation also runs social service programs including a weekly food pantry serving 180+ families and LGBTQIA inclusion initiatives, with membership dues and donations providing primary financial support.

Product overview

Congregation Rodeph Shalom is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia offering a comprehensive portfolio of religious, educational, and social service programs. Core offerings include weekly Shabbat and High Holy Day worship services, religious school (Berkman Mercaz Limud), early childhood education (Buerger Early Learning Center), and adult education. The congregation operates social service programs including the Breaking Bread on Broad food pantry serving 180+ families weekly, LGBTQ+ inclusion (Prism), and broader social justice initiatives. Additional services include facility rentals for events up to 1,200 guests, livestreaming of services, digital eBulletins, and pastoral care through the Caring Community program. The congregation is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berkman Mercaz Limud: The congregation's religious school for Jewish education
• Breaking Bread on Broad
• Buerger Early Learning Center
• The Clubhouse
• Prism
• The Belonging Project
• Broad Perspectives Speaker Series

Products and services

• Shabbat Worship Services Weekly Shabbat services including Friday evening service at 6:00 pm, Saturday morning service at 10:45 am, and Saturday Torah Study at 9:15 am, with Pre-Oneg and Shabbat Schmooze gatherings.
• High Holy Day Services Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur worship services including family-friendly options, Tashlich services, Kol Nidre services, and Rabbi-led sermons.
• Berkman Mercaz Limud Religious School Religious school for children meeting Sunday mornings 9:30 am to 12:30 pm from September through May, plus a Midweek Hebrew program on Wednesdays 4pm-6:30pm, with Torah study and t'filah tailored for each age and stage.
• Buerger Early Learning Center Early childhood education program providing Jewish-themed learning for young children at the congregation.
• Youth Learning and Engagement Programs for youth including youth choir (Shireinu), religious school participation, and engagement activities.
• Adult Education Lifelong learning programs for adults including Torah study, educational classes, and intellectual engagement with Jewish tradition.
• Breaking Bread on Broad Food Pantry Weekly food pantry program held Wednesday mornings serving over 180 families with fresh food, diapers, menstrual supplies, and children's books.
• Facility Rentals Historic venue rentals including Community Room (up to 100 guests), Forman Family Courtyard, Gutman Room, Sanctuary (1,200 capacity), Levitt Gershman Lobby, and Teller Auditorium (250 guests) for weddings, B'nai Mitzvah, meetings, and conferences.
• Livestream Services Online streaming of Shabbat and holiday services for remote participation, available globally via YouTube and the congregation website.
• Social Justice Initiatives Programs including gun violence prevention, environmental sustainability, immigration support, and the New Sanctuary Movement partnership for immigrant protection.
• Prism LGBTQIA Inclusion LGBTQIA inclusion initiative promoting visibility, safety, and belonging within the congregation and broader community.
• Caring Community Pastoral support programs for congregants including pastoral care, visitations, and community support networks during times of need.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New Sanctuary Movement of PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith, immigrant-led coalition dedicated to dignity and liberation. Organizes accompaniment (volunteers attending court with immigrants), public action, leadership development, and community building. Rodeph Shalom has formally joined this movement to protect immigrant neighbors.
• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)coreOthersAffiliation with the Union for Reform Judaism, the central body of the Reform Movement in North America. Connection provides resources, programming guidance, and network support for congregations.
• Jewish Federation of Greater PhiladelphiacoreOthersReceives security briefings, intelligence, and security advice from the Jewish Federation. Part of coordinated Jewish community security network.
• Philadelphia Police DepartmentcoreOthersActive law enforcement partnership including armed officers during services and events, direct communications with PPD leadership, 1-2 minute response time. Officers frequently patrol near building daily.
• FBI / Delaware Valley Intelligence Center (DVIC)coreOthersSecurity briefings and threat intelligence sharing. DVIC brings together local, state, regional, and federal law enforcement agencies for coordinated threat assessment.
• Pennsylvania State PolicecoreOthersSecurity briefings and coordinated threat response with state-level law enforcement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Congregation Har HaShem: Reform Jewish congregation in Boulder, Colorado with religious school, social justice, and inclusion programming. Comparable in programming model though operating in a different regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Congregation Emanu-El: One of the largest and oldest Reform Jewish congregations in the United States, based in New York City. Comparable as a flagship urban Reform congregation with extensive programming and historic facilities.
• Central Synagogue: Large Manhattan-based Reform congregation with a major religious school, social justice programming, and historic facility. Comparable in scale, programming breadth, and Reform branding.

Direct peers

• Keneseth Israel: Large Reform Jewish congregation in the Philadelphia suburbs offering worship, religious school, and early childhood programming. Directly comparable as a regional Reform congregation competing for the same member families.
• Congregation Beth El - Ner Tamid: Reform Jewish congregation in the greater Philadelphia area providing worship services, religious education, and lifecycle programming. Comparable in denomination, geography, and program mix.
• Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel: Historic Reform congregation in Center City Philadelphia. Comparable as a long-established urban Reform synagogue serving families with worship, education, and social justice programming.
• Temple Israel of Greater Philadelphia: Reform Jewish congregation serving the Philadelphia region with worship, religious education, and community programming. Comparable as a regional peer competing for similar member demographics.

Others

• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ): National denominational umbrella for Reform congregations. Rodeph Shalom is an affiliated member; URJ provides movement-wide programming, resources, and networks that shape how this congregation operates.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia: Central communal and security-coordination body for the Philadelphia Jewish community. Rodeph Shalom already partners with the Federation for security briefings, making it an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.

Emerging players

• Klein JCC (Jewish Community Center): Philadelphia-area Jewish community center offering early childhood education, family programming, and community events that partially overlap with Rodeph Shalom's educational and social-service offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/RodephShalomPhiladelphia
• Facebookfacebook.com/congregationrodephshalom
• Instagraminstagram.com/rodephshalom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congregation-rodeph-shalom

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Congregation Rodeph Shalom