Our History and Values

Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City, is a Reconstructionist community located in Center City Philadelphia. Leyv Ha-Ir is Hebrew for Heart of the City, although our close-knit community extends beyond Philadelphia.

The congregation was founded in May 1990 by a small group of women and men looking to create a lively Jewish community geared toward mature adults not always well served by traditional family-oriented synagogues. Rather than host a Hebrew school or youth programs, Leyv Ha-Ir focuses its resources on creating a spiritually rewarding and intellectually stimulating place for adult worship, learning, and friendship.

Led by Rabbi Julie Greenberg and our lay leadership, the congregation brings together people from all branches of Judaism and includes singles, couples, and those in traditional and non-traditional families regardless of color or gender identity.

Leyv Ha-Ir is affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism and an active member of the Philadelphia Center City Kehillah, a network of organizations representing the diversity of Jewish life in the city.  We are also a proud member congregation of POWER Interfaith, working for the betterment of our whole city.