Jewish Life in Mt. Airy, north western Philadelphia --small town atmosphere, majestic natural setting, sophisticated milieu - A Great Place to Live!

Northwest Philadelphia is home to a vibrant Jewish community which is both religiously and culturally diverse. These pages introduce you to this wide spectrum and to our entire community. Philadelphia’s historic Northwest includes Mt. Airy at its center, as well as Chestnut Hill, Germantown, Roxborough, East Falls, and Manayunk The greatest concentration of Jewish households in the Northwest is in Mt. Airy. Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Jewish Renewal and Secular Jews live in Mt. Airy, and the area is known widely as a center of progressive Jewish life.

The area boasts a wide range of housing, from apartments to mansions. In the spring, the exuberance of blossoming dogwoods, cherry trees, azaleas and rhododendrons is truly breathtaking. Nearby Valley Green offers beautiful scenery, walking and bicycling paths, and solitude, moments from the hustle and bustle. Convenient transportation by bus, commuter rail or automobile -- a 25-minute ride -- takes you to the cultural center of the nation’s fifth largest city.

Mt. Airy, with a population of more than 40,000 people, has gained national distinction for its richly diverse population. A comfortable and welcoming place to live, it is home to people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, economic levels, occupations, family life-styles and age groups.

Community is a way of life here. While people throughout the country seem to be increasingly isolated from each other, in Mt. Airy neighbors exchange keys, share garden produce and help each other in times of need. Our 50-year old baby-sitting co-op and more than 25-year old Weaver’s Way Food Co-op are Mt. Airy institutions. A “senior” support group helps older residents remain a vibrant part of the community while supporting each other in case of need. Annual block parties and Town Watch organizations help to introduce newcomers and cement friendships.