September 24, 2024

Philadelphia, PA, September X, 2024 — Gratz College and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia have announced a strategic partnership to support the future of the Mandell Education Campus in Melrose Park, PA. As part of this agreement, control of the Ann Newman Building, constructed by Gratz College in 1989, will be transferred to the Jewish Federation effective July 2025. In exchange, the Federation has purchased Gratz’s equity stake in the Mandell Campus.

This arrangement aligns with both organizations' long-term facilities goals. Gratz College will begin its search for a new site to continue providing educational programs to the Old York Road Jewish community while preparing its new campus in Bala Cynwyd. Meanwhile, the Jewish Federation will collaborate with remaining tenants and local stakeholders to develop a strategic plan that explores all options for maximizing the campus’s value and impact in supporting the local Jewish community.

The 28-acre Mandell Campus, originally purchased in 1985 from the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart by a group led by Marcel Groen, Stephen Rudman, and Joel Weisbein, was transferred to the Federation following a $2.1 million sale. The Mandell family later dedicated the campus in memory of Samuel and Ida Mandell.

“This partnership plays a crucial role in our broader strategy to sustain and invigorate Jewish life in Elkins Park and along the Old York Road corridor,” said Michael Balaban, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. “We are proud to work with Gratz College on this initiative. By engaging closely with all agencies and stakeholders, we aim to ensure that the Mandell Campus continues to serve community interests effectively.”

Gratz College, an original tenant on the Mandell Campus, moved from 10th Street and Tabor Road to Melrose Park and invested $3 million in constructing a dedicated building on the site. Today, Gratz is renowned for its robust graduate programs in Education, Jewish Studies, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and Antisemitism Studies. These programs leverage advanced online learning modalities, leaving much of the 60,000-square-foot Newman building underutilized.

“This is an exciting period of growth for Gratz College, in ways that are significantly different from our work forty years ago,” said Gratz College President Zev Eleff. “We are eager to rightsize our physical plant and identify a new location that will continue to serve our Old York Road community.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Gratz College are committed to  ensuring the continued vibrancy of the Old York Road Jewish community.

About Gratz College

Gratz College, a private non-profit institution based in the Philadelphia area, is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1895, Gratz College is the oldest independent college for Jewish studies in North America. Today, Gratz enrolls a diverse population of students from around the world in graduate-level programs that reflect its historic focus on Jewish studies and education. An early adopter of online education, Gratz's premiere programs include Doctorates in Holocaust/Genocide Studies and Education Leadership, as well as the only Master’s in Antisemitism Studies in the United States.

About the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

Since 1901, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has served as the hub of the region’s Jewish communities, providing an infrastructure of support for Jewish people and organizations in need. Through grants, emergency funding, restricted gifts, endowments, and our partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Day Schools, we invest more than $61 million each fiscal year to care for those in need, combat antisemitism and global crisis, and strengthen Jewish identity. For more information, please visit: https://jewishphilly.org/.