On July 10 in Blue Bell, Federation Housing broke ground on its 14th affordable housing development for seniors. Called Shoshana’s Way, it was made possible by a philanthropic gift from Carole Landis, a Haverford resident, retired therapist and member of Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen.

Landis is also a member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Community Council, Women of Vision Grants Review Committee and Women of Vision Advocacy Committee. Her involvement with the Federation goes back to the 1980s.

The Beth Or congregant prides herself on deep involvement in Jewish community work, not just donations. But four or five years ago, she was looking for “a philanthropic opportunity where my legacy would actually reflect my life’s work,” she said.

Landis got connected to Federation Housing CEO Eric Naftulin, and she came away impressed by the organization’s work. The nonprofit has opened affordable housing communities for seniors in Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Federation Housing was founded in 1970 with the support of the Federation. Though it maintains its independence, Federation Housing still partners with the Jewish Federation on various initiatives.

The organization “welcomes people of all faiths” to its senior living communities, according to a past news release.

“They have meals. They have transportation. They have social services. They have all their needs taken care of while they’re keeping their dignity and quality of life,” Landis said of the seniors who live in the communities.

The Blue Bell property became available about a year and a half ago, and it seemed like a great fit, as Blue Bell is a community that these seniors were already comfortable with.

“Blue Bell is great. It’s a wonderful community. It’s a great opportunity, and there’s shopping nearby. It’s vibrant,” Landis said.

Landis thought of the name Shoshana’s Way while taking a walk one day. She said it just “popped into my head.”

“One day I was taking a walk, and I just kept hearing ‘Shoshana.’ It’s a Hebrew word from the Song of Songs,” she said.

The word’s literal meaning refers to a lily or a rose. But in the Song of Songs, the eight-chapter book of love poetry in the Jewish Tanakh, shoshana is used to describe a “lily among the thorns,” often interpreted as a metaphor for the Jewish community.

Landis wants the word to have a general, not necessarily a Jewish-specific, connotation, even if it was Jewish-inspired.

“The seniors who are going to live there, they are the white rose among the thorns. They’ve had a lot of financial hardship. But that hasn’t diminished their beautiful spirits. It hasn’t diminished their resilience,” she said.

Landis also said that, as a psychotherapist and clinical social worker, she has long advocated for marginalized groups, “for the mentally ill, for people with HIV/AIDS, and for victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and hunger.”

“That’s what I’ve always done. It’s just part of my DNA, I suppose,” she added.

The Beth Or member describes Judaism as “my anchor.” She sees Jewish values, like tikkun olam, as an impetus for action.

“To me, it’s more than just buying Israeli bonds and having membership,” she said.

During her decades of involvement with the Federation, she has been a member of Women’s Philanthropy and has served on the Board of Trustees, the Committee for Israel and Global Strategy, the Committee for Social Responsibility, the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Domestic and Government Affairs Committee, and JCRC’s Israel and World Jewry Affairs Committee. (JCRC is an agency of the Federation.)

Even today, in addition to her Federation activities, Landis serves on the executive committee of Anti-Defamation League Philadelphia and donates annually to American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey.

“This is how I’ve made my friendships. This is how I’ve done my advocacy,” she said.

But while activity fulfills her, it’s religious practice that deepens her commitment.

Eight years ago, Landis decided to have a bat mitzvah. She had never had one as a girl.

She trained with an American-Israeli rabbi, Hebrew tutor and cantor, and learned Hebrew. Then she had her ceremony and celebration at the Western Wall.

Landis and her “tribe,” as she called it, which included her husband and Jewish organizational leaders she knew, marched along behind the band. The bat mitzvah girl read Torah on the ceremonial table in the women’s section.

“It was joyous,” she said.

jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com