Ellen Braunstein
Carly Goldberg, 24, is a volunteer who values the inclusivity of the Jewish community in Philadelphia.
A communications professional for a law firm, Goldberg has served Tribe 12 by helping to create promotional materials and a social media presence, among other initiatives.
Tribe 12 is a social and engagement organization in Philadelphia for Jews in their 20s and 30s. Its fellowship program offers leadership development opportunities to young professionals.
Goldberg first got involved with Tribe 12 as an intern from Temple University, where she majored in communications.
The sense of community keeps her active in the organization.
“Knowing that Tribe12 had this space that was there for me made me feel more optimistic about finding community as a Jewish adult after college graduation,” she said.
Goldberg has planned events for Tribe 12 centered around her two favorite hobbies, embroidery and crochet. She also hosts a Jewish women’s book club called Nice Jewish Girls Who Read.
Goldberg met her boyfriend, Bryan Amada, 24, through the in-house Tribe 12 matchmaker, Danielle Selber. Amada is a home energy auditor.
“I really have Tribe 12 to thank for a big circle of friends and my boyfriend,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg, of Rittenhouse Square, grew up in Phoenixville, a town of relatively few Jews.
Her father is semi-retired from a vending machine business. Her mother worked as a homemaker and accountant.
Goldberg attended Jewish preschool and Hebrew school at Congregation B’nai Jacob in Phoenixville, a Conservative synagogue.
“I was maybe one of a handful of Jewish kids in my grade,” she said. “That made me want to get involved with the Jewish community in Philadelphia because I knew there was a bigger Jewish population.”
At Temple, she joined Hillel and served as an engagement intern.
“I was getting to meet with students who were Jewish and talk to them about Jewish life on campus,” she said.
She also co-chaired the Tzedek Board and planned community service events. At one event, students made blankets to distribute to homeless people in Philadelphia. They also gave out water bottles and food.
“Overall, Hillel was just a really nice place to gather with friends on a Friday night,” Goldberg said. “I was genuinely friends with people who were Jewish, and it just added so much richness to the friendship.”
As a leader of the Tzedek Board, Goldberg joined Hillel members in a project of the Jewish Relief Agency. The organization maintains a warehouse where volunteers pack cardboard boxes of food donations that are distributed throughout Philadelphia.
Some of Goldberg’s happiest Jewish memories include big Chanukah celebrations with friends. She also remembers the friendly squabbling in the kitchen over what to make for Passover.
Jewish values offer her a moral compass when she is making decisions to promote inclusiveness and ensure people feel welcome.
“That has translated to my involvement with Tribe12 when I’m planning or hosting events,” Goldberg said.
Goldberg’s interest in people is not limited to the Jewish community. She studied Hindi, the official language of India, in high school and college.
“For a number of years, I really enjoyed it and watching Indian films — anything to do with Indian culture and language,” she said.
Besides her Spanish studies in high school, Goldberg took a six-week intensive summer course at the South Asia studies program at therUniversity of Pennsylvania.
“I went from knowing no Hindi to being able to have a basic conversation in just a short amount of time,” she said.
Goldberg is the marketing communications coordinator for Stradley Ronon, a law firm of 200 attorneys in nine offices. She took the job a year ago and manages social media, website promotion and media relations.
“I partner with people to take their ideas and communicate them to an audience they want to reach,” she said.
Her advice to young Jewish people who want to get involved in the community: “No matter your level of religious observance there is definitely a Jewish community for you,” Goldberg said. “Some people are concerned about finding an organization that is too religious and they’re not Jewish enough. There’s space in the Jewish community for everyone.”
Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer.