Karen Kramer and Susanna Lachs Adler have served the Philadelphia Jewish community for decades, and they are both focused on building a strong future for Jewish life in greater Philadelphia and beyond. Since Sept. 1, these two leaders have been working together as co-chairs of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Foundation to ensure that the community thrives for generations to come.
Kramer has been on the board of the Jewish Community Foundation since 2012, was named co-chair in 2024, and sits on the Federation’s board of directors. Over the past three decades, she has volunteered across numerous Federation boards and committees. The Temple Sinai member has also held leadership roles at her synagogue and at Abramson Senior Care, among other organizations.
Lachs Adler is new to the role of co-chair but brings an equally impressive record of service as a former chair and current member of the Federation’s board of directors. She’s also a former chair of multiple Federation committees and represents Philadelphia on the board of the Jewish Federations of North America. In addition, she’s a trustee of Temple University and a former trustee at the University of Pennsylvania, and she’s worked to combat antisemitism at both institutions.
The Jewish Community Foundation manages approximately $400 million in endowment assets to support charities in Philadelphia and worldwide. The co-chairs are tasked with bringing in a new era of vision and leadership for the Philadelphia Jewish community’s endowment and legacy initiatives.
Lachs Adler explained that the endowments are vital to ensure positive long-term outcomes for the community.
“Growing endowments is the key to long-term financial security,” said Lachs Adler. “They can be tailored to an individual donor’s priorities or given on an unrestricted basis to strengthen the Federation’s ability to meet evolving needs. We were fortunate to have endowments designated to provide emergency support to Israel, which we were able to activate immediately after Oct. 7.”
Lachs Adler added that strengthening the Foundation ensures that the Jewish Federation can both meet today’s challenges and secure resources for generations to come.
“The annual campaign supports critical needs right now,” she said, “but endowments make sure we can continue to serve and protect our community far into the future.”
Serving in positions of leadership for the Jewish community is a deeply personal calling for both women.
“At this stage of my life, both professionally and personally, I want to give back to our community,” said Lachs Adler. “I’m passionate about mentoring young people who will become the next generation of leaders — and about being a role model for my own daughters and grandchildren. I hope they’ll continue in this tradition of community leadership.”
“For me, it’s about having a voice in the community,” said Kramer. “I believe deeply in the power of the collective and in tzedakah — that what we do today must sustain the future. It’s both a privilege and a responsibility to help ensure that.”
Lachs Adler said her passion for volunteerism is part of her family legacy.
“My commitment to volunteerism comes from my family and Jewish education,” she said. “My parents instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility to give back — and that commitment has only grown stronger given the state of the world today.”
Kramer said her steadfast dedication to the community over more than three decades stems from her belief that service is a way of life.
“My work with the Jewish Federation has always filled me up,” said Kramer. “Even in the challenging years, volunteering brings me joy and purpose. As long as it continues to inspire me — and I can share that passion with my family and community — I’ll keep doing it.”
And this opportunity to lead the Foundation allows both women to model generosity and sustain the community’s future by playing an important role in increasing the endowment and annual campaign, engaging with donors, and compiling the resources required to meet the evolving needs of a changing Jewish community and larger society.
“Through the Jewish Community Foundation, we have the opportunity to lead by example,” said Kramer. “We’re living our values and our tzedakah, and inspiring others to do the same — fostering a culture of giving that will sustain Jewish life for generations to come.”
