“I got to know myself in an entirely new way”

“I finally learned of my true strengths”

“Everything I do matters.”

Do you feel like you are making a difference just by living your life? Does every day feel special and fulfilling? Welcome to a community where life is truly lived. 

Chavrusas become good friends and neighbors become family in the idyllic community that is Bensalem, Pennsylvania. 

From a small Minyan to a thriving community boasting a shul, Kollel, pre-school, and a Mikvah, Bensalem has been welcoming new frum families to its growing ranks. 

And the most intriguing part?

“Every person who moves here is a different person within a year,” says Rabbi Moshe Travitsky, the community’s rav. “It’s like something is awakened within them, and it’s an incredible thing to watch.”

Rabbi Shlomo Kohn, director of outreach, concurs. “I started out as a Kollel member, and slowly found myself drawn to the people, the energy, and the growth.” 

Rabbi Kohn and his wife, Pnina, are enthusiastic in their description of the Bensalem community.  

Sometimes we just need to take a break from the frenetic pace of life and remember how much every single action we take matters. Bensalem is a great place to do that.

Rabbi Kohn explains, “Because Bensalem is a smaller community everyone who moves here has opportunities to contribute in their own unique way. Whether it be helping make events happen or being a positive role model every person has the ability to tap into their true potential”.

Jewish amenities. Close proximity to large Jewish cities. Kosher food and eateries nearby. Friendly neighbors. Fulfilling lifestyle. Business opportunities. Family-like atmosphere. 

Can you ask for more than that? The consensus from the community members is in: No, you really can’t.

If you’re a community-minded family of bnei aliyah, looking to grow – and matter – in a beautiful community, Bensalem may be the first step toward that goal. 

“Living in a large Jewish community presents a challenge of anonymity and rote. Although as frum Jews we know there’s great significance to everything we do, it can be hard to maintain that mindset when everyone around you seems to be doing the same thing,” Rabbi Travitsky says. 

“I’ve witnessed this metamorphosis many times, but it never gets tired???. A couple or family moves here looking for a change of pace, and suddenly something is ignited within them. Their unique strengths emerge, and they’re no longer just another faceless entity in a herd of sameness.” 

It’s hard to stay on the back burner, after all, when life is being lived to its fullest. 

Does everyone in the community participate in outreach?

“It’s a pleasure, not a pressure,” says Rabbi Kohn. “Nobody is forced into a Kiruv role they’re not ready for, but everyone ends up enthusiastically participating wherever they can.”

From the Sunday Hebrew school to the nightly learning sessions, women Torah partners to social events, there are endless opportunities for growing and helping others grow in their Yiddishkeit. 

There’s nothing as satisfying as making a difference in the others’ lives – and your own. It sounds cliched, but when you’re living it, you know.

“From the first time we came to spend Shabbos here and check out the community,” say Rabbi and Mrs. Kohn, “the Travitskys were there to welcome us with the calmest and most pleasant demeanor!”

“Honestly, the strongest force of Kiruv in our community is simply frum Jews acting like frum Jews,” Rabbi Kohn adds. When a community member was sick, the frum ladies cooked and cared for her, and the impact was amazing. A regular Shabbos meal is an eye-opening experience for a less observant family. The way of life we take for granted is so powerful!”

“I knew we are doing something right when an irreligious woman approached me and said, ‘Rabbi, how do you manage to get all the nicest rabbis here?” The greater Jewish community respects and cherishes our Kollel members, and the feeling is mutual,” Rabbi Travitsky says. 

“Living here broadens your horizons in the most positive ways,” adds Rabbi Kohn. “Personally, I don’t think I don’t think I ever would have realized certain talents I have if not for living in a place like Bensalem.The ability to positively interact with Jews of all types, starting a Torah podcast, and even picking up guitar and  learning how to ski are abilities that I have developed from living here .”

When a family moves on from Kollel or moves from a different location, there are robust Parnassah options in and around Bensalem. In fact, several Jewish entrepreneurs with businesses in the vicinity have discussed interest in hiring community members. 

The local pre-school is run by the beloved Mrs. Sorsher and Mrs. Berlin, and once they graduate, the children attend the day school, Politz Hebrew Academy, 25 minutes away with separate girls’ and boys’ divisions. 

“People assume my children grow up more exposed here,” says Rabbi Kohn. “But truthfully, I consider them quite sheltered, as they only interact with the most caring, wholesome, and real people!”

Looking for the perfect marriage of a thriving Jewish community and relaxed, friendly lifestyle? Reach out to Rabbi Travitsky to inquire about spending Shabbos in Bensalem, or with any other questions by email at: [email protected] or call 267-225-7003.