As we celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month, we honor Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia—the oldest formal Jewish congregation in Philadelphia and the longest continuous synagogue in the United States. First founded as a burial plot in 1740, Mikveh Israel stands as a testament to the enduring contributions of Jewish Americans to the nation’s founding ideals. 

Known as the “Synagogue of the American Revolution,” Mikveh Israel played a vital role in the birth of American religious liberty. Jews from the northern and southern colonies came to Philadelphia to escape British rule, and Mikveh Israel’s presence and permanence grew. Its early members, including Haym Salomon, Rebecca Gratz, and Nathan Levy, were active participants in the American struggle for independence, civic leadership, and philanthropy. The congregation’s first synagogue, established in 1782, became a center for Jewish worship, education, and community engagement in colonial and early America. 

Throughout its nearly 300-year history, Mikveh Israel has embodied the values of faith, tolerance, and service. It has welcomed generations of Jewish immigrants, preserved Sephardic traditions, and stood as a voice for justice and pluralism. Today, the congregation continues to inspire through its commitment to interfaith dialogue, cultural preservation, and historical education. Elkins Park’s own Gratz College, America’s first Hebrew teacher’s college, traces its own founding back to a trust vested in Mikveh Israel.  

Recognizing Mikveh Israel is not only about honoring the past—it is a celebration of the vibrant, diverse, and integral role that Jewish Americans have played in shaping the nation’s character. As we reflect this month, we pay tribute to Mikveh Israel and all who have made lasting contributions to American life and liberty through their faith, perseverance, and vision. 

This week, I’m going to spend this space talking about bills that we learned aren’t moving forward as their stumbles are notable. 

HB 1200 – I wrote about this bill last week. This is the Adult-Use Cannabis legislation that the House passed last week with a party line, 102-101 vote. It relied heavily on using PA’s network of State Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores for the retail sales of cannabis products, a very controversial method that I am not happy with and didn’t believe to be the likely final outcome of legislation that the Senate would accept or that the Governor would sign. The strategy was that it would move the process along and give the Senate a bill to amend as they saw fit.  

Well, on Tuesday, just one day after the bill was sent to the Senate, it was called up for a vote in committee (the first of many steps for a bill to move in the Senate) and voted down by a vote of three votes in favor of moving the bill forward and seven votes opposed. Both the swiftness of the bill being taken up and the rarity of it being voted down (usually bills that don’t have the votes to move forward are never called up for a vote to begin with) suggest that HB 1200 might not make it to the Governor's desk, but there may still be a future for adult-use cannabis in PA. To Be Determined. 

HB 771 – This is a Voter ID bill. Prominent Democrats in the state, including Governors Wolf and Shapiro, as well as House Speaker McClinton and Majority Leader Bradford, have all publicly stated their willingness to consider passing Voter ID legislation in PA, presuming that it doesn’t overly burden or prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots. Indeed, voter fraud does occur in PA (and likely anywhere where elections are held), but there is little evidence that such cheating has any impact on election outcomes, and voter ID laws are often more of an obstruction for eligible voters rather than a prevention tool for ineligible ones. What’s more, that obstruction often comes in the form of time required to collect the forms of identification that become a requirement to vote but are not otherwise a requirement for some people’s everyday lives. Given PA’s ridiculously low minimum wage, the time required to get that identification together is not time low-wage workers can afford to lose.  

HB 771 was slated to be voted on in the House on Tuesday and would have required broad support from House Republicans. That support did not materialize, and the final vote on HB 771 was cancelled. Similar to adult-use cannabis, the future of voter ID in PA is to be determined.  

To stay on topic, there is a primary election happening right now. Make sure that you cast your primary ballot by Tuesday’s 8 p.m. deadline. As current law already requires, if you are casting your ballot at a polling place for the first time, you are required to present ID so the poll workers know who you are. 

It was a pleasure seeing so many folks at Oreland Pizza last night! I enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones, and I’m thrilled so many were able to access programs like the SEPTA Senior Key Card initiative, Property Tax/Rent Rebate, and Unclaimed Property.  

My office will be doing more of these outreach events throughout the summer, so please look out for future dates and locations!  

Join my office and the office of State Representative Ben Sanchez for a FREE paper shredding and electronics recycling event on Sunday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027). 

We kindly ask that you limit paper shredding to 2-3 bags or boxes per vehicle so that we can serve as many of you as possible. If you have any questions about what electronics can be accepted for recycling, please contact my office at (215) 572-5210 or RepNelson@pahouse.net. 

As shown below, we are asking folks to please enter the KI parking lot at Meetinghouse Rd. via Township Line Rd. to avoid traffic building up on Old York and Township Line Rds. Please DO NOT enter the KI parking lot at the Township Line Rd. entrance. You will follow my staff’s directions once you enter the lot. 

The Municipal Primary Election is coming up on Tuesday, May 20. The deadlines to register to vote for this election and to request a mail-in or absentee ballot have passed. 

If you are voting by mail, a secure ballot drop box for mail-in ballots will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 at the Cheltenham Township Tax Office (8230 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027). If you are voting in person and need to figure out your polling place, please go to the PA Department of State’s website.  

The PA Department of Environmental Protection is inviting the public to attend a live virtual meeting on Tuesday, May 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to hear DEP’s updates and an overview on the SPS Technologies fire. DEP will share information on air, water, and soil quality testing, waste management, environmental cleanup and more. The PA Department of Health will also share general health-related information for the community.  

Register online to attend this meeting. You can also dial in by phone at 1-267-332-8737, conference ID 871 398 572. Community members also have the opportunity to submit questions in advance: e-mail DEP at RA-EP-SEROECB@pa.gov by Monday, May 19.  

Over the next week, SEPTA’s third-party contractor will continue making concrete repairs to the abutment walls on SEPTA’s bridge over Keswick Ave. in preparation for a rapid bridge superstructure replacement, which will take place during a shutdown of Regional Rail service between Glenside & Jenkintown-Wyncote stations starting Friday evening, May 23 through Tuesday morning, May 27. Here’s what you can expect during this work: 

• Road Closures & Parking: Keswick Ave. between Mt. Carmel Ave. & Paxson Ave. will be closed Monday, May 19 through Friday, May 30, but access to local businesses will be maintained. On Saturday, May 24 & Sunday, May 25, there will be intermittent flagging on and partial closures of Mt. Carmel Ave. between Keswick Ave. & Houston Ave., along with a strict “No Parking” restriction in these areas.

• Train Service: Bus service will replace train service between Glenside & Jenkintown-Wyncote stations on Memorial Day Weekend, beginning 10:30 p.m. Friday, May 23 until end of service day Monday, May 26. Normal train service, with revised schedules, will operate between Glenside & Doylestown stations and Glenside & Warminster stations. Go to SEPTA’s webpage on the project for more detailed information & schedules.  

• Additional Impacts:  

• • Workers will be on site from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week of May 19.

  • On Saturday morning, May 24, the existing bridge will be lifted out of place and transported to the staging/prep area (see red line on map above for start of route).  

  • On Sunday morning, May 25, the new bridge will be transported and set on Keswick Ave.  

  • On Monday morning, May 26, the new bridge will be lifted into place and installed, along with the tracks and ballast.

  • Expect typical construction impacts during the around-the-clock operations over Memorial Day weekend, including jackhammering, back-up alarms, and lighting towers.  

Join my office, Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, KleinLife, and the Cheltenham Township Police Department for a Lunch & Learn on protecting yourself from scams and fraud.  

This free, open-to-the-public program will take place on Tuesday, June 3 at noon at KI (8339 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027). If you are interested in attending, you can RSVP by calling (215) 887-8700 or by emailing Naomi@KenesethIsrael.org.  

SPS Technologies recently released an overview of its demolition and air monitoring plans. The demolition phase is expected to begin on or after Monday, May 19 and will involve deconstruction and removal of debris. For a detailed timeline and information on the company’s air monitoring plan during demolition, please consult SPS’s website.  

A reminder that SEPTA will be holding public hearings soon where they will present the proposed operating & capital budget, fare increase, and service reductions. 

These hearings will occur on Monday, May 19 (11 a.m. & 5 p.m.), Tuesday, May 20 (10 a.m. & 4 p.m.), and Wednesday, May 21 (10 a.m. & 4 p.m.). You can attend the hearings in-person in the Board Room at SEPTA Headquarters (1234 Market St., Mezzanine Level, Phila, PA 19107) or remotely via WebEx. Visit SEPTA’s webpage to register. 

The PA Department of Education has announced $2 million in funding to cover the cost of high school equivalency exams for eligible residents. Pennsylvanians can now take the GED or HiSET tests free at public testing sites or through online proctoring, while funds last. 

Eliminating testing fees opens new educational and career pathways for residents. The Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma (CSSD), Pennsylvania’s high school equivalency credential, is available to people 18 and older who meet specific criteria. 

To register, test takers must use the promo code PAFreeGED or PAFreeHiSET when signing up through the official GED or HiSET websites. Learn more about this program here.  

Sunday, May 25 is the first of two Fish for Free Days in PA, courtesty of the PA Fish and Boat Commission. On this special day, anyone – resident or non-resident – can fish without a license, and no Trout/Salmon or Lake Erie permits are required.  

Whether you’re new to fishing or a seasoned angler, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy PA’s beautiful waterways. Just bring your gear, follow all regular fishing regulations, and have fun.  

Please note: the PA Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Do Not Eat advisory for all fish caught in Neshaminy Creek. Be sure to fish responsibly and stay updated on local conditions. 

The deadline for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program (PTRR) has been extended to December 31, 2025.  

Older Pennsylvanians and residents with disabilities now have more time to benefit from the program if you have not yet filed for a 2024 rebate. The income limit is still $46,520 (only counting half of any Social Security benefits received), and the maximum rebate is still $1,000. 

Though the deadline was extended, there is no need to wait to apply! If you have any questions about this program or would like assistance applying, please contact my office at (215) 572-5210 or RepNelson@pahouse.net.  

To meet continued demand for REAL ID, PennDOT is opening its 15 REAL ID Centers on Monday, May 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. exclusively for REAL ID services. These locations will be able to process REAL IDs over the counter.  

The locations closest to us are the Norristown Driver License Center (1700 Markley St., Suite 30, Norristown, PA 19401) and the King of Prussia Driver License Center (143 S. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia, PA 19401). 

A reminder that a REAL ID or another federally-acceptable form of ID (such as a passport) is now required to board a domestic commercial flight, enter a military base, or enter certain federal facilities that require such ID. If you’re not sure whether a REAL ID is right for you, consult the REAL ID online wizard. 

For information on what documents are required to get a REAL ID, consult PennDOT’s website. Please reach out to my office with any questions.