The next monthly meeting of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will be held on Wednesday, May 13 at 7 pm. To commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month, APT has invited Dr. Michael Schatz of Philadelphia Jewish History Tours who will present on Jewish history in the colonial era in Philadelphia. He’ll also highlight various sites in and around Center City as they connect to Jewish immigration periods, and touch on contemporary Jewish community in Center City today.

Dr. Schatz is a native of Philadelphia whose family has lived in the region since the turn of the 20th century. He holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in education and Jewish studies from Vassar College, Arcadia University, and Gratz College. He is a career Jewish educator, currently serving as principal of the religious school at Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley and eastern regional manager of Hebrew Helpers, Inc. Dr. Schatz lives in Elkins Park and has been married to Elyse, a reading specialist, for 32 years. They are the parents of two grown children: Leah, a reading specialist who lives in Center City, and David, a U.S. Marine who is based in North Carolina.

Dr. Schatz has been offering tours on Jewish history in Philadelphia and its surrounding neighborhoods since 2016.

Come early for dinner and drinks! The meeting will be in-person at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks, 114 Market Street, upstairs, and livestreamed on Zoom. The Zoom link will be available in the APT Tour Talk newsletter the week of the meeting; non-members should contact Marianne Ruane president@phillyguides.org no later than 5 pm the day of the meeting to receive the link. A recording will be available on the APT YouTube page for a month following the talk.

APT meetings are open to aspiring and working tour guides as well as anyone with an interest in Philadelphia-focused history. Attend one meeting for free and then it is $60 to join the association for the year or $10 per monthly meeting in-person event. Zoom meetings are free. Please join us for convivial company, good food, fascinating presentations, and lively discussions!