Michael Balaban’s Update on the War in Israel

November 17, 2023

– Michael Balaban
President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

It has been over a month since the war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas began. This week has been nothing short of a rollercoaster of emotion in what has been an unending nightmare for the Jewish people.

On Monday evening, Hamas released a propaganda video of 19-year-old IDF soldier Noa Marciano Z”L identifying herself on camera and reciting the names of her parents and her hometown before cutting to her dead body.

On Tuesday, the Jewish Federations of North America held the largest Jewish gathering in the history of the United States with the National March for Israel in Washington D.C. Over 290,000 people marched and over 250,000 watched online for Israel, for the release of the hostages and to condemn the unprecedented rates of antisemitism. Over 2,500 Greater Philadelphians and I felt immense Jewish pride as we showed the world that we will not be silent.

On that same day, our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) traveled with Culture Changing Christians to Harrisburg to lobby for issues affecting both the Black and Jewish communities as part of an ongoing partnership and initial step in launching a larger initiative.

A takeaway I had was the reminder that when communities of different faiths and identities stand together, we are all stronger. And this filled me with hope for the future. The unity and strength displayed this week are something we will rely on as we start to rebuild.

As we head into Shabbat, I will light a memorial candle in honor of Noa, may her memory be for a blessing. This candle will also be for all the people who were murdered in Israel and for those who have sacrificed their lives fighting for the Jewish State. I hope you will join me as part of the national Unity Shabbat for Israel, where I will also light an extra pair of Shabbat candles for Israel and the hostages, and recite Psalm 121:

“A song for ascents. I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the L-rd, maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot give way; your guardian will not slumber; See, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps! The L-rd is your guardian, the L-rd is your protection at your right hand. By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night. The L-rd will guard you from all harm; He will guard your life. The L-rd will guard your going and coming now and forever.”

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