Michael Balaban’s Update on the War in Israel

November 3, 2023

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

We are on day 30 of Israel’s war with the terrorist organization Hamas. As I write to you, I am currently preparing to go on my second emergency mission to Israel, since the deadly attacks on Oct. 7. I am traveling with a cohort of rabbis as part of a joint effort between the Jewish Federation Greater Philadelphia and Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey. By bringing these faith leaders to Israel, they can experience firsthand the ongoing devastation happening in our Jewish homeland and take those stories home to their congregations and members.

These testaments to what is really happening in Israel will be more important than ever as we continue to fight disinformation and rising antisemitism at home and around the world.

And as the war continues, Israel still needs your help. You can open or use your existing Donor Advised Fund  – a tax effective and simplified way to manage your charitable investments –  to support Israel. At the Jewish Federation, you have two options to support Israel through DAFs: purchasing State of Israel bonds and/or invest in our Israel ETF fund (similar to a mutual fund, and it is only invested in Israeli companies).

These options are not available through the commercial DAF providers, such as Fidelity, Vanguard and Charles Schwab. For questions, please contact Director of Planned Giving and Endowments Jen Brier, Esq. at jbrier@jewishphilly.org.

These types of investments help both Israel’s urgent needs and long-term needs to refortify and rebuild.

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