On June 5, around 150 Green Valley Country Club members attended the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia’s Jewish Community Day. Taking place for over three decades, the annual event raises critical funds for the Jewish community. It allows members to connect for a day of golf and other community building activities, followed by a meaningful reception.  

Unlike previous years, Jewish Community Day was underscored by mixed emotions: it was a celebration of community and sorrow with the heightened rise in antisemitism and ongoing war in Israel. Featured speaker David Kanotopsky, a Perelman Jewish Day School teacher and major in the IDF Reserves, talked to attendees about the war against terrorism in Israel and the war against antisemitism at home during a facilitated conversation with the Jewish Federation’s President and CEO Michael Balaban. Kanotopsky, an Israeli based in Greater Philadelphia on behalf of the World Zionist Organization, touched on subjects, such as his lived experiences flying to Israel to fight in the north shortly after Oct. 7, teaching his students in a time of unprecedented Jewish hate, and his thoughts on a pathway forward through disinformation to bridge divides and create a better tomorrow. 

Originally scheduled featured speaker Gal Horev, who saved countless lives at the Nova Music Festival massacre and is a commander in the IDF Reserves, was unable to attend as he had been called back to Gaza. For attendees, this was a sobering reminder of the ongoing crisis and the soldiers’ lives that have been uprooted to defend Israel and the Jews, Christians, Druze and Muslims who freely live there. 

The sentiment of being united as a Jewish community in the face of adversity was echoed throughout the evening program. Jewish Community Day Chair Jonathan Wolfe, who participated in the Jewish Federation’s Israel 75 Mission last May, spoke about this solidarity between the diaspora and Israeli communities and the need to come together in combating misinformation and antisemitism.  Upon accepting the Green Valley Country Club Ralph Snyder Award, Denise and Michael Krekstein shared that the time is now for the Jewish community to stand firmly together with a central and unified message. 

See more about Jewish Community Day below.

Around 150 people attended the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Day at Green Valley Country Club.

Jewish Community Day Chair Jonathan Wolfe welcomes attendees.

(L to R) Jewish Federation President and CEO Michael Balaban in conversation with guest speaker David Kanoptsky about fighting in the war with Hamas and interacting with the Jewish diaspora in Greater Philadelphia.

(L to R) Denise and Michael Krekstein, Green Valley Country Club Ralph Snyder Award winners for philanthropy.

Jewish Federation President and CEO Michael Balaban discussed the organization’s commitment to Israel. In addition to responding within hours of the attack on Oct. 7 and raising more than $15.8 in emergency aid, the Jewish Federation’s Annual Campaign provides year-round funding to Greater Philadelphia, Israel and elsewhere around the world to create a strong, united and proud Jewish people.

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You can help uplift Jewish communities locally, in Israel and around the world by making a gift to the Jewish Federation at jewishphilly.org/donate.