Michael Balaban's Update on the War in Israel

- Michael Balaban
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia President and CEO

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been both a refuge for the Jewish people and a beacon of democratic values in a region where those values are rare. In its Declaration of Independence, Israel promised freedom, justice and equality for all its citizens — even in times of war. Those ideals are not just part of our history; they are our compass.

Today, as Israel faces the most dangerous security threat in decades, these ideals are under strain. The terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 were the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust — deliberate massacres, kidnappings and atrocities that sought to terrorize and destabilize Israel. Israel’s military response has been necessary and justified: No country can allow such an attack to go unanswered, and no democracy can survive if its citizens are left unprotected.

And yet, our strength has always come from something more than military power — it has come from our willingness to ask hard questions of ourselves. In a recent For Heaven’s Sake episode, Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi reminded us that love for Israel means engaging in uncomfortable conversations, even in wartime. It also means taking the time for introspection, and sometimes turning to trusted allies, Israeli thought leaders and other democratic voices to sharpen our thinking.

In that spirit, we invite you to join two upcoming conversations:

• Today, August 15, at noon – Webinar with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter. Registration can be found here.
• Tuesday, August 19 at 2 p.m. ET – Webinar with Retired IDF Colonel Miri Eisin. Registration can be found here.

It is important that we continue to hear both from Israel’s official representatives and from those who can knowledgeably analyze the situation from the outside.

 By engaging with diverse perspectives — while filtering out the noise — we challenge ourselves to see the full picture and sharpen our moral clarity.

The Economist recently underscored a truth we already know: Democracies like Israel hold themselves to higher standards not because the world demands it, but because our own values do. This is not weakness — it is strength. It is what differentiates us from terrorist organizations that glorify violence and reject accountability.

Holding Israel to its ideals means:

• Standing firm against terror and ensuring the safety of its citizens.
• Protecting humanitarian principles by minimizing harm to civilians wherever possible.
• Upholding democratic norms, including free speech, a free press rooted in truthful reporting and journalistic ethics, and independent oversight.
• Planning for a just and secure future beyond the battlefield.

None of this diminishes our support for Israel’s right — and obligation — to defend itself. On the contrary, it is because we support Israel so deeply that we want to ensure it emerges from this war not only secure, but stronger in spirit.

Loving Israel means defending its right to exist and insisting it lives up to its highest ideals. It means believing it can be both strong and just, secure and moral, a fortress and a light. That is how we honor its past, protect its present and secure its future. That vision is what makes Israel worth defending. It is what will inspire generations to come.

***