- Michael Balaban
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia President and CEO
As we approach the final days of Passover, we are reminded that the journey from oppression to freedom is not merely a story of the past—it is a story still being written today.
In recent weeks, as the war in Israel continues with no clear end in sight, the pain feels both distant and deeply personal. Families remain displaced, and 59 hostages are still being held in Gaza—many of them believed to be deceased. Every day that passes without their return is a day too long. We continue to demand: Bring them home.
Here in Greater Philadelphia, our community has stood steadfast—supporting relief efforts, trauma care and rebuilding. Just before Passover, we sent an emergency grant directly to Israeli soldiers on the front lines. It’s a powerful reminder that our support is not only reaching those in need—it is helping carry them through.
And yet, even as we extend our hands in help, we are met with a rising tide of antisemitism.
On the first night of Passover, an arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence, targeting Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor. The fire caused significant damage and was intended to cause harm.
The suspect, Cody Balmer, has been charged with multiple first-degree felonies including attempted murder, terrorism, and aggravated arson. Prosecutors are actively considering additional ethnic intimidation charges—the legal equivalent of a hate crime under Pennsylvania law.
According to a search warrant obtained by PennLive, Balmer called 911 less than an hour after the attack, identified himself by name, and stated that Shapiro needs to know he “will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.” He continued, “Stop having my friends killed,” and “Our people have been put through too much by that monster.” The warrant notes that Balmer may have been reading from a script, based on the cadence of his statements.
Corporal Benjamin Forsythe of the Pennsylvania State Police stated that Balmer targeted Shapiro based on “perceived injustices to the people of Palestine,” as well as Shapiro’s Jewish faith—though the warrant does not elaborate further on the religious motive.
This attack did not occur in a vacuum. The suspect’s words—again, delivered with the cadence of a script—reveal a disturbing blend of ideological fervor and dehumanizing rhetoric. His claim that Governor Shapiro had plans “for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people” reduces a complex, painful conflict to a justification for personal violence. That he referred to Shapiro as a “monster” and invoked the killing of “my friends” illustrates the dangerous consequences of unchecked extremism and scapegoating.
What’s more chilling is the targeting of Shapiro not only for his perceived political stance, but for his Jewish identity. In times of global unrest, Jewish people are too often cast as proxies for broader grievances—held responsible not as individuals, but as symbols. Used as a wedge.
This brings us back to the central theme of Passover—the journey from oppression to freedom. Our tradition teaches that liberation is not just a historical event, but a continuing imperative. In the face of modern-day oppression—whether it’s hostages held in Gaza or hateful arson in Harrisburg—we are called not only to remember, but to respond.
How do we confront hate that disguises itself as political dissent? How do we build bridges without excusing harm? How do we, as a community, uphold the values of justice, truth, and human dignity—even when we are under attack?
The answer lies in action rooted in moral clarity. In forging solidarity across communities. In remembering that resilience is not the absence of threat, but the choice to rise in the face of it.
In response, we joined with the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition and Jewish Federations across the state to condemn this violent act in the strongest possible terms. You can read our joint statement here. This was not an isolated incident—it was a deeply symbolic attack that underscores the dangerous climate Jewish communities are facing today. We must not—and will not—be silent in the face of hate.
Still, even in moments of darkness, we find hope. In a powerful co-authored op-ed in the Philadelphia Tribune, Pastor Carl Day of the Culture Changing Christians, our partners in the New Golden Age, and Jason Holtzman, chief of our Jewish Community Relations Council, called for solidarity, healing and deeper listening between the Black and Jewish communities. “The more we hear each other,” they wrote, “the more we can begin to heal and build.” Their words are a courageous reminder that bridge-building across communities is not only possible—it is essential.
As Passover comes to a close, may we carry its lessons with us: that liberation requires action, that resilience is a shared responsibility, and that we are strongest when we move forward together.
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