--- title: Michael Balaban's Update on the War in Israel description: Today, I am writing to you from Israel. This trip has been a paradox - days mixed with mourning and celebrating, witnessing the impact of our community’s generous giving and seeing the continued need. image: https://blog.jewishphilly.org/hubfs/facebook-event-cover-1920x1080%20(2)-1.jpg --- [![Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia](https://blog.jewishphilly.org/hubfs/JewishFederation_May2019/images/logo--color.svg)](https://jewishphilly.org/) - [Philly Stands With Israel](https://go.jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel) - - [Donate to Philly Stands with Israel Fund](https://donate.jewishphilly.org/page/66252/donate/1) - [Community Resources](https://jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel-resources/) - [Emergency Allocations](https://jewishphilly.org/ways-to-give/donate-emergency-response-fund/emergency-allocations/) - - [Advocate](https://jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel-resources/advocate/) - [Israel in the News](https://go.jewishphilly.org/israel-in-the-news) - [Sign up for Israel Emergency Emails](https://go.jewishphilly.org/israel-emergency-emails) - 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Michael Balaban Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia President and CEO   Today, I am writing to you from Israel. This trip has been a paradox - days mixed with mourning and celebrating, witnessing the impact of our community’s generous giving and seeing the continued need.    On June 8, as many of you know, the IDF launched a mission to rescue four of the remaining hostages – Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv – bringing them safely back to Israel where they were reunited with their families and received medical care. Since then, the horrific details of their abuse and mistreatment while in captivity have been revealed. Although I am not surprised by these brutal details, I am still devastated knowing the terror these innocent victims had to endure.   During the rescue mission and in a number of other IDF operations over the past few weeks, many soldiers lost their lives. On June 8, Israel Police anti-terror commander Arnon Zamora was killed in the rescue operation. On June 10, an [IDF officer and three soldiers](https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-troops-killed-in-booby-trapped-building-as-fighting-rages-in-rafah-central-gaza/?utm_campaign=FY24%20Attacks%20in%20Israel&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_LqI2NY7jQxZpq11aivsRtasqmHhIR3H3OxJ2u5ZrtJpWvstP-2mpe5x25PyEW6XfB9KO5) were killed as they attempted to enter a booby-trapped building in Rafah. I’ve attended multiple *shivas* over these past few days and witnessed the crushing grief these soldiers’ families are enduring.    And at the same time, I am also attending the weddings of two family friends, whose soldiers have been momentarily relieved of their duties to celebrate. It is an odd dichotomy of overlapping joy and grief.    Four hostages have been freed, but a number of IDF soldiers lost their lives during the rescue mission. The hostages are courageously sharing their stories of physical and psychological abuse while in captivity, but the world has turned a disbelieving eye on these testimonies. Weddings and reunions are taking place alongside funerals honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.   This juxtaposition serves as a much-needed reminder that there is still joy or *simcha* to be found, even amongst the mourning. Despite the war, life keeps moving forward here in Israel, as a hopeful testament to the ceaseless resilience of the Israeli people.    May all of the remaining hostages be rescued, and may all of the people in Israel find joy once more.   \*\*\* **If you would like to receive Israel emergency communications, please [click here](https://go.jewishphilly.org/israel-emergency-emails?utm_campaign=FY24%20Attacks%20in%20Israel&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8YpPmnDwAdGOwDQ_5M_Q-GvplUyNRMWIGHm_dRyYzXOYYZzmVNLlbl5VRkI7w8DgVZ3IU7).** Share [Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.jewishphilly.org/michael-balabans-update-on-the-war-in-israel-june-21&title=Michael%20Balaban's%20Update%20on%20the%20War%20in%20Israel) [Share on Twitter](http://twitter.com/home?status=Michael%20Balaban's%20Update%20on%20the%20War%20in%20Israel+https://blog.jewishphilly.org/michael-balabans-update-on-the-war-in-israel-june-21) [Share by Email](mailto:?subject=Michael%20Balaban's%20Update%20on%20the%20War%20in%20Israel&body=Michael%20Balaban's%20Update%20on%20the%20War%20in%20Israel%20-%20https://blog.jewishphilly.org/michael-balabans-update-on-the-war-in-israel-june-21) ### Sign up for the *Jewish Philly* E-Newsletter [Back to The Latest](https://blog.jewishphilly.org) # Related Posts ## Blog June 30, 2026 # From Local Jewish Federation Real Estate Grants to Federal Investment: What Needs to be Done for Jewish Communal Security ## Blog June 29, 2026 # Upcoming Jewish Federation Events in July ## Blog June 26, 2026 # The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Mobilizes Community Members for Advocacy Day in Harrisburg [Tweets by JFedinPhilly](https://twitter.com/JFedinPhilly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ## Find us on ![JFGP_KO_rgb](https://blog.jewishphilly.org/hs-fs/hubfs/JFGP_KO_rgb.png?width=300&height=84&name=JFGP_KO_rgb.png) Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia Two Commerce Square 2001 Market Street, Suite 2300 Philadelphia, PA 19103 [215.832.0500](tel:1-215-832-0500) | [info@jewishphilly.org](mailto:info@jewishphilly.org) *The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia welcomes the participation of Jews across the religious spectrum, interfaith couples and families, and people of all abilities, backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations. 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