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

In every generation, there is someone who tries to destroy the Jewish people. In Ancient Persia, as we will be reminded tomorrow evening for the Jewish festival of Purim, it was Haman who wanted to annihilate us. Now, it is Hamas. 

The Purim story is not only a reminder of this persistent hatred, but also a reminder of something else: the resilience of the Jewish people. Just as Queen Esther had to risk her own life back then to save her people, so too are the IDF soldiers putting their lives on the line now to fight for the existence of those in Israel. 

Yet, Esther did not save the Jewish people alone. She relied on the wisdom of her uncle Mordechai to guide her and the support of the other Jews in Ancient Persia to give her strength.

Since Oct. 7, we have felt that same strength from our Jewish community, both locally and around the world. Just last week, Nana's Kitchen in Narberth was vandalized with “FREE GAZA” graffiti. This restaurant is owned by a local Jewish family, who is still missing two loved ones being held captive in Gaza: Yair and Eitan Horn.

The Jewish Federation reported this vile act of antisemitism on our social channels, and within minutes, people were making plans to visit the restaurant. I was moved by this overwhelmingly supportive response and can only thank our local community for the exceptional kindness you have retained in spite of these blatant displays of hatred.

And around the world, in places where the media attention has been focused on anti-Israel protests and acts, we have seen consistent, powerful demonstrations for Israel and for the Jewish people. From the United Kingdom to Japan, from New Zealand to Argentina – we are not alone. 

We have found allies in many non-Jewish communities, including our partners at Culture Changing Christians (CCC), who recently joined with our Jewish Community Relations Council to form a New Golden Age partnership to strengthen Black-Jewish relations. Since Oct. 7, Pastor Carl Day of CCC has been vocal about his solidarity with the Jewish community and the need for Hamas to return the hostages, and I am thankful for his continued support and allyship.

On Wednesday, Congress proposed a bill to establish a commission to study the potential transfer of the Philadelphia-based Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to the Smithsonian Institution. We can continue to show our collective strength and unity by urging our representatives to support this legislation which serves as a resounding public endorsement that Jews belong in and are embraced by the United States.

May the story of Purim remind us that no matter how dire the threat, the Jewish people will continue to persevere. And, as we hear the words of the megillah chanted tomorrow evening, may we continue to see Esther’s courage and Mordechai’s wisdom reflected in ourselves and our community during these difficult times.

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