- Michael Balaban
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia President and CEO
Two years ago, on a day meant for celebration, we were jolted awake by unimaginable violence. Hamas terrorists breached Israel’s borders, murdered civilians, abducted children and elders, and tore open the illusion of security. In Philadelphia and across the Jewish world, we rallied, we prayed and we acted. We said: Am Yisrael Chai — the People of Israel live.
In the first year, our community responded urgently: raising emergency funds, supporting trauma services, advocating for hostages, reinforcing security and standing in steadfast solidarity. That year was about survival and mobilization.
The second year brought new layers of reckoning. Families of hostages remained in anguish. Survivors rebuilt lives in the shadow of trauma. Hate against Jews surged here at home. Parents reassured their children after cruel words at school. College students questioned whether it was safe to speak openly about who they are. These everyday experiences remind us that antisemitism is not abstract — it touches lives directly. We learned that resilience is not a moment but a discipline.
As Jews in the diaspora, these past two years have reshaped how we live our identity. For many, being Jewish today means moving through the world with heightened vigilance — navigating questions of safety, belonging and visibility. But it has also meant rediscovering pride — in community, in ritual, and in the warmth of Jewish life that is sustained through family, values and tradition.
This season of the High Holidays makes that reckoning personal. As we gather in synagogues and around dinner tables, conversations turn to what it means to be Jewish in these times: How do we balance our love for Israel with the realities of war? How do we ensure our children inherit not only the pain of our history, but also its joy, creativity and moral purpose?
We saw this spirit come alive at our Main Event on Sept. 16, when more than 600 community members launched our 125th anniversary year. Dan Senor, host of the Call Me Back podcast and author of The Genius of Israel, reminded us of Israel’s resilience and of our responsibility to nurture the incredible surge in Jewish life we see today. His words echoed what many allies have also expressed: that Jewish life grows stronger when others stand with us in recognition and solidarity.
That reminder is vital. To be Jewish in these times is not only to endure hardship, but to be inspired by hope that tomorrow can be better than today. Hope that even in the shadow of trauma, Jewish life will continue to flourish. And right now, we are feeling that hope in the form of a proposed deal by President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release all of the remaining hostages and end the war.
And it is this hope that leads us to joy. Jewish joy is an act of courage — to sing, to celebrate holidays, to gather in community and to pass on tradition even when the world feels heavy. Joy is how we say to our children and to ourselves: we are more than our pain.
Thanks to your generosity, we have seen how hope has an impact. This past year, donations from our Philly Stands with Israel Fund helped rebuild Soroka Medical Center’s trauma units, sustained schools under attack, supported families of soldiers with housing and childcare, aided released hostages with trauma care, and brought comfort to displaced children through emergency education centers. These stories remind us that solidarity is not abstract; it saves lives, restores dignity and gives hope.
But remembrance and resilience alone are not enough. Two years later, this moment is a continued call to action. It requires us to educate, to advocate and to build bridges — so such atrocities are not just condemned, but prevented. And it requires clarity. Calls for the elimination of Israel are not political debates — they are denials of Jewish peoplehood. We must say plainly: Israel exists and will continue to exist, and that conviction unites our community.
On this solemn anniversary, we remember the lives lost, stand with those still waiting, and recommit ourselves to the values that have sustained us for generations: compassion, justice, resilience and hope.
You can join us at upcoming community gatherings:
And we will continue to live proudly as Jews — guided by memory, driven by hope, lifted by joy and united in purpose.
Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur and an easy fast.
Am Yisrael Chai.
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