Looking back on 2023, Israel’s 75th year of statehood, I am filled with mixed emotions. It is hard to remember that only eight short months ago, we were celebrating Yom Haatzmaut – Israel Independence Day – with thousands of our community members through mitzvot, Shabbat gatherings, a food festival with Michael Solomonov, a four-track mission to Israel, and so much more.
Now, eight months later – our community has again shown up in the thousands. And while we have come together not in joy, but in sorrow and outrage – what has not changed, is the Jewish pride we all collectively share.
As we move into 2024, our Jewish pride will not waver.
With the war continuing – Hamas rejected a temporary week-long ceasefire in exchange for hostages – let us not forget that what happens in Israel can be felt right here at home.
As we continue to experience unprecedented levels of antisemitism, including hundreds of false bomb threats to our synagogues last week – a dozen of which were targeting Greater Philadelphia synagogues – it is vital that we do not forget and that we record our experiences.
You can do this by reporting antisemitic incidents at jewishphilly.org/report, combating disinformation and hate speech online, and advocating for Israel and the Jewish people worldwide.
I would also like to invite you to complete this antisemitism survey by January 3 that our Jewish Community Relations Council is conducting in coordination with Gratz College. Our objective is to identify sentiments and experiences as well as resources that community members may need or want in the future or are currently relying on for support.
In observance of the holidays next week, we will be taking a hiatus from this weekly communication until 2024.
I wish you all a happy holidays. I hope it is a time of respite to connect with loved ones and reflect on our ability to contribute to creating a safer world. May we all close this year with the remaining hostages in our hearts, the knowledge that each of us has the power to effect change, and the resolve to enter the new year ready to do so.
Am Yisrael Chai,
Michael Balaban President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
OUR WORK TO DATE Philly Stands With Israel
As of Dec. 22, 2023, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has received over $14 million in pledges. We have distributed $10.9 million in allocations. Among other important initiatives, this week we reserved additional funds to support the long-term rebuilding efforts for our partnership region of Netivot and Sdot Negev – which border Gaza and are at the epicenter of the conflict. You can see these emergencyallocations here.
Learn how the Jewish Federation is supporting the people of Israel and how you can help by clicking here.
The Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council and Gratz College launched this antisemitism survey. Our objective is to identify sentiments and experiences as well as resources that community members may need or want in the future or are currently relying on for support. The community is invited to complete the survey by January 3.
On January 8 at Congregation Beth Or, our Women's Philanthropy's is hosting a sold-out program, featuring digital influencer Lizzy Savetsky, who will discuss what it means to be Jewish today, the current rise of antisemitism, and how we can harness our passions to combat it. To sign up for the waitlist, click here.
Read this Jewish Exponent piece about how Penn can start to repair its relationship with the Jewish community, featuring our JCRC Director Jason Holtzman.
Read this USA Today piece about antisemitism on campus and at-large, featuring President and CEO Michael Balaban.
FROM THE HOME FRONT IN ISRAEL
News from Jewish Federation Partners on the Ground
Massive Rocket barrage fired at Tel Aviv yesterday. Watch residents record their reaction (IG)
Hostage and U.S. dual citizen Gadi Haggai, 73, has been murdered by Hamas, as reported today (Reuters)
Lt. Col. Tomer Grinberg, 35: Commander Who ‘Gave His Soul’ For Israel (Times of Israel)
David and Tal Shalev, 75 & 53: Father, son slain in kibbutz they loved (Times of Israel)
Hamas Hostage Recalls: I Told My Mother, ‘They’re Going to Rape Me’ (The Jerusalem Post)
Naama Levy: A mother’s desperate plea to get her daughter out of Hamas captivity (CNN)
WATCH: October 7th Survivor Risked His Life to Save Others, Including Two Young Girls Whose Parents Were Killed (IG)
WATCH: An American October 7 Survivor Shares Her Devastating Story (Nation News)
WATCH: October 7th First Responder Shares the Horrific Scene He Found Following the Massacre (IG)
WATCH: Watch: Released Hostages, Ages 16 An 18, Describe The Horrors Of Captivity (IG)
Released Hamas Hostage Raz Ben Ami Is Suing The Red Cross: 'It Doesn't Care About Hostages’ (YNet News)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
International Response
FBI: Nationwide “SWAT’ng” Spree Targeting Jews Appears Coordinated, From Outside U.S. (ABC News)
New Poll Finds Significant Shift in Attitude Among Jews In Israel Towards Biden & Trump: More Than 40% Prefer Biden As President vs. 26% For Trump; in 2020 Trump Led Biden Among Jews In Israel 70-16 (X)
Syria's Assad Claims Holocaust Was A Lie Fabricated To Justify Creation of Israel (Times Of Israel)
Malaysia Bans Israeli-Flagged Ships From Using Its Ports In Response To Gaza War (Times Of Israel)
Devastation Of Gaza Border Towns A 'Gut Punch,' Says Huckabee During Evangelical Tour (Times of Israel)
Smart Commentary
Professor Scott Galloway Discusses the Importance Of Speaking Up (IG)
Christians United for Israel Discuss Antisemitism And The Importance Of Support For Israel (I24 News)
Manipulating Images Of Atrocities From Syria Doesn't Help Suffering Gazans (Haaretz)
WATCH: Muslim Leader Who Saw Video Of The October 7 Atrocities Says Hamas Goes Against Islam (Channel 12 News)
WATCH: Man Describes Conflict By Comparing Two Children Trying To Share A Piece Of Cake (Facebook)
WATCH: Actor Michael Rapaport: “They Deny What Happened On October 7th, Only Because It Happened To Jews.” (I24 News)
WATCH: Israeli President Herzog Provides Important Perspectives On October 7 And What Could Come Next (ROVA Media)
Jewish Federations' Resources
Jewish Federations have now raised a total of more than $762 million system-wide and allocated over $265 million to a wide range of humanitarian organizations in Israel. Click here for our latest allocations update.
Jewish Federations’, 10/7 Project is a new collaboration with AJC, AIPAC, ADL, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The 10/7 Project is an organized effort to counter the disinformation about the attacks of October 7th and Israel’s response, especially aimed at the key media and government influencers. See here for more information about the 10/7 project, as well as this news bulletin.
Resource Hub: Readers can see links to resources, background, research, and other information on the current war here; can access a Jewish Federations toolkit here, and can refer to the Community Mobilization Center Resource Hub for the latest talking points and tools.
Details: For information on the latest overall numbers from the conflict, see here.
Our Israel Office, having activated emergency protocols, is working closely with our partners on the ground, and is in close contact with the Government of Israel and the IDF. We will continue to update as the situation develops.
