Michael Balaban
President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
OUR WORK TO DATE
Philly Stands With Israel
As of Nov. 9, 2023, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has received pledges of over $12.9 million. We have already distributed over $6 million to help our partnership region of Netivot and Sdot Negev – which border Gaza and are at the epicenter of the conflict – and other communities in need. You can see our emergency allocations here.
- You can help Israel by clicking here.
- We are preparing to send around 20 buses of local community members to JFNA’s National March for Israel in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.
- Read this USA Today article, where President and CEO Michael Balaban discusses leading an emergency solidarity mission to Israel and working with first responders to help those injured in Hamas' attacks.
- Read this Washington Post article, where our JCRC Director Jason Holtman talks about the antisemitic nature of Philly Palestine Coalition’s boycott of 'Zionist' owned businesses.
FROM THE HOME FRONT IN ISRAEL
News from Jewish Federation Partners on the Ground
The country continues to mourn the massacre of Oct. 7, and await the return of the hostages:
- American-Israeli Border Police officer Sgt. Rose Ida (Elisheva) Lubin was buried in the police section of the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem after she was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem. Lubin, 20, grew up in Dunwood, Georgia before moving to Israel on her own after high school and joining the Border Police. The funeral can be viewed here.
- See this photo-essay about Kibbutz Nirim and read here about the tragedy that took place at Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
- Read this additional collection of stories compiled about some of the tragedies of Oct. 7.
- Some reports are emerging of a potential deal that would see the release of 10-15 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a 1-2 day humanitarian pause in fighting. The deal, brokered by Qatar, is said to include the release of around 6 American hostages. The IDF is concerned that even a limited ceasefire will allow Hamas to emerge from underground, place ambushes and snipers around Gaza City, set traps for the IDF and gain a valuable image of the present placement of IDF soldiers.
- A new playground has been established in Holon in honor of the 38 children being held hostage by Hamas. In anticipation of the return of the 38 kidnapped children, the Holon Municipality established a playground where, rather than green grass and brightly colored equipment, everything--from the turf to the slide to the public tricycle--has been painted black. See more here.
- Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced that it will provide free round-trip flights between Ramon Airport near Eilat and Ben-Gurion Airport to allow evacuees to move between the center of the country and the hotels where many from the Gaza area are being hosted in Eilat.
- According to news reports, journalists from news outlets, including the New York Times, AP, Reuters and CNN, joined Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 to document the massacres with their cameras.
- Photographers allegedly filmed up close the kidnapping of civilians and soldiers, an attack on a tank, and the killing of an IDF soldier. In addition, a CNN freelance journalist broadcast images of the burning tank and accompanied the terrorists into Gaza.
- In response, AP said that it “had no advance knowledge of the Oct. 7 attack. AP's role is to capture news and images from events happening worldwide, at any point, even if they are terrible and involve victims.”
- The Prime Minister's Office stated that it “views with utmost gravity that photojournalists working with international media joined in covering the brutal acts of murder perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 in the communities adjacent to the Gaza Strip.”
The level of rocket fire from Gaza has been lower in recent weeks, compared to the beginning of the conflict. Nov. 8 was a particularly quiet day, punctured only by occasional barrages. In the north, however, Hezbollah has continued its medium-intensity attacks across the border, without expanding its attacks significantly, while the IDF strikes at cells and the sources of fire.
Israel Defense Forces Operation
In an unusual announcement, (with further details still unknown), the IDF announced last night that, “An aircraft was intercepted and dealt with after sirens sounded in northern Israeli border towns amid suspected infiltration of a hostile aircraft.”
As the ground operation in Gaza progresses, IDF troops have discovered a Hamas drone manufacturing plant and weapons depot inside a residential building. The building, in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, is located next to a school. IDF forces found Hamas drones in the building, as well as equipment used to manufacture them, and instructions to make explosive devices. Soldiers also recovered a number of bombs at the site, located next to a children’s bedroom (see video footage here and photos here).
Also, troops from the Nahal Infantry Brigade captured a Hamas stronghold in Jabaliya, known as Outpost 17, after 10 hours of heavy fighting. The IDF says the soldiers battled Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives in the stronghold, who were both “above ground and in an underground route in the area.” Dozens of terrorists were killed during the fighting. In the course of the battle, IDF forces located large supplies of weapons and uncovered tunnel shafts, including one located adjacent to a kindergarten that led to an “extensive underground route.” Watch video footage of the fighting here and here. Israel says it has already destroyed 130 tunnel routes during the ground offensive.
Among those killed in Israeli strikes last night was the head of Hamas's anti-tank missile unit for central Gaza, Ibrahim Abu-Maasib.
Some 80 trucks of urgent humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip, according to US authorities. Also, a shipment of medical supplies arrived at Gaza’s largest hospital, Shifa. The IDF says that the hospital’s basement serves as a major command base for Hamas, where weapons, fuel and other resources are also kept. Tens of thousands of Gazans are currently seeking shelter from the fighting in and around the hospital and its parking area. Read more here about how Hamas is using hospitals in Gaza to hide troops, weapons and more.
Israel again opened a humanitarian corridor to allow those civilians who have remained in the north of Gaza to escape to the southern part of the Strip. Israel continues to urge Gazans to head to the south of the enclave, as close to 900,000 have already done. Around 15,000 additional residents of the north also made the journey yesterday, many of them waving white flags, as they passed through the evacuation corridor, with Israeli tanks protecting them from Hamas attacks (Hamas is trying to prevent civilians from leaving). See details here and footage here.
The IDF has revealed disturbing evidence of how Hamas uses ambulances to transport fighters and other supplies and exploits the military’s abstaining from hitting medical targets. See full details here. Listen here to a phone conversation where a terrorist explains that they have a supply of ambulances to transfer them when needed; and watch these testimonies from interviews with Hamas terrorists explaining how ambulances are not targeted by the IDF, so can therefore be used to transport fighters, weapons and more.
The Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry says that over 10,560 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7 as a result of the war. Hezbollah says that 63 of its fighters have been killed on the northern front.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
International Response
The Brazilian Federal Police, working in cooperation with Israeli intelligence agencies, announced that it has prevented a domestic terror plot against Israeli and Jewish targets in the country. Brazilian authorities said that they had uncovered a plan that involved the recruitment of Brazilian citizens by Hezbollah, to carry out attacks against members of the large Brazilian Jewish community, including synagogues.
Two American F-15s conducted a strike on a weapons storage facility used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria, killing at least 12 pro-Iranian operatives, in the country’s east. The US military said the hit was in response to another spate of attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria by the IRGC and other Iran-backed forces.
Former US secretary of state, first lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has spoken out explaining the situation in Gaza and why she is not calling for a ceasefire. “Remember, there was a ceasefire on Oct. 6 that Hamas broke by their barbaric assault on peaceful civilians. There was a ceasefire. It did not hold because Hamas chose to break it.” Watch the full interview here.
Italy will send a hospital ship to the coast of Gaza to help treat victims of the conflict, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said on Wednesday. The ship, with 170 staff, includes 30 people trained for medical emergencies, the minister said, adding that Italy was also working to send a field hospital to Gaza.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Jerusalem; he thanked him for his friendship, support, and solidarity visit at this time.
Henry Swieca, a Jewish billionaire investor and philanthropist, quit the board of Columbia Business School, saying the campus had become unsafe for Jews since the launch of the Israel-Hamas war. “With blatantly anti-Jewish student groups and professors allowed to operate with complete impunity, it sends a clear and distressing message that Jews are not just unwelcome, but also unsafe on campus… My resignation is an expression of my deep concern for the direction in which the university is heading.” Swieca, 66, is the founder in 2010 of Talpion Fund Management and the cofounder of Highbridge Capital Management, which was acquired by J.P. Morgan Chase in 2008. The child of Holocaust survivors, he has been a member of the business school’s Board of Overseers since 2014. Forbes lists his worth as $1.9 billion.
Efforts on the Ground
Israelis of all stripes have come together to support soldiers and bolster morale in the country, many sharing inspiring tales.
- Watch this video of non-Jewish cowboys from Montana and Arkansas who are volunteering in Israel with the war effort.
- See these Miami Beach firefighters who have come to Israel to help out.
- One of Israel’s most beloved children’s entertainers in Israel is known as “Yuval Hamebulval.” Watch this touching video dedicated by Yuval to the kidnapped children.
- Broadway stars have come together to record this special version of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, in honor of the hostages.
- Watch here as Israeli troops inside the Strip raise the flag and sing Hatikva on Gaza’s beach.
Additional Background Reading
Other Resources
- Local Authorities: Jewish Federations have produced a document answering questions about funding impacted localities and municipalities in Israel. See here.
- Volunteering: Birthright Israel has opened a volunteering program, where people from outside of Israel can come to Tel Aviv and take part in food rescue operations to prevent shortages in the Israeli market, including work to sort, pack and distribute goods for civil and military personnel.
- Critical Information: For those in Israel looking for help, critical information about the situation on the ground, or other assistance, see this resource page put together by Jewish Federations.
- Listen here to Rabbis Angela Buchdahl and Shlomo Nisanov’s testimony during a UJA New York mission to Israel.
- Knesset: The heads of Jewish Federations of North America have received a letter from the Knesset, thanking the community for its unprecedented support during the country’s dark hour. See the letter here.
- Supplying Protective Equipment: See also this Jewish Federations information page on requests for personal protective equipment which are circulating and this update regarding volunteering.
- Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center here.
- Funders: As many funders struggle to distinguish between the multitudes of organizations looking for important resources, the Jewish Funders Network has produced this thorough page of guidance.
- Solidarity Gatherings: Over 120 communities have held solidarity gatherings. Watch here. For a guidebook on hosting a gathering in your community, click here.
- Hostages: Jewish Federations have launched The Blue-Ribbon Campaign, which symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas. Wearing a ribbon publicly unites people of all religions, races, nationalities, ethnicities, ages, and generations and demonstrates for the people of Israel that they are not alone and that good people across the globe are with them and their families during this dark time.
Jewish Federations of North America
Jewish Federations of North America's Israel Emergency Fund has surpassed $600 million, $148 million of which has already been allocated to the most pressing needs on the ground through 116 partner organizations and NGOs. Read more. And click here for the latest allocations report.
The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war to defend herself against Hamas, and will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they work to build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. Read the latest communication from the Community Mobilization Center 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.
