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Featured Stories Headlines Israel Local Andrew Guckes | Staff Writer The Jewish Federations of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey expressed commitment to maintaining aid for Israel as cease-fire talks press on while also expressing concern with the state of the Hamas hostages and general well-being of Israelis amid the 14th month of war since the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023. Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia CEO Michael Balaban said things are moving in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean the ground-level impacts are lessened. “Though the cease-fire with Hezbollah seems to be holding, and there is hope for the ongoing negotiations with Hamas, Israelis still face severe hardships and anxiety from the war. More than one hundred hostages are still being held captive, over a third of Israelis in the north and south are unable to return to their homes, and just this week, an elementary school in Tel Aviv was destroyed by the debris from a ballistic missile from Yemen,” he said. In November, a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah brokered by the United States ended more than a year of war that began prior to last October’s terrorist attacks but was heightened following them. The deal reinstated the cease-fire that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. This deal required the terrorist group based in Lebanon to retreat nearly 20 miles north of the Israel and Lebanon border. Hezbollah did not follow the rules set forth by this agreement, which eventually led to small clashes that grew into a full-scale Israeli invasion of their neighbors to the north in September 2024. Balaban said that the everyday reality for Israelis is still as terrifying as ever. “The security situation on the ground has remained volatile. Recent escalations in Gaza and the northern border have required increased aid and emergency response,” he said. “Reports of targeted attacks in key areas have only highlighted the urgent need for support. Our thoughts remain with those affected by these events, and we reaffirm our commitment to their safety and security.” For the Federation of Southern New Jersey, the name of the game has been fundraising. The organization said it will continue to do so for as long as it can. The South Jersey community has raised over $2.4 million thus far for the Jewish Federation of North America’s Israel Emergency Campaign, over $80,000 of which went directly to the families of Kibbutz Be’eri, a community attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7. Also, to this point, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has raised $16 million in pledges for its various outlets for aid in Israel. “We [also] partnered with Cooper University Health Care to send trauma surgeons to Israel, providing the Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma course to Israel’s surgeons and emergency responders in need of trauma training,” Federation of Southern New Jersey CEO Jennifer Dubrow Weiss said. “We teamed up with the Israel grassroots organization P24 to bring displaced families from Israel to South Jersey so ten children could experience the magic of JCC Camps at Medford for two weeks.” Balaban said the organization’s approach since last October has been tailored to the needs of the moment. Immediately following the attacks, the Philadelphia Federation focused on rapid response measures like emergency fundraising, coordinating with workers on the ground for community mobilization and supporting events like rallies and marches. Now, the group is working to provide support to members of evacuated communities in Northern Israel, as well as long-term assistance measures, like physical and mental health care and community rebuilding. Eric Fingerhut, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, is choosing to maintain a positive outlook while acknowledging the realities of the situation. “I am encouraged that the positive military developments could create a condition for a more lasting stable period for Israel and in the region. I also know that the end of the war will bring to light all of the trauma and damage that has been suffered the last 14 months in Israel, and that we as a community will have a huge responsibility to support our brothers and sisters in Israel for a long time after the fighting stops,” Fingerhut said. Balaban said that any further cease-fire would shift the organization’s focus from emergency relief to recovery and rebuilding work. The Federation has begun to work with people in Israel to prepare for these efforts when they do come, whenever that is. When the dust settles, it will be clear just how much destruction has occurred. “Even after the war ends it will take decades for Israel to recover and rebuild its sense of security,” he said. Dubrow Weiss said that the Federation of Southern New Jersey organized many events in 2024, and will do the same in 2025. “We are continuing to fundraise to support victims of terrorism in Israel and also to combat antisemitism locally as well as invest in security needs,” Dubrow Weiss said. “Our Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey is especially focused on providing programs and resources to students and school administrators to equip them with how to handle antisemitism.” The Philadelphia Federation is taking similar measures to combat antisemitism at home. Officials from the organization meet with school board members from across the region to discuss antisemitism, as well as work with the administration at Swarthmore College, Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania. Balaban said that the important thing is to remain hopeful. “Despite the hardships, hope remains,” he said. “As we have done for generations, we will stand together in our commitment to creating a safer, more vibrant future for all.” [email protected] TAGS Jewish Federations of Greater Philadelphia Jewish Federations of North America Jewish Federations of South New Jersey

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