The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The organization that launched in 1901 as the Jewish Federation of Charities has been present in the region through every Jewish era since then, from the rise of modern Israel to the immigration of Soviet Jews to the current period of security at synagogues.

So, as it looks back on 125 years, the Federation is also looking ahead. Its president and CEO, Michael Balaban, talked to Philadelphia Jewish Exponent about the organization’s priorities for the future.

Balaban, like most Jewish leaders in similar positions, has talked a lot about defense in recent years: security, fighting antisemitism and the like. Defense remains essential, Balaban said. But in 5786 and the years to come, he wants to focus on offense, too.

“Now is our time to look forward with intention,” he said. “It should be our time to look forward to what we want to sustain for generations to come.”

What does offense look like?

For the Federation’s 125th anniversary, it’s coming in the form of money and connection. Both can build, deepen and strengthen the community, according to Balaban.

The Federation has a goal of increasing its endowment by $300 million over the next five years. In year one, it has already raised $110 million.

In July, the organization will plan and lead Shabbat dinners in neighborhoods across the five-county Philadelphia area. The Federation’s goal is to host 125 such gatherings.

“We want to bring the community together,” Balaban said. “The future has to be built on excitement, engagement, innovation and wow.”

The money will help fund various projects the Federation is engaged in. Balaban mentioned a new, state-of-the-art senior residence in Radnor and the merger taking place between Perelman Jewish Day School and Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy as good examples of the work the Federation engages in across the community.

Balaban explained that schools in general would be a focal point moving forward.

“We know the schools require funding assistance. If you want to combat antisemitism, part of the way we need to do it is to ensure we’re raising strong children who can speak out with pride on the tax on Israel and the tax on Jewish people,” he said.

That tax is the hundreds of millions of dollars that Jewish communities across the country spend annually on security. Those costs remain, and they do not appear to be going anywhere. That’s part of the reason why the Federation’s endowment has to increase by so much.

To fund offense, too, Jewish communities must raise more.

“We’re not going to get away from having to put money into security. We are the only community in North America that has to build our own security infrastructure. But the number one job of the government is to protect its citizens, so we’re pressuring Congress to increase funding,” Balaban said, referring to the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program. “We need to increase those funds. At the same time, we have to focus on these other areas.”

“It’s an and; it’s not a this or that,” he said.

Education is a version of playing offense, and so are community gatherings like Shabbat dinners. This summer’s effort is reflective of a larger Federation initiative to engage more deeply with the kehillot system across the region. The Federation brought back the system four years ago and now has four dedicated engagement managers across the kehillot.

Balaban himself said he’s spending more time in areas like Bucks County, Delaware County and Chester County, where thousands of Jews live, but which are also less well-known as densely-populated Jewish areas than parts of the city and the Main Line. And by spending time, Balaban literally means in people’s living rooms.

“What we need to transition to is much more Federation in your neighborhood,” he said. “I’m spending more time in places like Bucks County and Chester and Delaware, in people’s homes, in parlor meetings, to hear what their needs are.”

The Federation is in the “listening phase,” Balaban said.

“We’re sort of realigning our staff team so we can build on what we’ve been doing and grow it out more,” he said.

jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com