THAT’S
A WRAP
PHILLIES PHEVER
The Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
concludes by spotlighting composer Kurt Weill.

AUGUST 12, 2021 / 4 ELUL 5781
PAGE 18
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM — WHAT IT MEANS TO BE JEWISH IN PHILADELPHIA —
$1.00 OF NOTE
LOCAL Local Orthodox
Respond to ‘My
Unorthodox Life’
Most agree the show
is superficial.

Page 4
LOCAL Einstein
Doctor Details
COVID Role
Goals varied during
course of pandemic.

Page 6
NATIONAL JFNA Head
Addresses Senate
Eric Fingerhut
speaks on need for
security funding.

Page 7
Volume 134
Number 18
Published Weekly Since 1887
Coming Home: An
Interview With New
Jewish Federation
President and
CEO Michael
Balaban BY GABE KAHN | JE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
AFTER A DECADE AWAY, Michael
Balaban returned to his roots in June for his
new position as President and CEO of the
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

Now that he’s had a couple months to get up
to speed, Balaban sat down with Th e Jewish
Exponent to discuss the challenges and
opportunities for the Philadelphia Jewish
community, how it diff ers from a Florida
Federation where he served in the same
position since 2016, what COVID showed
about the local community and more.

Jewish Exponent: What are some of
See Balaban, Page 10
A couple at The Barn on Bridge in Collegeville
Courtesy of Fuller Photography
Delta Variant Could
Impact Fall Event Season
JARRAD SAFFREN | JE STAFF
FOR BIG EVENT PLANNERS, it feels
like March 2020 all over again.

With the delta variant in the air, couples
and families are considering postponing
or downsizing their weddings and bar or
bat mitzvahs.

So, just like they did aft er the pandemic
broke out, venues, planners, caterers and
fl orists are taking it “day by day.”
As of now, the much-anticipated,
jam-packed fall 2021 schedule — the
season that’s supposed to make up for
2020 cancellations — is still on. But vacci-
nation or test ultimatums, and masks for
those who opt for tests over vaccinations,
seem more likely by the day.

Postponements and downsizings are
also possible again if positivity rates in
See Event, Page 13