Shabbat shalom!

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with brothers and sisters under attack in Ukraine, as well as the communities in Buffalo, NY, Uvalde, Texas, and Highland Park, Illinois, among too many others. And the women of this country.

Stay cool, stay safe and stay healthy!

Here are stories from the last week:

News/Columns

• Valley Beit Midrash Officially Launches New Denver Hub (8/8/2022) - Valley Beit Midrash, a global center for learning and action, announced Thursday the official launch of VBM Denver.  This branch of the international nonprofit organization rooted in Jewish values will focus on being a collaborative force for good in Denver through the pillars of education, social justice work, and leadership development.  Continue Reading
• OLLI Boulder Fall 2022 Registration Open Now; Classes Begin September 12 (8/4/2022) - We are offering a mix of in-person classes at the Mountain View United Methodist Church, using their classroom facilities, as well as online classes available across the Denver metro area.  Continue Reading
• Column: When Andrea Mitchell Reports: Holding Israel ‘Accountable,’ But Not Slain Journalist’s Niece (8/4/2022) - As Andrea Mitchell interviewed her on MSNBC, Lina Abu Akleh took advantage of her forum to accuse Israeli higher-ups of ordering a soldier to kill her aunt, journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Mitchell asked Lina Abu Akleh during Andrea Mitchell Reports if the shooting was “intentional,” and the niece responded, “It was intentional…There is a chain… Continue Reading
• Column: Samuel A. Alito Jr. Tells “We the People”: “No Support in American Law For A Constitutional Right To Obtain An Abortion.” (7/28/2022) - Alito must have been absent the day his law professor reviewed the Preamble, which the dictionary defines as “the introductory part of a constitution or statute that usually states the reasons for and intent of the law.” Continue Reading
• JPS Selects Dr. Elias Sacks as New Director (7/26/2022) - After a nationwide search, the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Publication Society (JPS) has unanimously selected Dr. Elias Sacks of CU Boulder as JPS’s next Director. Continue Reading
• Letters: The Eichmann Tapes and The Long Overdue Death of the “Banality of Evil” (7/26/2022) - Recently released audio tapes which have Adolf Eichmann talking candidly in 1957 with acquaintances in Argentina demolish "the banality of evil" into smithereens and with it Arendt's purported perception and intellect. Continue Reading
• Leading Edge Includes Denver Exec in First Cohort of Leading Jewish Organization Executives (7/21/2022) - 20 leaders of Jewish nonprofits, including Jeremy Anderson of Judaism Your Way, will learn and connect to face the challenges of 2023 and beyond Continue Reading
• Column: Invoking Racism: J Street’s Race To The Bottom (7/21/2022) - Jeremy Ben-Ami might best be advised to check Principle #4 of J Street’s mission before he opens his big mouth in the future. Principle #4 of the Israel-centric organization advocates “vibrant but respectful debate about Israel.” Is “respectful” how J Street’s longtime president would characterize his statement in Saturday’s New York Times? Continue Reading
• SparkIL Launches First Peer-to-Peer Lending Platform for Supporting Israeli Small Businesses (7/18/2022) - Lenders begin the process by exploring various business opportunities that empower them to make an impact on Israeli society which speaks to their aspirations, passions, and values. The platform’s funding opportunities are categorized by People, Place, and Purpose. Continue Reading
• Living Kidney Donor Sought for Jewish Boulderite  (7/14/2022) - Jeff Blumenfeld from Boulder has been committed to helping others for most of his life. Now he needs our help. After a 13-year battle, he learned recently that he’s going to need a kidney transplant from a living donor. Continue Reading
• Column: Israel, Presumed Guilty (7/14/2022) - Israel is presumed guilty even after it proves itself innocent. It is fair to conclude that the Palestinians sent this very message when the American government announced that a Palestinian-American journalist was probably shot to death unintentionally by a bullet fired from Israeli military lines. Washington also stated that the fatal bullet was too damaged… Continue Reading
• Veteran Colorado Fundraiser to Lead Development of Largest Philanthropic Project in Zionist World (7/12/2022) - Jewish National Fund–USA’s leadership team is pleased to announce the promotion of veteran fundraiser Boaz Meir to the role of International Development Director, World Zionist Village. Continue Reading
• DAZN To Stream Maccabiah Games; Opening Ceremonies on July 14 (7/11/2022) - he upcoming Maccabiah Games will be broadcast to fans across the globe on DAZN.com, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, beginning with the Opening Ceremony on July 14. Continue Reading
• JEWISHcolorado Launches Real Estate and Construction Network With Philanthropy at Its Core (7/11/2022) - The Real Estate and Construction Network was born of the idea that industry can drive philanthropy, that leaders in the field of real estate, brought together for networking, education, and exchange of industry practices, can also have a positive impact on their community.  Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• Don’t Miss These Pre-Rosh Hashanah Safety Classes (8/8/2022) - JEWISHcolorado’s Safety and Security Initiative has joined with Starting Hearts for special safety sessions in advance of the Jewish High Holy Days. Continue Reading
• Save the Date: Reverse Tashlich Creek Clean Up Program (8/8/2022) - The Boulder JCC and Inland Ocean Coalition are working together on a Reverse Tashlich creek clean up in Boulder on Sunday, October 2nd, 2022. Continue Reading
• Boulder Congregations at the County Fair (8/4/2022) - For the first time since summer 2019, six Boulder congregations, including Congregations Bonai Shalom and Har HaShem, will have a booth at the Boulder County Fair. Continue Reading
• The Two Sides of Tisha B’av (8/4/2022) - Tisha B'av is the darkest day on the Jewish calendar observed this year on Saturday night, August 6, and Sunday, August 7. Join us this Saturday night for the recital of Lamentations at Boulder Center for Judaism, Saturday evening Aug. 6. Continue Reading
• Have We Been Teaching Kids About Israel All Wrong? (7/28/2022) - "Love, first, details later" — that's how social scientist Sivan Zakai describes the traditional approach taken to teaching young children about Israel. And in her provocative new book, "My Second-Favorite Country: How American Jewish Children Think About Israel," she argues it risks doing more harm than good. Continue Reading
• Boulder JTree Announces B’nai Mitzvah Projects (7/28/2022) - Join other Mitzvah age youth across the country and make JTree your climate-forward Mitzvah project! Continue Reading
• The Road of Second Chances (7/26/2022) - As we close the book of Numbers, which is really a book of counting or travels with forty-two stops for forty years, the very last portion is called Ma’asei which means journeys. Continue Reading
• Beth Ami Congregation Will Be There at Shalom Boulder New(ish) to Boulder – Will You? (7/21/2022) - What is Humanistic Judaism anyway? Drop by the Beth Ami table at Shalom Boulder New(ish) to Boulder and get your questions answered. Continue Reading
• Family Camp at JCC Ranch Camp Returns August 12-14, 2022 (7/14/2022) - After a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Family Camp returns to JCC Ranch Camp from August 12-14, 2022. Continue Reading
• Is Intermarriage Good For The Jews? (7/12/2022) - In his inaugural BJN post, Lawrence Goodman, Editor at The Jewish Experience at Brandeis University, updates the Jewish conversation about intermarriage. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• ‘ReelAbilities Film Festival Denver’ Promotes Awareness and Appreciation of People with Different Disabilities Through Film (7/28/2022) - –The JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center is hosting the second annual Colorado-based ReelAbilities Film Festival Denver in-person in Denver and Boulder from August 24-28 and virtually from August 24-31. Continue Reading
• Beth Ami Announces the Good Movie Club’s Third Selection (7/28/2022) - Our third “Great Movie Club” selection is the very popular film, "Crossing Delancey." On Saturday, August 27, we will discuss the film after a brief Havdallah service. Continue Reading
• Shakespeare Unchained! – A Colorado Shakespeare Festival Season “For All Time” (7/26/2022) - The 2022 Colorado Shakespeare Festival has done it, again, delivered, across its entire repertoire, one of its most outstanding set of spectacles, so typical of this amazing company, in its 65th season, the second oldest Shakespeare festival in America. Continue Reading
• Colorado Summer of Art Tour Returns – Aspen, Keystone, Boulder, Avon, Telluride (7/11/2022) - The shows all feature a broad range of art including paintings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, handmade jewelry, collage and mixed media. Continue Reading

Events

• Experience JFS Boulder (8/4/2022) - JFS is hosting its annual fundraiser, Experience JFS Boulder, Sunday, September 11. Sponsor now, tickets soon! Continue Reading
• Celebrate SIPP 2022! (7/21/2022) - We are excited to announce our first in-person event since 2019! Our outdoor Celebrate SIPP 2022 event will feature brief presentations by Lindsey Zemler, the Sustainability Coordinator for SIPP mini-grant recipient Eastern Mediterranean International School (EMIS), and SIPP's newest Board member Nidal Allis, the president and CEO at Techno Rescue.  Continue Reading
• Shalom Boulder – Get Connected to the Jewish Community! (7/18/2022) - Meet your neighbors and learn more about the thriving local Jewish community at this free outdoor gathering at the Boulder JCC on Wednesday, August 3! Continue Reading
• B’nai Brith Colorado to Host Denver Jewish Golf Tourney (7/18/2022) - The 6th Annual Denver Jewish Golf Tournament, hosted by B’nai B’rith Colorado to benefit the programs of B’nai B’rith Colorado and the Denver Jewish Chamber of Commerce, will be on Monday, August 15th, 2022. Continue Reading
• Nosh & Network Night Out at DV8 Distillery (7/14/2022) - This event is the perfect opportunity to get involved in this ever-growing group of local professionals while enjoying light appetizers and craft cocktails (cash bar - 1x BOGO with ticket) featuring DV8’s renowned flights of flavorful spirit infusions.  Continue Reading