Boulder Jewish News Arts, Culture, Events, Lifestyles, Holidays, Synagogues, Education
By Noam Bedein
As we write, Israel has launched strikes on Iran in what may be the most consequential Jewish military operation of our lifetime. American Jews in Colorado, just several weeks after the terror attack that shocked the Denver community and the broader American Jewish public—and only weeks following the brutal murder of Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, DC—now feel both pride and deep anxiety. During a moment when US domestic politics are sharply divided over whether the Trump administration should join Israel’s offensive, the US has indeed struck. Will these global conflicts fuel more domestic hate? Will Jewish communities once again be scapegoated?
Our storytelling journey brought us to Colorado after covering Jewish resilience in the Caribbean, where we had just explored the historical refuge the Dominican Republic provided for Jews fleeing Nazi Europe. That history suddenly became devastatingly present: among the victims of the Boulder terror attack was 88-year-old Barbara Steinmetz—a Holocaust survivor whose family fled to Sosúa in the Dominican Republic before eventually settling in Colorado. Her story was fresh in our minds.
In Pueblo, we stood with a small but proud Jewish community during a peaceful rally for Israel. Just down the street, anti-Israel activists chanted “From the river to the sea”—a slogan now understood by many as a call for Jewish erasure. Hate speech, we’ve learned, never stays just words.
A week later, we attended a community leadership dinner in Denver hosted by the Mizel Institute—gathering Colorado’s most influential Jewish leaders, philanthropists, and businesspeople. The Mizel family has been integral to shaping the social and civic landscape of Colorado for decades, supporting education, law enforcement partnerships, cultural institutions, and Holocaust remembrance initiatives. Their legacy in Denver stands as a testament to Jewish contributions to American civil society. At our table, we were seated near an Orthodox Jewish FBI representative who shared candidly about the risks Jewish communities now face across the United States, and how the lines between online hate speech and physical violence are growing increasingly thin. The dinner celebrated community leadership and coexistence.
Days later, that very foundation of dignity and contribution was shattered by fire.
Boulder on Fire
On June 1, at the Pearl Street Mall, a weekly pro-Israel walk became the site of horror. A man shouting “Free Palestine” attacked Jewish participants with Molotov cocktails and homemade flamethrowers. The FBI quickly labeled it an act of terror.
Among the injured was 88-year-old Barbara Steinmetz—a Holocaust survivor who fled Europe as a child. Her voice from the hospital: “We’re Americans. We are better than this. What the hell is going on in our country?”
Rabbi Caryn Aviv called the attack “pure terrorism.” Brandon Rattiner of Denver’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) connected it directly to the earlier Washington, D.C. attack on Israeli diplomats. He warned of a growing climate where hate against Jews is tolerated far too easily.
When we met Brandon weeks later on Pearl Street, he showed us the very spot where the fire had burned. The event left the community shaken—and changed. Security protocols have been overhauled. At CU Boulder’s Hillel, Director Elyana Funk described a 400% spike in campus antisemitism since October 7. Now, every event requires armed guards.
A Community Stands Its Ground
Still, Boulder responded not with fear but resilience. One week later, thousands gathered for the city’s 30th Jewish Festival. Rabbis lit candles, children sang, and the community reclaimed its public space. But overhead, snipers and drones reminded us of the new normal.
Fruita Mayor Matthew Breman—the city’s first Jewish mayor—spoke with moral clarity: “This is not a protest. This is terror.” He urged fellow leaders to name antisemitism explicitly. Yet others, like Boulder Councilmember Taishya Adams, refused to call the attack antisemitic, preferring to label it “anti-Zionist.” The damage of such equivocation cannot be overstated.
Israel, Iran, and the American Jewish Reckoning
Meanwhile, federal security funds that protect synagogues and schools have been frozen. Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper are now pushing for $500 million in emergency aid. Jewish Americans should not have to plead for safety.
Memory Into Mission
From Pueblo’s peaceful march to Boulder’s flames, our time in Colorado has revealed the urgency of this moment. We return to Israel in several weeks, with these stories as warnings and calls to action.
This week, we speak in Vancouver alongside members of the Iranian diaspora. The message we carry: once, the King of Persia freed the Jews. Now, the Jewish people will help free the Persians.
History arcs toward those who act. Let us be counted among them.
The writer is a travel photojournalist specializing in wellness tourism and nature conservation, currently on a family emissary mission across North and Central America with Bedein – Agents of Hope.
