Weekly Edition: June 6th, 2025

Shabbat Shalom. What a week we have lived through since last Sunday’s terror attack against our local Run For Their Lives walk to support the hostages in Gaza. Tuesday brought a vigil by community faith leaders, Wednesday an event organized by the Governor’s office against hate, Wednesday night a community gathering that drew 1,500 people to the Boulder JCC plus another 750 participating online.

Amidst these harrowing events, the Boulder Jewish community came together in solidarity and affirmed that we will go forward with this weekend’s Boulder Jewish Festival on the very spot where last Sunday’s attack took place: in front of the Courthouse Lawn off the Pearl Street Mall, between 13th and 14th Streets. Join the community from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm this Sunday, June 8th. The weekly Run for Their Lives walk will take place, starting at noon at Broadway and Pearl, and proceeding to the Festival Stage in front of the Courthouse Lawn.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our brothers and sisters under attack in Israel, Ukraine, and now here, in Boulder. May the injured in last week’s attack have a refuah shlemah, a full and complete recovery. Am Yisrael Chai!

Here is Morah Yehudis‘ take on this week’s Torah Portion.

Here are the stories from this week:

News/Columns/Letters

• Boulder Jewish Festival Will Go On This Sunday (6/5/2025) - Join us for a thoughtfully reimagined version of the 30th anniversary of the Boulder Jewish Festival this coming Sunday. Our program and planned experiences will bring us together as a community at a time when nothing could be more important. Continue Reading
• Faith Leader Vigil Held at Courthouse Tuesday (6/5/2025) - Faith Leader Vigil Held at Courthouse Tuesday Continue Reading
• Column: Martyring His Family, Too (6/5/2025) - Mohamed Sabry Soliman faces severe charges for attacking a pro-Israel group, jeopardizing his family's future, including his daughter's medical school aspirations. Continue Reading
• Letter: Lowenstein Nails It Re: Councilmember Adams Missing from Statement (6/5/2025) - The discourse highlights tension between anti-black sentiment and antisemitism, questioning the ethical stance of those denying their interconnectedness, especially within local politics. Continue Reading
• Governor Polis, State and Local Community Leaders Come Together to Stand Against Hate (6/4/2025) - Today, Governor Polis, Boulder Mayor Brockett, interfaith and statewide leaders came together to stand against hate and for a moment of unity after the tragic attack against a peaceful gathering of people raising awareness for the hostages still being held by Hamas. Continue Reading
• Letter: Zionism is Judaism, Councilmember Adams (6/4/2025) - Councilmember Taishya Adams misunderstands the relationship between Zionism and Judaism, which are historically intertwined, emphasizing Jewish sovereignty in Israel as a decolonization effort. Continue Reading
• Councilmember Adams’ Statement on the Pearl St. Attack (6/3/2025) - "I stand in full solidarity with my fellow council members in condemning this senseless and unacceptable act of terror. I, too, am furious and deeply saddened, and my heart is with the victims, their families and Boulder’s Jewish community." Continue Reading
• JEWISHcolorado Opens Boulder Security Fund (6/2/2025) - JEWISHcolorado is launching a Boulder Security Fund to raise $160,000 for enhanced safety, victim support, trauma resources, and addressing community needs after recent attacks. Continue Reading
• Standing Together in the Wake of Tragedy (6/2/2025) - As we continue to process the horrific attack on members of our community during Sunday’s Boulder Run for Their Lives walk, we wanted to share some important updates. Continue Reading
• Boulder Star To Be Lit Tonight in Response to the June 1 Attack on Downtown Boulder (6/2/2025) - The City of Boulder, in partnership with the Boulder Chamber, will light the Boulder Star tonight, Monday, June 2, through Sunday, June 8, in solidarity with our community. Continue Reading
• City of Boulder Response to June 1 Attack (6/2/2025) - As our community continues to reel from the act of violence and terror that occurred on our beloved Pearl Street Mall yesterday, we, as Boulder City Council members and city manager, acknowledge in the strongest possible terms that this was a targeted, antisemitic attack. Continue Reading
• A Public Statement from the Boulder Community (6/2/2025) - Yesterday’s attack on a peaceful vigil in the heart of our community is not only a vile assault on our Jewish community—it is an attack on us all. Continue Reading
• Councilmember Speer’s Statement on the Pearl St. Attack (6/2/2025) - June 1, 2025 This afternoon, a hate-filled individual attacked a peaceful gathering of Jews in our downtown mall.  For over 600 days, this peaceful group has walked every Sunday to raise awareness of the hostages violently taken in Israel on October 7 and still held captive.  My heart and prayers are with the victims, their… Continue Reading
• J Street Horrified by Terror Attack in Colorado, Urges Swift Action (6/2/2025) - Ilan Goldenberg condemned the Boulder attack on a solidarity walk, emphasizing the need for safety and political leaders to denounce violence against any community. Continue Reading
• June 1 Hostage Walk Attacked with Molotov Cocktails (6/1/2025) - The 80th weekly Boulder Walk to Support the Gaza Hostages was attacked around 1:30 pm this afternoon by a man wielding a makeshift flamethrower and throwing Molotov cocktails, causing at least six injuries. Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• A Cocktail of Hate Has No Place Here (6/5/2025) - A timely poem from Todd Greenberg. Continue Reading
• Aaron Brave Bet Mitzvah (6/5/2025) - On Saturday, June 7th,, 2025, Aaron Brave will be called to the Torah as Bet Mitzvah at Congregation Har HaShem. Continue Reading
• Brooke Sneider Bat Mitzvah (6/5/2025) - On Saturday, June 7th, 2025, Brooke Sneider will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah with Adventure Judaism. Continue Reading
• A Taste of Shabbos – Parashat Naso (6/4/2025) - The priestly blessing emphasizes love and unity within the Jewish community, highlighting the importance of peace in individual relationships and global harmony. Continue Reading
• A Friend of Israel for Life (6/1/2025) - Alan Cohen, a philanthropist, dedicates a reservoir to Eshkol farmers post-October 7 attacks, illustrating his commitment to Israel's agricultural resilience. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• Another Community (6/5/2025) - A new poem from Lisa Tremback Continue Reading

Events

• Boulder & Denver Run 4 Their Lives Walk & Program This Sunday (6/4/2025) - Run4TheirLives Boulder will walk for the 81st consecutive week this Sunday in support of the hostages being held in Gaza. Please join us. Continue Reading
• Coming Together as a Community (6/3/2025) - Join with the Boulder Jewish community at one or more of three upcoming events in Boulder as we support one another. Continue Reading