Weekly Edition: March 14th, 2025

Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach! The Boulder Center for Judaism is having a Purim dinner and service tonight, check it out!

With the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, it is imperative that we continue to support the remaining hostages until they are all home. The weekly walk in support of the hostages continues this Sunday, March 16. Meet at 1 pm at Pearl St. and 8th.

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

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our brothers and sisters under attack in Israel, Ukraine, and the women of this country. Am Yisrael Chai!

Here are the stories from this week:

News/Columns/Letters

• IDF & Shin Bet October 7 Failures: Initial Report (3/13/2025) - Barry Shaw, of the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies, offers his analysis of the initial report submitted by the IDF examining the lead up to October 7. Continue Reading
• Column: No G’day for Actor Guy ‘Free Palestine’ Pearce (3/13/2025) - Guy Pearce's actions and statements about Palestine raise questions about his understanding of the conflict, revealing a disconnect from the complexities and realities faced by those involved. Continue Reading
• Letter: Are Holy Places the Key to a Deal? (3/13/2025) - Dear editor: In the 1940's, Arab aggression failed to prevent the emergence of the modern State of Israel in the Jews' ancestral homeland. But Egypt did succeed in grabbing Gaza and Transjordan also succeeded in grabbing eastern Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, dubbing these areas "The West Bank" and dropping the "Trans" prefix from its own… Continue Reading
• Opinion: The Art of a Peace Deal in the Middle East? Holy Places (3/11/2025) - The author emphasizes the significance of holy places like Al-Aqsa in peace negotiations, suggesting they can facilitate legitimacy and leverage among involved parties. Continue Reading
• One Happy Camper Applications Open for Summer 2025 (3/10/2025) - The One Happy Camper program at JEWISHcolorado offers summer camp grants for first-time campers entering grades 1-12, enhancing Jewish identity and community connections. Continue Reading
• US Voting Opens in 2025 World Zionist Congress Election (3/10/2025) - With online voting open through May 4, American Jews are choosing the representatives who make key decisions on allocating over $1 billion in annual support for Israel and world Jewry. New York, N.Y., March 10, 2025 — Voting in the U.S. for the body known as the “parliament of the Jewish people” has opened today (March 10) and… Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• A Journey Through Time: The Evolution of Seder Plates Across Cultures (3/13/2025) - The Seder plate symbolizes Jewish heritage, evolving from simple ancient designs to modern artistic interpretations, reflecting diverse cultural influences and traditions. Continue Reading
• A Taste of Shabbos – Parashat Ki Tisa (3/11/2025) - An anonymous queen inspires reflection on G-d's presence during Purim and Shabbat, emphasizing spiritual elevation through preparation, joy, and the essence of community worship. Continue Reading
• Baruch Dayan HaEmet – David Greenwald z”l (3/11/2025) - David Greenwald passed away on March 11, 2025. Services and burial will take place on Thursday, March 13, 2025. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• The Ego Minds of Men (3/13/2025) - A new poem from Todd Greenberg. Continue Reading

Events

• Jewish National Fund-USA’s Annual Breakfast for Israel Returns to Denver April 9 (3/13/2025) - Jewish National Fund-USA's Breakfast for Israel returns on April 9, 2025, in Denver, featuring keynote speaker Gadi Ezra and discussions on supporting Israel's rebuilding efforts. Continue Reading
• 527 Days of Hope: Humanitarian Walk for Hostages (3/13/2025) - Run4TheirLives Boulder will walk for the 68th consecutive week this Sunday in support of the hostages being held in Gaza. Please join us. Continue Reading
• Final Week of “The Bias Inside Us” (3/13/2025) - The Bias Inside Us, a Smithsonian exhibition at the Boulder JCC until March 23, 2025, explores implicit bias through interactive displays and community dialogue. Continue Reading
• Surviving the Holocaust in the Dominican Republic: A Child Survivor Gives Testimony (3/11/2025) - Barbara Steinmetz, a Holocaust survivor, shares her escape from Europe to the Dominican Republic on March 18, 2025, at CU. All are welcome. Continue Reading
• Understanding Israel-Palestine-Gaza-Hamas Dynamics with Prof. Zach Levey (3/10/2025) - Professor Zach Levey will present on "Israel, the Palestinians, Hamas and Gaza" on March 27, followed by a Q&A. RSVP by March 25. Continue Reading