Weekly Edition: May 30th, 2025

Shabbat Shalom and Shavuot Sameach! Yes, Sunday night begins Shavuot, and Haver has organized a night of study taking place at Congregation Bonai Shalom.

With hostilities ramping back up in Gaza, it is imperative that we continue to support the remaining hostages until they are all home. This will be the 80th consecutive weekly walk in support of the hostages this Sunday, June 1st . Meet at Pearl and 8th Sunday at 1 pm.

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

• Column: Couple Gunned Down Amid Climate of Incitement (5/29/2025) - Bruce Ticker critiques violent actions at pro-Palestinian protests, arguing they undermine peaceful activism and contribute to real-world consequences, including tragic incidents like recent murders. Continue Reading
• Letters: DSA Liberation Caucus’ Statement on DC Murders (5/29/2025) - BJN has received several letters related to this topic in the last day or so, and so rather than publish them separately, I have taken the decision to publish them serially here in one long post so that readers can most conveniently follow the entire thread in chronological order. -Ed. Continue Reading
• Letter: Councilmember Adams Responds to Recent Letters (5/29/2025) - Councilmember Taishya Adams responds to emails published in the Boulder Jewish News on 5/28/25. Continue Reading
• Letter: Re: Councilmember Adams’ Response (5/29/2025) - "The reason that I have written to the council regarding some of your social media posts is because of the message you sent to the community. While you have a right to free speech, you like all of us are not free of the consequences of that speech." Continue Reading
• Letter: Councilperson Adams’ Anti-Israel Rhetoric (5/28/2025) - I am writing to you once again regarding material that Council Member Adams is sharing on her social media accounts. I’ve previously written to you regarding her comment that glorifies Hamas and dehumanizes the Israeli hostages who’ve been held captive for 600 days today (and counting).  Continue Reading
• Letter: Taishya Adams’ Anti-Israel Bias (5/28/2025) - Enough is enough. Here are two recent social media posts by member Taishya Adams, Council's supposed-to-be politically neutral Liaison to the supposed-to-be politically neutral BNSCP. Continue Reading
• Letter: Taishya Adams’ Anti-Israel Bias 2 (5/28/2025) - I add my voice to those calling for Adams to be removed as liaison to Boulder Nablus Sister City Project. Continue Reading
• Letter: Council Member Adams’ Conduct Must Be Addressed (5/28/2025) - I’m writing not only as a concerned Jewish resident, but as someone who has consistently attended and followed city council meetings for over 15 years—even before I moved to Boulder. I care deeply about this city. But for the first time, I’m questioning whether I feel safe attending these meetings in person. That’s not something… Continue Reading
• Songs and Stories from the Frontlines of Hope (5/27/2025) - Songs and Stories from the Frontlines of Hope is a transformative concert tour from the internationally acclaimed Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC) — a trailblazing ensemble of Israeli and Palestinian youth from East and West Jerusalem who are raising their voices for peace, equity, inclusion, and justice. Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• Sunday is Shavuot 2025: Jewish Unity & Disunity (5/29/2025) - Haver's Shavuot event this Sunday night promotes connection through classes, community engagement, and discussion, addressing compassion and unity amid recent challenges, featuring a potluck and cheesecake. Continue Reading
• Bonai Shalom First Friday – June 6th (5/29/2025) - With humor, heart, and deep spiritual insight, Rev. Pedro Silva invites us to consider what it means to hold grief in one hand and joy in the other—and how cultivating that duality is part of being fully human. Register by Monday June 2nd to attend! Continue Reading
• The Road to Torah (Shavuot) (5/29/2025) - A new poem by Todd Greenberg Continue Reading
• Ex-Israeli Hostage: Fight To Free Remaining Hostages ‘Most Israeli, Jewish, Human’ Act Possible (5/28/2025) - At the "Israel United" event, former hostage Eliya Cohen highlighted the fight for remaining captives, emphasizing unity, freedom, and resilience amid ongoing struggles. Includes link to video of event. Continue Reading
• Baruch Dayan HaEmet – Stu Dolnick z”l (5/28/2025) - Stu Dolnick, partner of Norma Portnoy, passed away on April 29, 2025 from brain cancer. There will be a Remembrance of Life on June 4th. Continue Reading
• A Taste of Shabbos – Parashat Bamidbar (5/27/2025) - The fourth Torah book, Bamidbar, emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual, likening census numbers to names, highlighting personal purpose within community, and G-d's deeper connection to creation. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• At The Dairy This Week: “The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation” (5/27/2025) - The play "The Conversation Part 1: The Israeli-Palestinian Conversation" addresses complex topics through community engagement, fostering dialogue to bridge divides and seek solutions. Continue Reading

Events

• We Walk Sunday Because We Must – Remember the Hostages (5/27/2025) - Run4TheirLives Boulder will walk for the 80th consecutive week this Sunday in support of the hostages being held in Gaza. Please join us. Continue Reading
• Big June for Men of the J – Join Us (5/27/2025) - It's hard to believe that next week is June! Here's your reminder to register for all of our wonderful Men of the J programs each month. Continue Reading