Weekly Edition: January 15th, 2021

Shabbat shalom! My January, 2020 prediction came true this week with the second impeachment of the out-going president. 2021 still seems poised to be more eventful than anticipated, but at least Twitter felt quieter this week.

Here are links to the latest information from the state of Colorado about Covid and about vaccines. Please be sure to follow all the recommendations/ requirements of Boulder County Public Health to combat COVID-19, including wearing masks in public and avoiding gatherings outside your family group.

You can find all of our local community virtual services at the “Jewish Community Virtual Offerings” link below under “Events”. There is also a link to the list of online programs being offered by the Boulder JCC.

Meanwhile, here are sources that will have the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Boulder and Colorado:

• Boulder JCC for the Jewish community
• Congregation Har HaShem for the Jewish community
• City of Boulder
• Boulder County
• Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
• Centers for Disease Control

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay warm.

News/Columns

• Jews of Color Initiative Aims to Have 1,000 Jews of Color Complete Survey for Unprecedented Research (1/14/2021) - The Jews of Color Initiative aims to have 1,000 Jews of Color (JoC) complete a survey at JoCsurvey.org, part of the first-ever study to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of Jews of Color in the United States. Continue Reading
• January JTree Update (1/14/2021) - Thank you to families and friends who made an end of year donation to Boulder JTree. Continue Reading
• Column: Did Jewish Vote Swing Election? (1/14/2021) - The Jewish stars aligned, politically speaking, on November 3, 2020 and January 5, 2021. Continue Reading
• Denver Native Wins Jerusalem College of Technology Men’s Hackathon with Predictive Hebrew Learning Tool (1/13/2021) - Jonah Lawrence, originally from Denver, was part of a team that took first place in the 5th annual Jerusalem College of Technology Great Minds Hackathon. Continue Reading
• Soul Retrieval (1/12/2021) - ‘You can’t choose the card you’re dealt, but you can choose to live every minute of it.’ Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• Where Zen and Zahor Meet (8/16/2026) - Rabbi Eva Sax-Bolder reflects on her annual return to Auschwitz-Birkenau, exploring themes of memory, healing, and the interconnectedness of Judaism and Zen practice in bearing witness. Continue Reading
• SHAVUA: Bringing Yourself into the Jewish Conversation (8/16/2026) - SHAVUA is a guided journal designed to enhance personal reflection and connection through Jewish wisdom, encouraging engagement with timeless ideas throughout the Jewish year. Continue Reading
• Bereaved Israeli Youth Reflect on Transformative U.S. Bnei Mitzvah Journey (8/13/2026) - The IDF Widows & Orphans Organization hosts a program for bereaved children, offering them support and memorable experiences through trips abroad. Continue Reading
• Twelve Tribes, Twelve Months: Elul (8/13/2026) - Rabbi Charna Rosenholtz’s article on Elul emphasizes inner reflection, preparation for renewal, and actionable steps to align values with actions as the new year approaches. Continue Reading
• Gavin Lang Bet Mitzvah (8/13/2026) - On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, Gavin Lang was called to the Torah as Bet Mitzvah at Congregation Har HaShem. Continue Reading
• Adelia Schare Bat Mitzvah (8/13/2026) - On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, Adelia Schare was called to the Torah as Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Bonai Shalom. Continue Reading
• Ten Years of Sunshine, Songs, and Self-Discovery: Celebrating a Decade of Cherryvale Day Camp (8/10/2026) - Cherryvale Day Camp, established in 2016, has become a beloved summer tradition in Boulder, fostering community, friendship, and growth over ten successful years. Continue Reading
• Shomrei HaZmanim: A Nature-Based Jewish Teen Community Comes to Boulder County (8/10/2026) - Shomrei HaZmanim, a Jewish nature community for teens, is coming to Boulder County this fall, fostering connection, mentorship, and outdoor experiences for personal growth and belonging. Continue Reading
•  Love Is The Answer, But What’s The Question? (8/6/2026) - The destruction of the Second Temple stems from causeless hatred; love and peace serve as the cure, offering hope and consolation during grief. Continue Reading
• Baruch Dayan HaEmet – Sara Feigel (Lichtman) Gold z”l (8/6/2026) - Sara Feigel (Lichtman) Gold, mother of Yonatan Gold, passed away this morning, August 6, 2026, in Indiana. Continue Reading
• Aiden Louie Bar Yisrael (8/6/2026) - On Saturday, August 1st, 2026, Aiden Louie was called to the Torah as a Bar Yisrael with Adventure Judaism. Continue Reading
• Gavin Gelman Bar Mitzvah (8/6/2026) - On Saturday, August 1st, 2026, Gavin Gelman was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah with Adventure Judaism. Continue Reading
• Free High Holy Day Materials for the Visually Impaired Now Available (7/30/2026) - JBI Library has expanded accessible High Holy Day resources, including new braille materials, aiming to support individuals with print disabilities. Continue Reading
• Miles Potash Bar Mitzvah (7/30/2026) - On Saturday, July 25th, 2026, Sam Olson was called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah with Adventure Judaism. Continue Reading
• Jew-Maxxing (7/28/2026) - Many of you may only know me as a wildly popular and hilarious Jewish humorist. What you may not know is that I am also the leading social influencer of the Jew Maxxing movement. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• Boulder JCC presents Amplifying Voices: A Racial Justice Series (1/12/2021) - “Amplifying Voices” is a series of programs on the topic of race designed to bring together ideas of teshuva (recommitting to ways we can do better), personal growth, and reckoning. Continue Reading

Events

• The Iran Nuclear Deal in a Rapidly-Changing Middle East (1/14/2021) - I want to invite you to an excellent discussion on the JCPOA (the Iran Nuclear Deal) that Trump has tried to destroy and likely will be President-Elect Biden’s first major foreign policy initiative. Continue Reading
• Classes This Week at Nevei Kodesh – January 14-20 (1/14/2021) - Nevei Kodesh, a warm and welcoming Jewish Renewal Community invites you to join us virtually for prayer, study and connection! Continue Reading
• Brushing Away Terror One Mural at a Time (1/13/2021) - It’s not uncommon to see children and families posing for photos in front of the bright, colorful murals in Wynwood, Miami...but how about in the Gaza Envelope? Continue Reading
• What We Are Looking Forward To In 2021 (1/12/2021) - New opportunities and programs developed over the last nine months attested to the power of the virtual stage. There is a lot to look forward to in the coming months but here is a small sample of what we are the most excited about. Continue Reading
• Boulder JCC’s “Israel Update” Program To Be Offered Twice a Month (1/12/2021) - The Boulder JCC is excited to announce that the Israel Updates series featuring JEWISHcolorado’s Shaliach (Israeli emissary) Itai Divinsky will now have two separate streams, each of which will be presented monthly. Continue Reading