Almost 200 Walk for the Hostages on Sunday; 10/7 Commemorations Set for Monday Night

The organizers of the Boulder Run 4 Their Lives weekly walk for the Israeli hostages called for at least 101 participants to walk on October 6th – one for each hostage that remains held by Hamas in Gaza one year after the horrific attacks of October 7th, 2023.

Almost twice that many showed up to peacefully walk Pearl St from 8th St. to 15th St., and then back to the Courthouse Lawn, holding Israeli and American flags, and showing posters of individual hostages and murder victims to those they passed on the walk. The crowd included Israelis, religious Jews, members of every synagogue in Boulder, as well as many secular and unaffiliated Jews, young and old, many first-time walkers, and many repeat walkers, including those who had attended all 46 walks held since Thanksgiving weekend 2023.

At the Courthouse, the organizers led the group in Hatikvah, as they do each week, and read the names of the remaining 101 hostages, those thought to be alive as well as those known to be dead, again as they do each week.

Within days of OCTOBER 7, baby Kfir Bibas – shown above at the moment of capture with his brother Ariel and mother Shiri – became the global symbol of 254 Hostages kidnapped for ransom and to be human shields by Hamas. ONE YEAR AFTER, they, their father Yarden and 97 other Hostages are still in Hamas hell. This week, their relative Tomer Keshet said “It’s not just us who will never give up on this. It’s all the people with good hearts and good souls who give us the strength to say ‘We understand you. We got your back. We are in this together with you because this is the right thing to do.'”

Run4TheirLives – Boulder will walk again next Sunday, and the Sunday after, as long as we have to, until the hostages are brought home. Am Yisrael Chai!

Local 10/7 Commemorations

Boulder: The Boulder Jewish Community will host a special program of remembrance at the Boulder JCC on Monday, October 7, from 6 to 10 p.m. This gathering is intended to foster an environment of reflection, support, and connection, ensuring that we do not stand alone in our grief but together in unity and resilience.

Event Schedule

• 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Doors open for community connection and quiet contemplation.
• 7:00 – 8:30 pm: The official ceremony will include prayers, music, and reflections. Through song, poetry, and prayer, we will honor the memories of those lost and support one another during this difficult time.
• 8:30 – 10:00 pm: After the ceremony, we invite all community members to stay for a time of singing together. In Israel, it is traditional to gather in song, both in times of joy and in times of sorrow. Music holds a unique power to connect, heal, and express what words often cannot. We will provide song lyrics in Hebrew with transliterations and English translations, allowing everyone to join in this meaningful tradition.

For those who are unable to attend in person, we will also be livestreaming the program so that our extended community can take part in this important event from wherever they may be.

Monday, October 7 | 6 – 10 pm | FREE but registration is recommended

Denver:  Join JEWISHcolorado and more than 30 community organizations in commemorating the one-year anniversary of October 7. The event, titled “From Darkness to Light – Mechoshech L’Or,” will be held from 7-9 pm, Monday October 7th, at Temple Emanuel in Denver. 

The event will feature the photo exhibit “Resilience in the Rubble: Portraits of Strength After Destruction,” plus soulful music by music artists Yagel Harush and Daniel Weiss, remembrances, and uplifting remarks by Dr. Noam Weissman, a leader in innovative Israel and Jewish education.  

Registration is required and identification must be presented upon entry.