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Eli Cohen, son of community members Amir and Nikki Cohen, returned to Israel from Chicago in the initial post-October 7 reserve call-up. He visited the Men of the J Breakfast several months ago after his unit rotated out of Gaza. He returned to Israel in May, 2025 for another deployment and is currently with his unit in northern Gaza. He initially emailed the BJN right after the fire bomb attack on the Run 4 Their Lives walk on June 1, and then found time to email again a few days ago.
June 7, 2025: In my opinion the latest attack in Boulder goes to show that the frontlines aren’t just in Gaza, they are all around us. In our communities. In our schools. No place is immune from antisemitism. No place is truly safe — not even our beloved Boulder. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we learn who our real friends are and the sooner we take action into our own hands.
I learned about the attack while I was in Gaza. I flew back last month for another deployment with my team. We have another couple of months inside. If you think it would be helpful, I could try and pen a short piece for you to include in one of your weeklies — it could close the circle from our breakfast earlier in the year.
Best regards,
Eli
July 14, 2025: First, my thoughts and prayers go out to all of the victims of the June 1st attack in Boulder. It’s evident that the frontlines of this war aren’t just in Gaza. The front lines are in all the communities where Jews call home.
Not sure if you or anyone else in Boulder have any questions. Happy to answer anything that I can. Attached are a couple of photos.
At this time my 8-man sniper team in a reserve paratrooper unit has endured over 300 days of sustained combat since October 7th, having fought in Gaza, Lebanon and across the West Bank. We are now taking part in an offensive in Beit Hanoun in Northern Gaza.
Combat has evolved over the last 650 days, and we have evolved with it. We are fighting entrenched Hamas battalions, most of which are holed up in tunnels under our feet. Though weakened in numbers, their resolve has hardened, their ambushes have become refined and their ploys more desperate.
Motivation remains high but nearly everyone is fatigued — a deep fatigue in our bones that we can’t quite shake. Missions day after day and night after night, brutal Gazan summer heat, incessant mosquitos and an unwavering longing for home.
This war isn’t over yet. Until the last hostage comes home, we are all held hostage in Gaza. The IDF and Israel’s security services will continue to fight for as long as it takes to bring everyone home.
For the living, the fallen, the kidnapped, and all Am Yisrael.
Eli
Eli was interviewed last week on i24 (the video is all Hebrew, but you can make out a couple of references to “Colorado”). Thanks to Sylvain Hayoun for capturing the interview.
If you have questions for Eli, direct them to editor@boulderjewishnews.org, and I will pass them along to Eli. We will post answers as we have them.
