Weekly Edition: May 22nd, 2026

Shabbat shalom and Happy Shavuot! Also, welcome to Boulder to the thousands of runners here for the Bolder Boulder on Monday, and the Boulder Creek Festival this weekend. Get out and enjoy!

At the same time, we remember with sorrow the attack that occurred on the Pearl St. Mall last year on erev Shavuot. May the survivors continue their healing path, and may Karen Diamond’s memory continue to be for a blessing.

In September, we began a new column with Rabbi Charna Rosenholtz, a 12-part column exploring the spiritual and psychological wisdom of each Hebrew month. Drawing from Torah, Kabbalah, Mussar, and seasonal awareness, each installment highlights core themes, practices, and reflections to help ground us in sacred time. Join us on this monthly journey through the Jewish calendar. We have now reached the 8th month, Sivan, so be sure to check out this latest entry. Links to her earlier columns are included.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our brothers and sisters under attack in London, West Bloomfield, Australia, the UK, Israel, Ukraine, and in Boulder. Am Yisrael Chai!

Here are the stories from this week.

News/Columns/Letters

• Expand Your Horizons: Summer Exchange Lecture Series (5/21/2026) - The Summer Exchange Lecture Series 2026 features experts discussing gender identity, wildlife conservation, global security, and Louis D. Brandeis' legacy. Register for four enlightening lectures. Continue Reading
• Column: NYC Mayor Mamdani Lies, Accusing Israel of Expelling All Arabs in 1948 War (5/21/2026) - NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani opens his four-minute video to recognize Nakba Day with this stark, dreadful lie: “Today marks Nakba Day, an annual day of remembrance to commemorate the expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians between 1947 and 1949 during the creation of the State of Israel and the year that followed.” Continue Reading
• Behind Closed Doors, Jewish Families Owe $60,000. Kosher Debt Help Has Cut Their Interest to 1.4% (5/19/2026) - Kosher Debt Help aids Jewish families with overwhelming credit card debt, reducing interest rates and providing structured support to manage long-term financial health. Continue Reading
• Jewish Interest Free Loan of Colorado Wants to Help (5/19/2026) - A grant from the Rose Community Foundation enables a loan opportunity for families, offering up to $13,000 for educational expenses. Continue Reading
• Jewish Days of Giving In Full Swing! (5/18/2026) - It’s more important now than ever to support the Jewish community and we hope this giving event created in the spirit of Tzedakah will strengthen and unite our statewide Jewish community. Continue Reading
• An Open Letter Regarding Schmooze.AI (5/18/2026) - Joshua Kail introduces Schmooze.AI, a Jewish-centric AI platform, acknowledging feedback while highlighting features and addressing past issues. Continue Reading
• Letter: Hard Time Connecting the Dots (5/18/2026) - Toby Block tries to make sense of Bruce Ticker's recent column on a West Coast trial. Continue Reading
• Now Enrolling: Discover the Magic of the Jay and Rose Phillips ECC for 2026-27 (5/17/2026) - The Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center is enrolling for 2026-27, offering holistic education, low teacher-child ratios, and community engagement opportunities for diverse families. Continue Reading
• The Efshar Project Visits the Boulder JCC (5/17/2026) - The Efshar Project strengthens Jewish early childhood education in Boulder, promoting community and development through partnerships, innovative programs like Forest School, and extensive educator support. Continue Reading
• Letter: Mamdani’s Phony “Nakba” History (5/17/2026) - Richard Sherman critiques Mayor Mamdani's portrayal of Nakba history, asserting inaccuracies regarding Inea Bushnaq's background and the "Visit Palestine" poster. Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• Har HaShem Religious School Enrollment Now Open! (5/21/2026) - Registration for the 26-27 school year is open, featuring new updates in 8th-12th grade Prizma programs based on community feedback. Contact for questions. Continue Reading
• Zachary Rosenbloom Bet Mitzvah (5/21/2026) - On Saturday, May 16th, 2026, Zachary Rosenbloom was called to the Torah as Bet Mitzvah at Congregation Har HaShem. Continue Reading
• Gabe Davis Bar Mitzvah (5/21/2026) - On Saturday, May 16th, 2026, Gabe Davis was called to the Torah as Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Nevei Kodesh. Continue Reading
• This Saturday, Take a Shabbat Walk (5/19/2026) - Join us at East Boulder Community Center this Saturday, May 23 for a Shabbat walk along the Bobolink Trail with challah and juice. Continue Reading
• Twelve Tribes, Twelve Months: Sivan (5/18/2026) - Rabbi Charna Rosenholtz's column explores Sivan, emphasizing the importance of Torah as a guiding force for moral progress and mindful living, encouraging personal reflection and sincere action. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• Doorways to God’s Intentions (5/21/2026) - A new poem from Lisa Tremback. Continue Reading

Events

• How to Combat Antizionism 101 (5/21/2026) - Antizionism, increasingly mainstream, is critiqued by Jewish scholars as a hate ideology targeting Israel. An upcoming training aims to equip individuals to combat it. Continue Reading
• Shuffle, Deal, and Connect: The Inaugural Canasta Game Night (5/17/2026) - The Boulder JCC is hosting its 1st Annual Canasta Game Night on May 20, featuring dinner, card play, and opportunities for community connection. Registration is $54. Continue Reading