Weekly Edition: Juneteenth, 2026

Shabbat shalom, and happy Juneteenth to those celebrating!

This week, we learned of a federal civil rights complaint filed by the Anti-Defamation League against the Boulder Valley School District in response to alleged antisemitic harassment at Southern Hills Middle School. Jonathan Lev and David Paul of the Boulder JCC issued a statement about the situation on behalf of the community, and urged community members to report incidents and provided instructions on how to do so.

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 are now getting ready to leave 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

• Column: Florida Republicans Exploit Black-Jewish Tensions (6/18/2026) - Florida Republicans have redrawn congressional maps to weaken Democratic representation, raising concerns about racial tensions and potential antisemitism against Jewish candidates like Wasserman Schultz and Moskowitz. Continue Reading
• Letter: “Poison Her A** Slowly.” What Divestment from Israel Actually Means (6/18/2026) - Eight University of Michigan students have been indicted for threatening to poison an individual, witness intimidation, and many other conspiratorial violent acts while using "divestment from Israel" as a cover. Continue Reading
• Boulder JCC Issues Statement on ADL-BVSD Antisemitism Suit (6/17/2026) - On behalf of our community, we are profoundly grateful to the ADL for their swift action and unwavering support of this local family and our community. We stand firmly with them in demanding accountability and systemic change. Continue Reading
• ADL Files Title VI Complaint Against BVSD, Alleging Severe Antisemitic Harassment, Physical Assault and District Inaction (6/16/2026) - ADL has filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging a Jewish student was subjected to persistent, escalating and severe antisemitic harassment and assault while enrolled in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) in Boulder, Colorado. Continue Reading
• Renée Rockford to Transition from Day-to-Day Leadership of JEWISHcolorado at End of 2026 (6/16/2026) - JEWISHcolorado's President & CEO Renée Rockford will transition from daily leadership by the end of 2026, remaining an advisor and supporting the Generations Endowment Campaign. Continue Reading
• Letter: Palestinians More Interested in Destroying than Building (6/16/2026) - If only Palestinians were working toward living the American dream--building better lives for their children, having a country of their own where they could speak freely and participate in free and fair elections, and co-existing, peacefully, with their neighbors-- what a wonderful world it would be. Continue Reading

Jewish Life

• Hot Jew Summer 5786 (6/18/2026) - Joshua Kail humorously discusses how Judaism's summer practices are outdated, advocating for modernization through new prayers, holidays, and food that reflects the heat and vitality of contemporary life. Continue Reading
• Quinn and Nova Bnai Mitzvah (6/17/2026) - On Saturday, June 13th, 2026, Quinn and Nova were called to the Torah as Bnai Mitzvah with Adventure Judaism. Continue Reading
• Baruch Dayan HaEmet – Jacob Rubin Wiese z”l (6/17/2026) - Jacob Rubin Wiese, son of Janice Rubin & Charles Wiese and husband of Andria, was killed in a military training accident on June 13, 2026. Continue Reading

Arts and Culture

• Celebrate America at 250 with Two Films Highlighting Jewish History (6/18/2026) - In celebration of America at 250, the Boulder JCC presents two films illuminating Jewish contributions to our new nation’s history on Tuesday, July 28 at the Dairy Arts Center’s Boedecker Theater. Join Boulder Jewish Film Festival founding director Kathryn Bernheimer and guests to view and discuss two festival favorites that shed light on unfamiliar chapters… Continue Reading

Events

• Tools for Understanding Gender Identity: Dr. Susan Trout to Lead Supportive Community Lecture (6/17/2026) - An enlightening lecture on gender identity by Dr. Susan Trout will offer frameworks for understanding distinctions between gender identity and sexual orientation on June 22, at the Boulder JCC. Continue Reading