The morning after the Colorado attack feels different. The air is colder, the silence heavier, and above all – an oppressive sense of helplessness weighs down.
The attack that occurred here, which was so cynically aimed at peace-seeking demonstrators who came to raise their voices for the release of hostages and for an end to suffering and fighting, left a deep scar on our community's soul.
I arrived in Denver 15 years ago. I always felt safe. I never hesitated to show that I am Israeli and that I am Jewish. The children go to public school wearing necklaces with their names in Hebrew. They are filled with pride and faith in the righteousness of our path.
At the same time, the fears that are surfacing in the Jewish community here are not entirely new, but they have taken on a different dimension since October 7 and the war in Gaza. Until then, we could sometimes feel protected, relatively distant from the complex reality of the Middle East. Since then, life has changed. Antisemitism has become more blatant and public, walking with a kippah or Star of David on the street requires second thought, when attacks or violent incidents against Jews or Israel supporters in the Western world are no longer paranoia – they are a real thing that happens and frightens us all. This is a tangible fear like never before – will the safe home we knew remain so?
The connection to events in Israel is stronger than ever. The pain of our people in Israel, the sense of the country's vulnerability, directly affects our sense of security in the diaspora. We feel the rising waves of antisemitism, and sometimes it seems that the discourse has become so extreme that anyone who identifies with Israel, even at the most basic level, even one who calls for peace – becomes a target. Yet, alongside the pain and fear, we must not lose hope.
The attack in Boulder, like any other attack, was designed to sow fear and despair. But as a community, we are stronger. The rapid mobilization of security forces, to whom we give heartfelt thanks for their excellent operation that prevented a greater tragedy, is a reminder that we are not alone. We will continue to support each other and the Land of Israel and the entire Jewish people. The Jewish people have faced many challenges throughout history, and this time too we will emerge stronger. Our spirit will not be broken. We will continue to live, flourish and thrive.
