Latest news with #JonathanLev
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Boulder Jewish Festival adding extra security one week after Pearl Street attack
DENVER (KDVR) — One week after the attack in Boulder, the Jewish community in town is set to host its biggest event of the year, the annual Jewish Festival. Things may look a little different this year, with a much larger police presence expected. Friends hunt storms in Colorado on Friday This year is the 30th anniversary of the Jewish Festival in Boulder. While there was discussion about the festival even happening and how it can be kept safe, community leaders decided the 30th iteration of the event is the most important one yet. 'It's always been called the best Sunday in June,' said Jonathan Lev, executive director of the Boulder Jewish Community Center. A day of Jewish celebration is now coming only a week after a day of Jewish pain. 'The attacks on last Sunday put into question whether that festival was possible,' said Lev. Lev called it a 'long, short time' that they had to decide on whether the festival was even possible. Three factors played into keeping it going: the first was immediately apparent when talking to community members. 'The Jewish community really needed this festival and needed an opportunity to come together,' he said. The second factor was coming together safely. The festival averages 10,000 to 15,000 people a year, and he expects that total to be significantly higher this year. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said on Thursday that those kinds of crowds will require more of his staff. 'You will see a large police presence,' said Redfearn. 'You will see our partner agencies, you will see us there ready to protect that event to ensure that people can grieve and recover from this attack safely and peacefully.' He said just being there isn't enough, though, and asks for community help as well. 'We need all eyes and ears out there to help look for things that may not be right and let us know so we can address them,' said Redfearn. With safety settled, the final factor was including the organization Run for Their Lives as part of the festivities, which will now be a focal point of the day. Pothole that formed in under 30 minutes causes backups on I-70: CDOT 'All three of those things came together in a beautiful way,' said Lev. A beautiful way, he said, to provide necessary healing. 'We need to be able to both have Jewish joy and experience our Jewish pain together,' said Lev. The Jewish Festival will be on Pearl Street Mall between 13th Street and 14th Street this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Boulder Jewish community unites in support of each other after attack, prepares for festival at Colorado site of antisemitic attack
Following Sunday's antisemitic attack in Boulder, the Jewish community has come together to support each other, and one of the places that's been an anchor is the Boulder Jewish Community Center. CBS On Tuesday afternoon, a group of women gathered there to play Mahjong, a game that's popular amongst the Jewish community. It's something they've been doing for decades. After the attack, the sense of community they gain from it is important. "I think it does help. Community definitely helps," said one of the women. "It's the history of Judaism because even with the Holocaust situation years ago, they kept their faith as best they could," another added. Over the last couple of days, the Boulder JCC has been a safe space for people of all ages to come. "People are coming in, and at the same time, we're providing space for them to actually connect," said executive director Jonathan Lev. "There's not one thing that I can say 'the Jewish community is feeling this,' but what I know is that they're feeling a tremendous amount, and we're here to support them." Boulder JCC Executive Director Jonathan Lev CBS For Lev, Sunday's attack was both deeply painful and personal. "The victims are pillars of this community, and there's not a place in in the fabric of what makes up the Boulder Jewish community that they are not part of," said Lev. "And so while many people don't even know who the victims are right now, it's important to know that they are core members of what makes this community so special, and they're people who I know personally." While he's supporting folks at the JCC, Lev says he's also communicating with leaders at every level, including state, national and international about how the community can be better and to stop what he calls harmful rhetoric. "We know when rhetoric turns to antisemitism, Jew hate or directed against the Jewish people or individuals. We know that that leads to violence, and we need that to stop. We can also be an example to other communities of how that might be possible. And now's the time. We can't wait. The Jewish people can't wait at all. We need it to happen now," Lev said. CBS Colorado's Chierstin Susel interviews Boulder JCC Executive Director Jonathan Lev. CBS On Sunday, June 8, the JCC will host its annual Boulder Jewish Festival right on Pearl Street where the terror attack happened. "It's both significant and extremely hard that the Boulder Jewish festival is on that site, and it's part of the reason why the very nature of what the Jewish Festival is is being reimagined and deeply thought about, to try to understand and connect with people who are feeling all different types of things, so that there's something for everyone. But there's also a way for the broad community to come together and show their support and love of the community right now, because we need it," Lev said. Run For Their Lives was the group targeted in the attack while walking to bring awareness to the hostages that remain in Gaza. Lev says that the group will also return on Sunday to continue their mission.
