Latest news with #Shavuot
CBS News
2 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Boulder, Colorado Jewish community continues holiday services, responds to attack on Pearl Street
In the aftermath of Sunday's attack on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, the Jewish community is coming together amid an outpouring of support. Twelve people were injured in the attack, and the suspect remains in custody, facing several felony charges along with federal hate crime charges. Crime scene tape remained on the part of Pearl Street where the attack happened in Boulder, Colorado. CBS The suspect has been accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at members of the group Run for Their Lives on Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder on Sunday afternoon. It was that day that Rabbi Fred Greene found out members of the Jewish community in Boulder had been attacked by a man who said he planned to kill those who marched for Israeli hostages. "He gave me a call on my cell phone at home, and he said, 'There was just an incident. I'm here on Pearl Street. Someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the walkers," said Greene. "I started working with a couple of other rabbis to figure out what do we need to do to take care of our community." As survivors were treated for their injuries, congregations came together. They were already set to begin marking the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, but now with a cloud of grief. Shavuot is a Jewish holiday, one of the biblically ordained Three Pilgrimage Festivals, and this year it is from June 1 through June 3. Boulder, Colorado. CBS "We held some space, we gave opportunities for people to share, listen, and ask for help. And to pray and sing. And just to be together," said Greene. Brandon Knaster and his family traveled from Denver to a Chabad in Boulder for the chance to be with friends and pray together. "My first instinct was to continue the holiday and be up here with close friends," said Knaster. "You can't be afraid, the holidays are still going to continue." As so many others continue to do, he turned toward his Jewish community in this time of need. "No matter what happens around us, the Jewish holidays are still going to be here, the Jewish people are still going to be here," said Knaster. Greene continues to push for a better future, one where holiday celebrations may not need any armed security. Brandon Knaster and his family in Boulder. CBS "I can't make a safe space. I wish I could. But I'm committed to making a brave space," said Greene. "I know the Jewish community is going to continue a strong presence... it might have to change, but I'm not going to let anyone rob me of my hope for a better future." Another Jewish woman, Malky Allouch, was celebrating the holiday at the Boulder Center for Judaism. She couldn't be on camera due to holiday observations but shared off camera, "That's the ultimate revenge against people who want you dead, is living more Jewish, boldly, and being proud."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Huckabee condemns efforts to erase Jewish history to the Holy Land as ‘absurd'
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stressed the importance of acknowledging the Jewish people's historic connection to the Land of Israel, describing global efforts to deny this link as "absurd." "First of all, archeology is a daily reminder of the connection between this land and the Jewish people going all the way back to 3,500 to 3,800 years, whether it's Shilo, whether it's Jerusalem," Huckabee told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview in Jerusalem on Thursday. His comments came as Jews worldwide celebrate Shavuot, the biblical holiday commemorating God's giving of the Torah to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Battle For Biblical Archaeology Intensifies As Israeli Researchers Face Academic Boycott Huckabee pointed to archaeological evidence as strong support for the biblical account. "The excavations at the City of David alone are a validation of the biblical record of what really did happen here. Sometimes people on the far-left love to say 'follow the science, follow the science,' and I would say to them, as it relates to the land and the connections to the Jewish people, follow the science of archaeology." The remarks come amid an ongoing diplomatic war by the Palestinian Authority — which was granted non-member observer state status at the United Nations in 2012 — to revise historical narratives in international forums where anti-Israel majorities are common. Read On The Fox News App For example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2016 registered the Cave of the Patriarchs — the burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca and Leah, located in Hebron—under the name of the "State of Palestine" on its "List of World Heritage in Danger." Rare 2,300-Year-old Gold Ring Discovered In Jerusalem's City Of David In a separate move, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution in 2021 referring to the Temple Mount — Judaism's holiest site, located in Jerusalem but beyond the 1967 borders — solely by its Islamic name, "Haram al-Sharif." "For 20 years, I have been pushing back against an effort from the PA, Hamas, European-funded anti-Israel NGOs, and the U.N. to try and prevent excavations from coming to life," said Doron Spielman, author of the new book "When the Stones Speak: The Remarkable Discovery of the City of David and What Israel's Enemies Don't Want You to Know," a book that shows the historical and indigenous connection to the Holy Land of the Jews. "There are thousands of discoveries that prove the connection of the Jewish people to the biblical heartland, but in particular the clay seal impressions of Yehuchal—the son of Shelemiah—and Gedaliah—the son of Pashur—that were found at the site believed to be King David's palace," explained Spielman. "They are directly quoted in the Bible as having attempted to kill the prophet Jeremiah." In 2008, Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar revealed the discovery of a clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name Gedaliah, son of Pashhur. The artifact was unearthed during a dig in the City of David, located just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The bulla was found close to where, in 2005, a similar seal inscribed with the name Yehuchal had been discovered. Both individuals are known from the bible as officials who served under King Zedekiah, the final monarch of the Kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in 587 B.C. Leading Evangelicals In Push To Have President Trump Recognize Israeli Sovereignty Over 'Biblical Heartland' "The bullas can be seen, they are on display at the Israel Museum and in traveling exhibitions. They have gone from one side of the world to the other because the Palestinians created a narrative attempting to erase any connection between Jews, and by extension Christians, to the Land of Israel," continued Spielman. Huckabee emphasized that archaeological discoveries continue to affirm the scriptural narrative connecting the Jewish people to the land. "Every time some new discovery is unearthed it validates the biblical record, so the proof is pretty strong that that connection is not something that goes back to 1948 or 1917 the Balfour Declaration - it goes all the way back to the time of Abraham. That's pretty far back," he said. For his part, Spielman voiced concern that the message isn't resonating with the mainstream, particularly among younger generations. "On campuses in the U.S., people are chanting 'From the River to the Sea,' and calling the Jews colonizers," he said, in reference to the mantra calling for the "liberation" of "Palestine" through the elimination of Israel. "This expression comes from people taught to believe that the Jews have no connection to the Land of Israel, and I'm fearful because it leads to violence. When people come to erase your history, they are on their way to trying to erase you as a nation. "We have seen it before and if we do not stop the trend, it will happen again," he article source: Huckabee condemns efforts to erase Jewish history to the Holy Land as 'absurd'
Boston Globe
4 hours ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Boulder suspect backed off his initial plan to kill all in a group he called ‘Zionist,' police say
The 45-year-old Soliman — whose first name also was spelled Mohammed in some court documents — planned the attack for more than a year and specifically targeted what he described as a 'Zionist group,' authorities said in court papers charging him with a federal hate crime. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'When he was interviewed about the attack, he said he wanted them all to die, he had no regrets and he would go back and do it again,' Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell for the District of Colorado said during a news conference Monday. Advertisement Federal and state prosecutors filed separate criminal cases against Soliman, charging him with a hate crime and attempted murder, respectively. He faces additional state charges related to the incendiary devices, and more charges are possible in federal court, where the Justice Department will seek a grand jury indictment. Advertisement Soliman is being held on a $10 million, cash-only bond, prosecutors said. His next court hearing is set for Thursday. An FBI affidavit says Soliman told the police he was driven by a desire 'to kill all Zionist people,' a reference to the movement to establish and protect a Jewish state in Israel. Soliman's attorney, public defender Kathryn Herold, declined to comment after the hearing. Soliman was living in the US illegally after entering the country in August 2022 on a B2 visa that expired in February 2023, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a post on the social platform X. The burst of violence at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder unfolded against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, which continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. The attack happened on the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and barely a week after a man who also yelled 'Free Palestine' was charged with fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staffers outside a Jewish museum in Washington. Six victims hospitalized The victims who were wounded range in age from 52 to 88, and the injuries spanned from serious to minor, officials said. Six of the injured were taken to hospitals, and four have since been released, said Miri Kornfeld, a Denver-based organizer connected to the group. She said the clothing of one of those who remains hospitalized caught on fire. Members of the volunteer group called Run For Their Lives were holding their weekly demonstration when the attack happened. Video from the scene captured by witness Alex Osante of San Diego shows people pouring water on a woman lying on the ground who Osante said had caught fire during the attack. Advertisement Molotov cocktails found Osante said that after the suspect threw the two incendiary devices, apparently catching himself on fire as he threw the second, he took off his shirt and what appeared to be a bulletproof vest before police arrived. The man dropped to the ground and was arrested without any apparent resistance in the video Osante filmed. The Molotov cocktails were made up of glass wine carafe bottles or jars with clear liquid and red rags hanging out of the them, the FBI said. 'He stated that he had been planning the attack for a year and was waiting until after his daughter graduated to conduct the attack,' the affidavit says. He had gas in a backpack sprayer but told investigators he didn't spray it on anyone but himself 'because he had planned on dying.' Soliman also told investigators he took a concealed carry class and tried to buy a gun but was denied because he is not a legal US citizen. Suspect hospitalized after attack Authorities said they believe Soliman acted alone. He was also injured and taken to a hospital. Authorities did not elaborate on the nature of his injuries, but a booking photo showed him with a large bandage over one ear. Soliman, who was born in Egypt, moved three years ago to Colorado Springs, where he lived with his wife and five kids, according to state court documents. He previously spent 17 years living in Kuwait. McLaughlin said Soliman filed for asylum in September 2022 and was granted a work authorization in March 2023 that had expired. DHS did not respond to requests for additional information. Advertisement
Fox News
5 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Huckabee condemns efforts to erase Jewish history to the Holy Land as ‘absurd'
EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stressed the importance of acknowledging the Jewish people's historic connection to the Land of Israel, describing global efforts to deny this link as "absurd." "First of all, archeology is a daily reminder of the connection between this land and the Jewish people going all the way back to 3,500 to 3,800 years, whether it's Shilo, whether it's Jerusalem," Huckabee told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview in Jerusalem on Thursday. His comments came as Jews worldwide celebrate Shavuot, the biblical holiday commemorating God's giving of the Torah to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Huckabee pointed to archaeological evidence as strong support for the biblical account. "The excavations at the City of David alone are a validation of the biblical record of what really did happen here. Sometimes people on the far-left love to say 'follow the science, follow the science,' and I would say to them, as it relates to the land and the connections to the Jewish people, follow the science of archaeology." The remarks come amid an ongoing diplomatic war by the Palestinian Authority — which was granted non-member observer state status at the United Nations in 2012 — to revise historical narratives in international forums where anti-Israel majorities are common. For example, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2016 registered the Cave of the Patriarchs — the burial site of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives Sarah, Rebecca and Leah, located in Hebron—under the name of the "State of Palestine" on its "List of World Heritage in Danger." In a separate move, the U.N. General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution in 2021 referring to the Temple Mount — Judaism's holiest site, located in Jerusalem but beyond the 1967 borders — solely by its Islamic name, "Haram al-Sharif." "For 20 years, I have been pushing back against an effort from the PA, Hamas, European-funded anti-Israel NGOs, and the U.N. to try and prevent excavations from coming to life," said Doron Spielman, author of the new book "When the Stones Speak: The Remarkable Discovery of the City of David and What Israel's Enemies Don't Want You to Know," a book that shows the historical and indigenous connection to the Holy Land of the Jews. "There are thousands of discoveries that prove the connection of the Jewish people to the biblical heartland, but in particular the clay seal impressions of Yehuchal—the son of Shelemiah—and Gedaliah—the son of Pashur—that were found at the site believed to be King David's palace," explained Spielman. "They are directly quoted in the Bible as having attempted to kill the prophet Jeremiah." In 2008, Israeli archaeologist Eilat Mazar revealed the discovery of a clay seal impression, or bulla, bearing the name Gedaliah, son of Pashhur. The artifact was unearthed during a dig in the City of David, located just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The bulla was found close to where, in 2005, a similar seal inscribed with the name Yehuchal had been discovered. Both individuals are known from the bible as officials who served under King Zedekiah, the final monarch of the Kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple in 587 B.C. "The bullas can be seen, they are on display at the Israel Museum and in traveling exhibitions. They have gone from one side of the world to the other because the Palestinians created a narrative attempting to erase any connection between Jews, and by extension Christians, to the Land of Israel," continued Spielman. Huckabee emphasized that archaeological discoveries continue to affirm the scriptural narrative connecting the Jewish people to the land. "Every time some new discovery is unearthed it validates the biblical record, so the proof is pretty strong that that connection is not something that goes back to 1948 or 1917 the Balfour Declaration - it goes all the way back to the time of Abraham. That's pretty far back," he said. For his part, Spielman voiced concern that the message isn't resonating with the mainstream, particularly among younger generations. "On campuses in the U.S., people are chanting 'From the River to the Sea,' and calling the Jews colonizers," he said, in reference to the mantra calling for the "liberation" of "Palestine" through the elimination of Israel. "This expression comes from people taught to believe that the Jews have no connection to the Land of Israel, and I'm fearful because it leads to violence. When people come to erase your history, they are on their way to trying to erase you as a nation. "We have seen it before and if we do not stop the trend, it will happen again," he added.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Antisemitism is real': US leaders condemn attack on Colorado rally for Israeli hostages
Political leaders across the US have condemned what they describe as a horrific, antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, after a man allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and incendiary devices to target people at a rally calling for the release of the hostages held by Hamas. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly shouting 'Free Palestine' as he attacked the crowd on Sunday. The incident occurred during an event organized by Run for Their Lives, a group that aims to draw attention to people taken hostage following Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023. The FBI is treating the attack as an 'act of terrorism', with Pam Bondi, the attorney general, saying that 'FBI agents are on the ground in Colorado following what appears to be a horrific antisemitic attack'. Hakeem Jeffries described the incident as targeting 'the Jewish community in America' and called it an 'unconscionable act of terror'. The House Democratic leader posted on X: 'As residents of Boulder gathered on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot to raise awareness for the hostages still being held captive in Gaza, the peacefulness of their assembly was shattered.' Many of Colorado's politicians denounced the attack. Jason Crow, a Democratic representative, characterized the attack as 'targeted political violence at the Jewish community meant to spread fear', adding: 'Antisemitism is real. Sadly, it's on the rise in America.' Another Colorado representative, Lauren Boebert, linked the attack to broader pro-Palestine rhetoric, saying: 'When progressives allow and encourage hate speech toward Jews for their mere existence, people get hurt.' She called for the incident to be investigated 'as an act of targeted terrorism'. Michael Bennet, Colorado's Democratic senator, said he and his wife were 'praying for the victims of today's horrific antisemitic attack against Coloradans marching peacefully in support of the hostages Hamas has held in Gaza for over 600 days'. Joe Neguse, a representative of Colorado, said the attack demonstrated how 'the scourge of antisemitism has metastasized across our country', calling for more to 'stop this violence'. The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, close to the University of Colorado, on Sunday afternoon. Four women and four men, aged between 52 and 88, were transported to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to 'very serious', according to Boulder police. CNN, citing law enforcement officials, reported that Soliman arrived in the US in August 2022 as a non-immigrant visitor. It reported that the officials said he was granted a work authorization in March 2023, which expired at the end of March this year, more than two months into Trump's presidency. Soliman had previously applied for asylum in the US, CNN reported. He was denied a visa to enter the country in 2005. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, described Soliman as 'an illegal alien' who had been 'granted a tourist visa by the Biden administration' before overstaying. The Boulder attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the US since the outset of the Israel-Gaza war. On 21 May, a shooter killed two Israeli embassy employees in Washington after attending an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. Pro-Palestinian protesters have also been targeted, most notably at UCLA in April 2024 when counter-protesters attacked demonstrators with pepper spray, sticks and fireworks, injuring at least 15-16 people and requiring some hospitalizations. In December 2023, a man fired at three Palestinian students while they were walking down the street near their university in Vermont and wearing keffiyehs, with two sustaining injuries and one now paralyzed from the waist down. Officials said there was no indication that Sunday's attack was associated with any organized group. Soliman has been booked into Boulder county jail and has a hearing scheduled for Monday afternoon. In their latest annual reports, the Anti-Defamation League says it has tabulated 9,354 antisemitic incidents over the last year, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations says it counted 8,658 complaints in the same span. Both organizations say it is the highest number of incidents in their respective histories.
