Boulder’s attack renews safety concerns for us Jewish communities

On Sunday, a group gathered in Boulder, Colorado, to raise awareness of hostages held in Gaza, was attacked, leaving 12 people injured.

Suspect, Mohammed Sabri Soliman, accused of throwing ignition devices They claim to have planned the attack for a year and told police that he wanted to “kill all Zionist people,” according to court documents.

It was the most in a series of attacks on Jewish people and institutions, provoking concern among those in the Jewish community of North America, who regard these incidents as signs of increasing anti -Semitism in the United States.

Boulder’s attack happened just weeks after a suspected shot and She killed a couple outside the Jewish Museum of Capitol in Washington, Colombia. Later, they were identified as employees of the Israeli Embassy who attended an event at the museum. In April, The Official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire, Just hours after the Jewish legislator celebrated Passover’s first night.

“The Jews have the impact and are more afraid of two weeks ago, or that the fears that exist in some communities a few weeks ago are more intense,” says Adina Vogel Ayanon from J.

“These types of hatred crimes do not distinguish where you come across the political spectrum for the war” between Israel and Hamas, “said Ayalon. “And that’s something very disturbing.”

Israel is confronted with a sustainable international criticism of his military action in Gaza, which he took after Hamas attacked the country on October 7, 2023, killing about 1200 people – mostly civilians – and took 251 hostages.

Over 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the warAccording to the health ministry in Hamas. Statistics do not distinguish between Hamas civilians and fighters, and the BBC and other international media organizations have been blocked by Israel from entering the Gaza for inspection.

But a report of the United Nations organization, which evaluates Gazan’s death during the six -month -old period Nearly 70% of the victims audited are women and childrenS During the conflict, human rights experts raised the alarm of widespread hunger, diseases and displacement within the gas.

The war has also become a dividing political issue in the United States. Propalist protests in university campuses and in major cities have lit greater debates on education and freedom of expression. Have Religious, generations and guerrillas split into the American Jewish community Concerning the support for Israel and the issue of Palestinian statehood.

But the attacks in Boulder and Washington struck a wider nerve because they passed a “clear red line between the legitimate free speech and political violence,” said Gia Ayyalon.

Boulder’s attack has attracted a condemnation beyond the Jewish community.

“Acts of anti -Semitism have no place in our society,” the Council of Muslim public issues condemned Boulder’s attack in a statement. “This forced attack is not only an attack on a particular community, but also a direct threat to the values ​​of pluralism, dignity and safety for all people of faith. As Muslims, our faith calls us to speak against injustice and to maintain the holiness of every human life.”

The Boulder Group is running for their lives, holding weekly meetings and marches across the country to call for the release of other hostages made in Gaza.

“The group’s prerequisite is to raise the awareness of the hostages peacefully. We are apolitical, we are not protesting against anything,” said the global coordinator Shira Weiss.

Many members of the group are Jewish and support Israel, but these are not requirements for participation.

“We receive people from all spheres of life – who vote on a Republican, independent, Democrat who support the Israeli government or do not support the Israeli government,” said Gia Weiss.

Safety has always been a top priority for group heads, she said, but they “never thought that such a violent attack would happen.”

Jewish communities and institutions in the United States have long demanded security, but many have strengthened their defense after the Sagittarius supporting the right anti -Semitic conspiracy theories Killed 11 pilgrims in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Synagogue in 2018. Next April, another shooter Attacked the synagogue in Poway, California, Killing one person and injuring the other three.

These conversations happen again after the Boulder incident.

“The attacks, especially given the sequence of attacks for a short period of time, have made every Jewish American questioned their security, whether it is their personal security or the security of the Jewish institutions they visit,” said Hali Sifffer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

“There is a feeling that what happened to DC and Boulder could happen everywhere, it could happen to anyone.”

The Jewish organization in Colorado has announced a fundraising to support the increased security of the Jewish community of Boulder, as well as a financial and trauma for victims of the attack. Its goal is $ 160,000.

Rabbi Dan Moskovitz of Temple Sholom in Vancouver, Canada, often joins his events in life and plans to continue to advocate for the hostages in Gaza.

But he worried that Boulder’s attack would not be an isolated incident.

“It will only ignite more radicalization,” he said. “This will only inspire more people to do these things.”