Boulder attack was devastating — but unsurprising for some Jewish leaders

 

Jewish leaders across the United States say persistent misconceptions about their faith and identity are fueling a disturbing surge in antisemitic violence.

On a quiet Sunday afternoon in Boulder, Colorado, Stefanie Clarke was texting her best friend—another Jewish woman she met on a trip to Israel in 1990. The two were reflecting on how recent actions by the Israeli government have led to heightened hostility toward Jews worldwide. Just as Clarke was about to send another message, her phone buzzed with alarming news: an attack had just occurred on Pearl Street.

The victims were demonstrators raising awareness for hostages held in Gaza—part of a weekly event. At least 12 people were injured in the assault, which came on the heels of two other high-profile attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions. Two weeks prior, a gunman identified as Elias Rodriguez killed two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. About a month earlier, another suspect, Cody Balmer, allegedly set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence. Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is Jewish.

In all three incidents, the attackers expressed support for Palestinian rights—something Jewish leaders say has increasingly become a dangerous justification for hate crimes.

“There’s a tremendous amount of disinformation,” said Daniel Rosen, president of the American Jewish Congress. “This tragic war is being translated into violent rhetoric, and that rhetoric is being weaponized against Jews in America—people who have no control over a conflict on the other side of the world.”

In Washington, the gunman reportedly shouted “Free, free Palestine!” while opening fire. In Sunday’s Boulder attack, the suspect allegedly yelled “Free Palestine!” at the demonstrators. Authorities said the man behind the arson in Pennsylvania voiced outrage about the war in Gaza.

For Clarke, the rising hostility is chilling. “Burning Jews alive on the streets of Boulder is not going to save anybody in Gaza,” she said. “I don’t even have enough control to change policies in my own country—how am I responsible for what the Israeli government does?”

Clarke believes in the Jewish right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland but rejects the assumption that all Jews support Israeli policies. “Most Jews identify as Zionists—that doesn’t mean we support the current government. I’ve never heard a fellow Jew justify what’s happening in Gaza. It breaks our hearts. Watching innocent people suffer is unbearable.”

In the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks—which killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the kidnapping of hundreds—Jewish communities across the U.S. have been on heightened alert. In Denver, Temple Emanuel has employed armed guards since 2020. Now, every service begins with a review of emergency exits and evacuation plans.

“I hate that we have to spend this kind of money on security,” said Senior Rabbi Joseph Black. “But we have no choice.”

Despite these precautions, Rabbi Black said many congregants reached out after Sunday’s violence, fearful about attending upcoming services and events. He noted that while frustration with Israeli policies is understandable, it is increasingly bleeding into antisemitism.

“This anger is expanding beyond the State of Israel and targeting the Jewish people. It’s tapping into an ancient hatred that has been with us for centuries.”

Still, Black praised Colorado officials for supporting the safety needs of Jewish communities and said he doesn’t place direct blame on elected leaders for the attacks.

Rosen, however, stressed that political and community leaders must improve social media monitoring to help detect threats before they turn violent. Investigators revealed that the Boulder suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, had been planning the attack for over a year. He now faces multiple charges, including federal hate crimes and state-level attempted murder. On Tuesday, authorities also detained members of Soliman’s family.

Former President Donald Trump condemned the attack as “horrific” but used the moment to criticize President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, claiming the suspect had remained in the U.S. on an expired visa due to lax enforcement.

Rabbi Black emphasized that these attacks reflect a deeper and enduring trauma. “The Jewish community is living with a constant sense of fear. Antisemitism has been around for thousands of years, and it’s not going away.”

“What we’re seeing now was always beneath the surface,” he said. “We saw it in Charlottesville. In Pittsburgh. In Washington, D.C. In Colleyville. And now here in Boulder. Sadly, I’m sure it will happen again.”