A man attacked and burned 12 people with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower during a peaceful June 1 march in Boulder, CO, calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The victims ranged in age from 67 to 88, and several were hospitalized, one with life-threatening injuries. Arrested was Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, who was pointed out to law enforcement officers by witnesses. Witnesses described a horrific scene at a plaza [...]

Israel marked Day 600 of the Israel-Hamas War at 6:29 a.m. — the same time that Hamas launched its Oct. 7, 2023 attack — by gathering in various spots across the country to form human displays of the yellow ribbon hostage symbol.                                                                                                            Times of Israel photo

On the steps of the U.S. Capitol on June 10, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a vigil in memory of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, who were murdered last month outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Jewish Insider photo

When Temple B’Nai Israel in White Oak, PA, held its final Shabbat service in April after 113 years, it felt like the end of the line. But for Nik Jakobs, a 40-year-old rancher from rural Illinois, it was a call to action. Jakobs offered to relocate as much of the synagogue’s sacred materials as he could — the Torah, and even the stained-glass windows — to Sterling, Ill., where he’s planning to build a new [...]

For moving, inspirational writing, The Shofar can recommend none batter than an article by Isabel Kershner in the Wednesday, June 11, issue of The New York Times. Check your local library for an archived copy. The story centers on Omer Shem Tov, who was 20 years old when gunmen seized him during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. He had grown up in a largely secular home, and was captured while fleeing the [...]

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) announced on June 23 it would allocate $10 million in emergency funding to meet the needs of Israeli Jews. The JFNA, the umbrella group for 141 Jewish federations across the United States and Canada, said that the money comes from its Israel Emergency Fund set up in the days after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attach on Israel. Since that attack, the JFNA has raised $897 million from [...]