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 [...]

Annual Event Attracts Thousands Of Marchers And Spectators On Sunday, May 18th, our congregation proudly marched up 5th Avenue in the annual Israel Day Parade as part of the Long Island cluster. The parade marked Israel’s 77th birthday and brought together an estimated 50,000 participants and spectators, making it one of the most meaningful and spirited events in recent memory. This year’s theme, “Hatikvah: The Hope,” resonated deeply. While the atmosphere was celebratory — with flags waving, music playing, [...]

On Monday, May 26, the annual Memorial Day Parade in Orient took place under clear skies and a spirit of reverence and remembrance. The parade began at the Orient Fire Department and wound its way through the surrounding roads, drawing a strong turnout of local residents and visitors. The event featured proud participation by the ROTC cadets, local clergy, and community leaders. Rabbi Gadi Capela offered a moving reflection at the World War II Memorial, [...]

Opening Reception: Sunday, June 8, at noon Celebrate 150 years of Jewish Communal Life in Nassau and Suffolk counties by visiting this illuminating exhibit of historic Torahs, books, documents, and artifacts collected from synagogues and private donors around Long Island. The exhibit is presented by the Jewish Historical Society of Long Island, and featured at the Suffolk County Historical Society Museum’s Weathervane Gallery, 300West Main Street, Riverhead, from June 8 through November 2025.

 “Is This Heaven Or Is It New Jersey?” By Alter Yisrael Shimon Feuerman (A baseball story excerpted from The Forward) We had wanted to go to the shore — 70 miles to the south — to watch the waves and the seagulls. Instead, my wife Ruchama and I drifted toward Brookdale Park, a leafy paradise in Montclair, NJ, just a few miles from the concrete and cobblestone of our gritty homebase of Jewish Passaic. Here [...]