Ahead of Boulder’s municipal election on Nov. 3, the IJN sent a questionnaire to mayoral and City Council candidates. Six people are running for mayor. Three responded: Aaron Brockett (incumbent), Jamo Goldstein and Aquiles La Grave. Overall, candidates’ responses reflect an awareness about how serious the issue of anti-Semitism in Boulder is.

The Talmud, in tractate Sukkah, discusses constructing a sukkah on an elephant. The Biblical Museum of Natural History in Israel made it happen. “It’s hard to avoid talking about the elephant in the room, which is literally the elephant in the room,” said Rabbi Natan Slifkin, the museum director known as the “zoo rabbi.”

“Hateful words targeting Denver Jews wrongly demonizes Zionism” is the headline over an op-ed in the Denver Post, Sept. 20, 2026, by Scott Levin and Rabbi Joe Black. I have penned comments on this op-ed. I invited Scott Levin and Rabbi Black to respond. Their comments follow mine.

For 32 years, Esther Melamed has been the secular studies principal at Beth Jacob High School. That’s a lot of students she has seen and guided. Melamed estimates that over the years she has taught 800 to 900 graduates; a perfect background to bolster conversations about the 250th anniversary of the US and the future of America.

Rabbi Susan Miller Rheins’ passport has a lot of stamps: Eastern Europe, Morocco and Israel, of course.One place draws particular fascination. One place keeps calling her name. Cuba.

The Netherlands will return to the Eurovision Song Contest, overriding a broadcaster that withdrew over Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Dutch organization that oversees public broadcasting, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep, said on Sept. 23 that it will take over the country’s entry to Eurovision after Avrotros pulled out of the 2027 event in Burgas, Bulgaria.