Bulder’s attack renews safety concerns for American Jewish societies

On Sunday, a group gathered in Bulder, Colorado, was increased awareness of the hostages held in Gaza, leaving 12 people.

The suspect, Muhammad Sabri Suleiman, is accused of throwing Folk devices In them, he is allegedly planning to attack for a year, and the police told that he wanted to “kill all Zionism,” according to court documents.

This was the latest in a series of attacks against the people and Jewish institutions, which increased the anxiety between the Jewish community in North America who see these incidents as signs of increasing hostility in the United States.

The rock attack occurred just weeks after the suspect was shot A couple was killed outside the Jewish Capitol Museum in Washington, DC. It was later identified as employees of the Israeli embassy who were attending an event in the museum. In April, and Official residency of the governor of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro was shot, Just hours after the Jewish legislator celebrated the first night of Easter.

“The Jews feel more influential and fear than they were two weeks ago, or that the concerns that existed in some societies a few weeks ago increased,” said Adina Vogel Ayalon from Jaza.

Ms. Ayalon said: “These types of hate crimes are not distinguished between the place where the political spectrum is around the war” between Israel and Hamas. “This is very annoying.”

Israel faced continuous international criticism about its military actions in Gaza, which it pledged after he attacked Hamas on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people – most of them civilians – and took 251 hostages.

more 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the warAccording to the Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas in the region. The statistics between civilians and Hamas fighters are not distinguished, and the BBC and other international media organizations are banned by Israel from entering Gaza to verify.

However, the United Nations report evaluated the death of Ghazan within a six -month period Nearly 70 % of the verified victims were women and children. Throughout the conflict, human rights experts have sparked a warning of hunger, disease and displacement on a large scale inside Gaza.

The war has also become a divisive political issue in the United States. The protests supporting the Palestinian women through the campus and major cities have sparked larger discussions on education and freedom of expression. there A religious division, an army, and a party within the American Jewish community On the support of Israel and the question of the Palestinian state.

But the attacks in Buldand and Washington, DC, struck a wider nerve because they crossed a “clear red line between free freedom of expression and political violence,” said Ms. Ayalon.

Bulder’s attack attracted a condemnation outside the Jewish community.

“The acts of anti -Semitism have no place in our society,” the Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned the Bulder’s attack in a statement. “This violent attack is not just an attack on a specific society, but rather 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 support the sanctity of every human life.”

The target group in Bulder, nominated for their lives, holds weekly meetings and marches throughout the country to call for the release of the remaining hostages who were captured to Gaza.

“The group’s hypothesis is to raise awareness of the hostage of the hostages. We are not politicians, we are not protesting anything,” said international coordinator Shira Weiss.

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

“We get people from all aspects of life – who vote for Republicans, independents, democrats, who support the Israeli government, or do not support the Israeli government.”

She said that safety has always been a top priority for group seasons, but they “never thought that such a violent attack would happen.”

Jewish societies and institutions throughout the United States have been safe for a long time, but many of them have strengthened their defenses after the shooter adopts the theories of anti -Semitic right -wing conspiracy. 11 worshipers were killed in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, the synagogue in 2018. Next April, another shooter He attacked a church in Bawi, California, One person was killed and three others were injured.

These conversations take place again in the wake of Bulder’s incident.

“The attacks, especially given the succession of the attacks in a short period of time, have made every Jewish American question their security, whether their personal security or the security of the Jewish institutions they visit,” said Haley Sofer, CEO of the American Jewish Democratic Council.

“There is a feeling that what happened in the capital and Buldar could happen anywhere, could happen to anyone.”

Colorado Jewish Organization has announced the collection of donations to support the increase in security for the Jewish community, as well as financial support and shocks of the victims of the attack. Its goal is $ 160,000.

The Rabbi of Dan Moskovitz from Timbel Schulom in Vancouver, Canada often joins their life events and plans to continue calling for hostages in Gaza.

But it worries that the rock attack will not be an isolated accident.

“It will lead to more extremism,” he said. “More people will not only inspire these things.”