Jun. 4—Members of the local Jewish community packed into Boulder’s Jewish Community Center on Wednesday to sing and pray and hear from speakers who included three people who either witnessed or were burned during the recent Molotov cocktail attack on the Pearl Street Mall.

Organizers said the goal of the vigil was to honor survivors, support the Jewish community and stand united against antisemitism and hate.

“The real work, and it’s going to be work, let’s not kid ourselves, is when we turn toward the wilderness outside of these sacred walls in schools, workplaces, city halls and council chambers and keep marching hand in hand,” said Susan Rona, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s mountain states region.

Officials have identified 15 people, ranging in age from 25 to 88, who were harmed in the attack. All the victims are expected to survive, including three victims who were being treated at UCHealth University of Colorado’s burn unit, according to Boulder police.

The attack was directed at the Boulder chapter of Run for Their Lives during its weekly walk on the mall to raise awareness of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.

One of the men who was burned, who spoke anonymously, said he reconnected with his Jewish heritage through the Sunday Run for Their Lives walks. During Sunday’s attack, he heard a loud noise and felt the back of his legs burning, but “nothing seemed to be making sense.”

He said the last few days have been hard as the images of the attack keep replaying in his head, but he vowed to walk again.

Rachelle Halpern, a longtime participant in the walks, said she found solace from being with people with whom she didn’t need to explain how she felt after the hostages were taken.

“We became a family,” she said.

On Sunday, she said, she found a man carrying what looked like pesticide a little strange but didn’t register it as dangerous. Then there was a crash, a ball of fire, black smoke, screams, fire near her feet, she said, and “for a moment I thought I would go up in flames.”

While she wasn’t physically hurt, she added, “I don’t know what it did to my heart long term.”

Going forward, she asked for law enforcement to recognize the vulnerability of the Jewish community, for love and support from “every decent person” and for the Jewish community to demand that their rights are protected.

About 1,500 people registered to attend Wednesday’s vigil. Along with the standing-room-only crowd in the main gathering space, people watched from an overflow room and the courtyard.

Jonathan Lev, executive director of the Jewish Community Center, asked elected officials then clergy members and finally all the participants to stand.

“Even in our deepest pain, we have one another,” he said. “Tonight is not about thanks, even though we’re deeply grateful. Tonight is about heart, your heart, our heart. It’s about standing shoulder to shoulder in support of the victims, their families and every member of this beloved Jewish community.”

Speakers included Gov. Jared Polis; Boulder Run for Their Lives organizer Rachel Amaru; the consul general of Israel to the Pacific Southwest, Israel Bachar; and local Jewish clergy members. The program also included several readings, prayers and songs, ending by everyone singing “Hatikvah” while clasping hands. “Hatikvah” is the Israeli national anthem.

Polis said anti-semitism had no home in Colorado and decried an attack he described as targeting Jewish people for living Jewish lives.

“Tomorrow and every day after, we will let these events help us show up stronger and prouder,” he said.

Avraham Kornfeld, another Run for Their Lives walk participant, said the woman with the most serious injuries was walking with the group on her birthday and is the “sweetest soul.”

He had left the group shortly before the attack. He said he felt survivor’s guilt, for avoiding injury and for blocking people from approaching the attacker instead of more directly helping. But a friend changed his perspective by reminding him that keeping people away from danger is an important way to help.

He said the Boulder walks to remember the hostages will continue, starting Sunday.

“Life goes on, and that’s what we do. We sing ‘Hatikvah,’ and we carry on with the strength of community that’s come out today to support all of this.”

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