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Boulder’s Jewish community has been left shaken since the antisemitic terror attack on Pearl Street, which just last week claimed the life of victim Karen Diamond.

Since the attack, Boulder JCC’s Messinger Gallery has become something of a sanctuary. On its walls, artist Artie Sandstone’s new exhibit “Smile” beams with bright colors and funky little characters — a stark, but welcome contrast to the heaviness lingering outside its doors.

While the show wasn’t conceived as a response to tragedy, its timing has made it unexpectedly resonant.

“I can’t tell you how many people have come through and just thanked me for putting something so joyful and bright into that space,” Sandstone said.

For visitors still processing grief from the hate crime, “Smile” has offered a new kind of solace: a reminder, in Sandstone’s words, to “stop, smile and wonder.”

On view now at the Messinger Gallery inside the JCC, 6007 Oreg Ave., “Smile” features a colorful selection of works by Sandstone, a Boulder-based pop artist whose technicolor canvases and whimsical characters invite viewers to check their woes at the door and let the weirdness wash over.

Joy Alice Eisenhauer, director of arts, culture and education at the Boulder JCC, first encountered Sandstone’s work in an unexpected setting — a coworking space.

“At the time, he had a studio set up inside this very modern marketing agency environment,” Eisenhauer said. “I remember how immediately striking his work felt, partly because of that contrast — here he was painting playful, chromatic pieces in the middle of this sleek, professional office. His art just stood out.”

However, Sandstone wasn’t quite sure the JCC would display his work.

As the Boulder JCC’s Jay and Rose Phillips Early Childhood Center wrapped up its school year, it also concluded its highly successful, thoughtfully curated, and inspiring Art Show in May 2025. The Early Childhood Center’s main meeting space, usually a hub of activities from food creations to tummy time, turned into a full-on art gallery experience with easels, display boards, labels, artist statements, and more! 

In the face of recent challenges both in Boulder and across the globe, the Jewish community continues to remain resilient and persevere—continuing to support one another, and discover moments of meaning and joy in the rhythms of everyday life. Whether through acts of service, education, or simply gathering in solidarity, the community demonstrates the power of coming together to create something greater than ourselves.

More than fifteen thousand people filled Pearl Street for the largest Boulder Jewish Festival in the event’s more than 30-year history—transforming what was planned as a celebration of culture into an unforgettable expression of strength, solidarity, and healing. Exactly one week after a violent antisemitic terror attack targeted peaceful demonstrators at the same site, the Jewish community and its allies showed the world: we are still here, and we are not backing down.

The day began with a community welcome and powerful remarks from faith leaders, activists, and family members of hostages still held in Gaza. Among the featured speakers were:One of the most emotional moments of the day came as thousands marched arm in arm through the heart of Boulder in the weekly Run for Their Lives walk, honoring the 55 hostages still held in Gaza and showing the world that peaceful resistance will not be silenced. The walk, always planned as part of this year’s festival, took on even deeper meaning and urgency following last week’s attack. The crowd stretched for blocks, united by grief, determination, and an unshakable belief in the dignity of every human life.

The program opened with moving remarks from Rabbi Marc Soloway of Congregation Bonai Shalom. “Our lives have changed in this last week.  We are hurt, sad, grieving, angry, and afraid. And yet we are deeply comforted by our resilience and the strength and love of this community, our beloved Jewish community, and the wider circles of friends, neighbors, faith leaders, and elected officials here and around the world.  We feel seen and we feel loved, and the gratitude that we have is part of our healing.” 

“Today, we showed the world what resilience looks like. What resistance looks like. What it means to be proudly, visibly Jewish in the face of fear and hatred. We gathered not only to share our culture and our joy—but to send a clear and unwavering message: Jew hate will not win; hate will not win,” said Jonathan Lev, Executive Director of the Boulder JCC. “What happened last week could have broken us. But instead, we came together. Stronger. Louder. More united than ever.”

Miami native Artie Sandstone is an energetic visionary pop artist with a gift for discovering pathways where others meet barriers and uncovering splashes of vibrant color where others see only specs of white.

At the intersection of pop art and whimsical storytelling, Artie’s work aims to evoke a sense of wonder, joy, and nostalgia in viewers of all ages. Artie is inspired by the colorful world around him and the boundless imagination of the inner child in all of us.

Artie’s artistic journey began with a deep appreciation for the pop art movement, which led him to explore vibrant colors, bold compositions, playful themes, and unique character-driven art. Drawing from popular culture and the wackiness of everyday life, Artie creates original artwork that resonates with a wide audience, inviting them to explore familiar subjects through a fresh, contemporary lens.

Artie’s inexhaustible passion for living each moment to its full potential is a palpable current permeating every niche of his being. His art is generated for a straightforward purpose...to make you stop, think, and smile!

Join us on Thursday, June 12, from 5:30 - 7 pm at the Boulder JCC Messinger Art Gallery for the opening of Artie Sandstone's new exhibition, Smile. Enjoy an evening of beautiful art, light fare, and incredible discussion. Register for the event on the Boulder JCC website.

Kick off summer with an unforgettable family celebration at Milk and Honey Farm! Join us on Tuesday, June 3 from 4:15 – 6:30 pm for Baby Goat Shavuot, a joyful gathering honoring new life on the farm, the season’s first fruits, and the beloved Jewish holiday of Shavuot.

Shavuot, also known as the “Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Passover and marks the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. It also coincides with the biblical wheat harvest and is often associated with the enjoyment of dairy foods. What better way to celebrate than by welcoming our newest baby goats and enjoying farm-fresh pizza?

Escape the hustle and reconnect—with nature, community, and other like minded individuals.

Shabbat at the Farm for 20s/30s is a new gathering designed just for young adults ages 25–35 who are looking to slow down and celebrate Shabbat in a meaningful (and fun) way. Join the Boulder JCC on Friday, June 20 from 5:30–8:30 pm at Milk and Honey Farm for a relaxed evening in the beauty of the outdoors.

Get ready for a day of vibrant music, diverse artistry, and rich cultural celebration at the Boulder Jewish Festival, returning to the Pearl Street Mall on Sunday, June 8 from 11 AM to 5 PM. As the longest-running cultural festival in Downtown Boulder, this year marks a special milestone, 30 years of showcasing Jewish arts, culture, and community.

With free admission and no registration required, the festival welcomes everyone to enjoy a dynamic day filled with live performances, delicious kosher-style cuisine, local artists, and family-friendly activities. Attracting over 10,000 visitors annually, the Boulder Jewish Festival continues to serve as a joyful gathering space that fosters unity, understanding, and celebration.

On Monday, May 12, from 10 am to 12 pm, the Boulder JCC will host a vital and thought-provoking program exploring the complex ideological divisions emerging within American Jewish communities. As societal shifts and challenges to democratic norms deepen, this session invites participants to engage with questions central to Jewish identity, political engagement, and communal responsibility.

Titled "Safety, Power, and Responsibility: Rethinking Jewish Thriving in a Fractured Democracy", the session will be led by Rabbi Dr. Joshua Ladon, a nationally respected scholar and educator from the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. The conversation will examine the historical and contemporary models of Jewish security and the evolving ideological frameworks that shape today’s debates around Zionism, Israel, and Jewish political life in the U.S.

This program is offered in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute and JEWISHcolorado. Community members of all backgrounds and viewpoints are welcome to attend and participate in what promises to be a rich and respectful dialogue. To register for the event, please visit the Boulder JCC website.

Join us for the first Exchange Summer Lecture Series: The Composers that History Forgot, as Kenneth Woods, the Artistic Director and Conductor of Colorado MahlerFest, presents a compelling exploration of the Jewish composers of the 20th century whose lives and music were forever changed by the rise of Nazism and the tragedy of WWII. This lecture will shed light on a generation of artists who were inspired by Gustav Mahler and how their lives were profoundly altered by the events surrounding WWII.

Among the featured stories is that of Viktor Ullmann, a gifted composer who continued to write astonishing music while imprisoned in the Theresienstadt ghetto. Despite unimaginable conditions, Ullmann composed Der Kaiser von Atlantis (The Emperor of Atlantis), an allegorical opera written in collaboration with librettist Petr Kien. Intended as a biting commentary on tyranny and the devaluation of human life under the Nazi regime, the opera was banned before it could be performed. Ullmann was deported to Auschwitz in 1944, where he was murdered. His opera survived—and stands today as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of music.