Over the past 611 days, the family of Omri Miran has been trapped in a state of anxiety since his abduction by Hamas. During a speech at the Boulder Jewish Festival, Moshe Lavi, Miran’s brother-in-law, recounted their prolonged ordeal, set against last week’s attack on a group advocating for the release of Israeli hostages at the same location. Lavi expressed despair over the scant, often distressing evidence of Miran’s situation, questioning his suffering and deprivation.
This year’s Jewish cultural festival in Boulder was altered to draw attention to the situation of Israeli hostages. This came following an incident where a man hurled Molotov cocktails at demonstrators with the slogan “Free Palestine.” Celebrating its 30th year, the festival’s new focus aimed to promote healing and emphasize the current plight of 55 individuals believed still detained in Gaza.
Authorities report the attack impacted 15 people along with a dog, with victims ranging from 25 to 88 years old, including a Holocaust survivor. While not all endured physical injuries, their involvement in the case relies on their potential exposure to danger.
The group “Run for Their Lives,” directly targeted by the attack, emerged in October 2023 after militants from Gaza carried out attacks in Israel, claiming 1,200 lives and capturing 250 hostages. Every weekend, the local Boulder chapter participates in an 18-minute walk, symbolically tied to the Hebrew word “chai,” meaning “life.” This weekend, the usual modest turnout swelled to hundreds, including Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper. Protesters displayed signs like “End Jew Hatred” and distributed stickers saying “611,” marking the days since the first hostages were taken.
Close to the site of the attack, attendees gathered to witness speakers and musical acts, with vendors offering traditional Jewish and Israeli foods. A section named “Hostage Square” featured rows of empty chairs with images of the hostages, urging their return “home now.”
Expressing gratitude to those advocating for his family, Lavi portrayed Miran as a kind-hearted gardener, caring father, and husband to two young children. Festival goers were moved by videos from hostages’ families, including Miran’s child saying in Hebrew how they eagerly awaited their father’s return.
An Israeli-American attendee, Merav Tsubely, was emotional hearing the families’ messages, recognizing the profound connections among those present.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, now faces state and federal charges for the attack, including attempted murder and a hate crime. Soliman, originally from Egypt and living illegally in the U.S., reportedly sought to target “Zionist people.”
This incident occurred amidst heightened tensions from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and rising antisemitism, coinciding with the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which celebrates divine revelations at Mount Sinai. U.S. authorities have detained Soliman’s family but have not implicated them in the attack; a judge has since halted their deportation.
In response, law enforcement, including the Boulder Police and FBI, significantly tightened security at the festival and throughout local Jewish institutions. Officers, both in uniform and undercover, monitored the event, while surveillance efforts included rooftop observers armed with rifles and drones.
Matan Gold-Edelstein, whose father aided a fire victim last weekend, expressed hope that the well-attended festival demonstrated human compassion beyond religious or political confines. He emphasized their collective goal was not to endorse war but to support their community and the innocent hostages.