Within minutes after JEWISHcolorado’s annual Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) luncheon began, two people stood at the podium and, with their joined voices, reminded everyone why the JCRC serves such an integral and important role in Colorado’s Jewish community.
It was an emotional moment, as 90-year-old Holocaust Survivor Osi Sladek and Jco Shinshinit Yeara Samoha led nearly 250 attendees at the Denver Art Museum in the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah.”
Sladek survived the Holocaust by fleeing his native Slovakia on foot as an eight-year-old child. He lost 28 family members in the war. Samoha, who is spending a year of service in Colorado before joining the IDF, is the grandchild of immigrants who settled Israel in 1921.
Together, their personal stories reminded everyone in the room that the hard work it takes to face anti-Jewish and anti-Israel words and actions with resilience and determination never ends.
“Today’s event is designed to help us take a collective and unifying pause to be reminded that the JCRC, and all of our community partners and allies play an important role in what our sacred texts teach this week: that a free society is best symbolized by what we build together,” said JEWISHcolorado President & CEO Renée Rockford. “As we rise for the Star-Spangled Banner and Hatikvah, let us listen closely to the words of these anthems—one symbolizing the enduring promise of freedom and democracy, the other a testament to the unbreakable hope and strength of the Jewish people.”
Jules Kramer
Jules Kramer, Chair of the JCRC, reminded everyone at the luncheon that the past 15 months have been “dark.” And yet, the JCRC had moved forward on multiple fronts, including:
- Defeating a bill that would have repealed the state’s anti-BDS law;
- Defeating anti-Israel resolutions at more than a dozen Colorado city councils;
- Fighting for continued funding of Colorado’s nonprofit security grants;
- Launching a mobilization corps to train 50 Jewish community leaders;
- Organizing against encampments and anti-Israel actions on campuses;
- Sending a delegation of state lawmakers to Israel in May for the first time since October 7.
“We have always known that we must be prepared to defend ourselves, but I feel we cannot go about it alone,” Kramer said. “I look around this room and all the people here who have come to support the important work that we do, and I can tell you, we are not alone. We have never been alone in this work. And together, we have prevailed. Because each of you—Jewish or not—have worked through the JCRC to protect the Jewish people and our community.”
White Rose Awards
In 1942, the White Rose movement was founded as a peaceful but notorious resistance group founded by Christian students at the University of Munich. These young patriots bravely spoke out against the Nazi regime. In the aftermath of the October 7th attack, the White Rose Society was formed to honor non-Jewish individuals whose public support of the Jewish community fosters unity among all people.
From left: Brian Maloney, Kevin Farrington, Janet Buckner, Phil Niedringhaus, Leslie Herrod, and John Marshall
This year, JEWISHcolorado presented the White Rose Award to former Colorado State Senator Janet Buckner and Representative Leslie Herod for their actions after October 7 to cool tensions and counter misinformation at the Capitol and across the state, ensuring that the experience of Israelis and all Jews after October 7th was not forgotten.
JEWISHcolorado also presented the White Rose Award to Colorado Mesa University President John Marshall for his unwavering and outspoken support of Jewish students on campuses in the wake of October 7th.
Finally, JEWISHcolorado presented the White Rose Award to three individuals who are well-known within the community for their tireless efforts to enhance the safety of more than 120 organizations across the state. Through JEWISHcolorado’s Safety & Security Initiative, Secure Community Network Regional Director Phil Niedringhaus, and Regional Security Advisors Kevin Farrington and Brian Maloney have done critical and impactful work, helping institutions receive nonprofit security grants to improve the security of their buildings and training more than 7,500 individuals across the state in life-saving actions that can be taken in a threatening situation.
Community Leadership Award
Matt Most is the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) 2025 Community Leadership Award recipient. Most has been involved with the JCRC since 2015, serving as chair from 2022-2024 during the critical time of October 7th and its aftermath and as interim director for much of 2024.
In accepting the award, Most credited the larger Colorado community for its talent, generosity, collective strength, and willing collaboration.
“After 10/7, the forces hurdling towards us smashed many other Jewish communities,” Most said. “Not here. Our community chose to mobilize and push back against incredible political challenges. As a result, we won much more than we lost, and today we find ourselves with strong momentum going forward.
“Our JCRC must deploy a strategy utilizing the best tools. That means a mobilization program that can produce constituents to engage their elected official to share our perspective. It also means highly effective communication to keep the community educated and informed. Because the best time to make a friend is BEFORE you need one.”
Legislative Leadership Award
Colorado State Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, the only Israeli serving in the Colorado legislature, received the Legislative Leadership Award for her tireless efforts championing Colorado’s Jewish community and for spearheading the “I Matter” program which provides free therapy sessions to school-aged children in Colorado.
“Having Jewish representation at the Capitol is not just a ‘nice to have,’” Michaelson Jenet said. “It’s a ‘must to have.’ My time will soon come to an end after nine years of service. Who among you is willing to stand up and be next?”
Brandon Rattiner
Six months ago, Brandon Rattiner left his career as an environmental attorney to take the helm of the JCRC.
“My Judaism is not a political identity—it is my actual identity,” Rattiner said. “I am who I am because of this Jewish community, and my life is better for it. We cannot allow the events of October 7th and all that followed to dim our community’s light. Jewish identity should not feel like a burden. It should be a source of strength, opportunity, and joy. And that’s why I took this job—because as the table our community gathers around, the JCRC is positioned to protect and nurture the community that made me, me.”
Rattiner talked about the need to reinforce community infrastructure in a post-October 7th world. To that end, he said the JCRC needs to act strategically and must hold the community together at the same time it looks outward.
“The JCRC is ready to do this hard work,” Rattiner said. “If we get this right, our community won’t just endure—we’ll have the chance to emerge stronger, with a renewed vision of what it means to be Jewish.”