More than 100 people gathered at the Denver JCC on January 19, 2025, for the Run For Their Lives event. JEWISHcolorado Board Chair Ben Lusher delivered the following remarks.
Good afternoon,
I want to start by taking a moment to express my gratitude. First, to everyone who has participated in Run For Their Lives—your dedication has been a beacon of resilience and hope for our community. I also want to thank the JCC for hosting us and for being a cornerstone of Jewish life here in Colorado. And finally, I want to acknowledge the many incredible Jewish organizations that have stood together over the past fifteen months. Your partnership and solidarity have been a source of strength for all of us.
We are gathered here today at a critical and fragile moment in our history. The ceasefire agreement is new and still unfolding in real time. This morning, three hostages were released after 471 days of unimaginable suffering. Their reunion with their families was a flicker of light breaking through the continued darkness. Romi, Emily and Doron are the first of 33 hostages set to be released as part of this initial stage. While this moment offers a glimmer of possibility, it also reminds us that the path ahead is uncertain – and that we need to maintain hope for those still captive. And we cannot sidestep the deep sorrow for all those who did not live to see this day. Their lives were not in vain.
This moment also calls us to reflect on October 7th and the profound paradigm shift it brought to the Jewish community. There was life as we knew it before October 7th—and everything that came after. It was a turning point that forever altered how we see the world and ourselves. As we step into this next chapter shaped by those events, we must recognize that there is no returning to what once was. The world has changed, and we are called to change with it.
As part of this shift, we must redefine what it means to be a community. Antisemitism is not a relic of the past nor confined to the shadows—it has rooted itself in plain sight. Ignoring it, hoping it will quietly wither, is not an option. We must confront it directly—and we must do so together.
This calls for the Jewish community to fully embrace the wisdom of chaverut—the value of fellowship and friendship. Chaverut teaches us that true community is not about uniformity but connection. It is about showing up for one another, building trust, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and supported—even when we don’t always see eye to eye. Like threads woven into a tapestry, our strength lies not in being the same but in holding each other together.
This lesson is especially critical now. The ceasefire reminds us that peace requires effort—not just between nations, but also within our own communities. We must choose connection over division, understanding over isolation, and collaboration over conflict. Our challenges demand that we come together with renewed purpose and unity. Today, let us embrace chaverut and the idea that our strength lies in our connections to one another and to the people of Israel.
JEWISHcolorado, alongside all the extraordinary organizations in this community, is here for you. We are here to listen, to support, and to create spaces and programs where we can come together in resilience and compassion. Together, we will ensure that in this new post-October 7th chapter, no one feels forgotten, no one feels alone, and no one is left behind.
May this ceasefire be more than a pause—may it be a reminder of what is possible when we choose life, choose hope, and choose each other. May we honor this moment by praying for the continued release of hostages and for a thriving Jewish future rooted in fellowship, unity, and connection.
Thank you.