Since 1971, High Holiday celebrations throughout Boulder’s older adult facilities have been even more special, with JFS Boulder volunteer Jerry Sloat blowing the shofar. (A shofar is an ancient musical horn typically made of a ram's horn, used for Jewish religious purposes.) 

Jerry has been sounding the shofar for JFS Boulder High Holiday celebrations from our beginning. When he was 13, Jerry learned to sound the shofar, which, he says, was easy to pick up because he played the French horn. “It has been an honor and a privilege,” Jerry shared about his time blowing the shofar for JFS Boulder. Jerry has volunteered to sound the shofar at so many places over the years that he has lost count. After sounding the shofar for older adult communities for more than 50 years, Jerry is happy to let someone take over the mitzvah. 

“Jerry will be difficult to replace,” said JFS Boulder Community Engagement Liaison Tina Kantor. “We may find other volunteers who can sound the shofar but will never be able to replace Jerry’s dedication and enthusiasm for bringing this powerful tradition for the Days of Awe to older adults in the Boulder area. Such lifetime volunteers are a treasure to the communities we serve.” 

The Boulder community and JFS Boulder staff would like to say, “Yasher Koach” to Jerry for performing this mitzvah for his neighbors so reliably and joyfully over the decades! 

JFS mourns the recent passing of long-time volunteer Jerry Sloat on October 31. Jerry had a significant impact on JFS Boulder and our community, may his memory be a blessing.