Utahns react to religious lawsuit against Trump admin for allowing ICE to enter churches
02/11/2025 05:50:47 PM
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — More than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups across the United States filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration.
The groups representing millions, are challenging the Trump administration’s move in giving immigration agents more freedom to make arrests at houses of worship.
The 80-page lawsuit outlines why religious groups feel loosening restrictions on ICE agents and houses of worship is a first amendment violation.
At congregation Kol Ami in Millcreek, Rabbi Sam Spector is aware of the recent lawsuits.
“With our congregation, we have people from all around the world. What is important is that every single person that comes to our synagogue feels safe,” Spector said.
The lawsuit states the new policy is spreading fear of raids, which lowers attendance at worship services and worship programs. The lawsuit said this is an infringement on religious freedoms.
Spector said his congregation doesn’t ask immigration statuses of anyone who visits.
“We are making sure we are in compliance of the law while at the same time letting our congregants know we are going to make sure that anyone who comes here can do so without being bothered," he said.
Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire, hostage release in Gaza conflict
01/16/2025 01:14:01 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in the war in Gaza and the release of 33 hostages. The deal would pause the devastation 15 months after Hamas attacked Israel.
The ceasefire raises the possibility of winding down some of the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire isn’t complete yet and final details are still being worked out.
Utahns on both sides of the issue are reacting to the news, expressing hope and optimism, but also reservation. Tala Hammond, a first-generation Palestinian American attending the University of Utah, says the ceasefire is promising but may not hold. She hopes for more accountability and notes the deal lacks any kind of aid package.
Rabbi Sam Spector of Congregation Kol Ami says, “It's very tragic what's happened in Gaza where the Palestinians have lost so much. I'm hopeful that this war was so horrific on both sides, that both sides will say that we cannot allow this to happen again.”
Spector adds, “I'm hopeful that there are better days ahead for everyone involved.”
Rabbi Spector, who leads Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City, explains that his congregants want a ceasefire that returns hostages and has measures in place to prevent future bloodshed.
The rich history and celebration of Hannukah
12/23/2024 07:23:39 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah) — Rabbi Samuel L. Spector has been the rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami since 2018. He was born and raised in Seattle, Washington where he attended the University of California San Diego. An active brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity while in attendance, Rabbi Spector graduated with Cum Laude honors and a B.A. in Judaic Studies and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Masters in Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.
He is currently a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and serves on the advisory board for the Salt Lake Chamber and the Christian Center of Park City. We go through the traditions and customs, the meaning of the dreidel, foods, what it means to light the menorah, and more.
Utahns commemorate one-year anniversary of Hamas attacks on Israel
10/07/2024 10:16:23 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Monday marked one year since the deadly Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
On the south steps of the Utah State Capitol, more than 500 people gathered to commemorate the first anniversary of the attack.
Several speakers took to the podium on Monday to share their thoughts and even their own personal stories.
"My sister was rescued by civilians who took survivors of the massacre into their homes," said Maya Skurnik, who is originally from Israel.
Skurnik moved to Utah two years ago, but says he entire family is still in Israel.
She went into more detail how October 7th, 2023 impacted her family.
"My sister was at the Nova music festival, for people who don't know what this is, which apparently exists, it is a music festival that was the first site to be attacked by the Hamas terrorists," said Skurnik.
She says her sister, Yuval, survived.
Ron Zamir is with the United Jewish Federation of Utah. He was wearing a shirt Monday night in support of Itay Chen. Itay is the son of two of Zamir's friends and was killed during the attack a year ago.
"They waited over five months to find out that he had actually been killed that day, Itay, an American citizen, his body was kidnapped and is still being held in Gaza," said Zamir.
During the event on Monday, faith leaders from the Jewish community addressed the crowd.
"A year later, we stand before you today, together, as one united Jewish community in Utah, stronger and more unified than before," said Rabbi Sam Spector, Congregation Kol Ami.
Utah Jewish community, elected officials and faith leaders remember Oct. 7 terror attack
10/07/2024 09:33:32 PM
A sea of Israeli and American flags were held up in the air for over an hour Monday as a memorial took place on the steps of the Utah Capitol one year after the events of Oct. 7.
The day marked the worst tragedy for Jewish people and Israel since the Holocaust, said Alex Shapiro. Standing at a podium, he said, “1,200 were murdered and approximately 250 were taken hostage, of which 101 are still held in Gaza, four of whom are American citizens.”
Some of the more than 100 attendees held up posters with pictures of the hostages. Others wore stickers saying “Day 365” and shirts saying “Never Again is Now” during the memorial which included Jewish rabbis, a leader from Salt Lake City’s First Baptist Church, a general authority from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and two members of Utah’s congressional delegation.
The memorial included the screening of video footage from the beginning moments of Hamas’ terror attacks on Israel, testimony of survivors and speakers acknowledging the horror of the attacks and the hope they have for a brighter future.
For the hostages still held far from their homes, Shapiro, the CEO of the United Jewish Federation of Utah, said “we pray for an immediate return.”
For those who were killed, “we honor their memory and stand in solidarity with their families, offering our deepest condolences and unwavering support,” he said. “We also mourn needless loss of lives in Gaza and Lebanon and the suffering of civilians caught in harm’s way.”
Rabbi Samuel L. Spector of Congregation Kol Ami said he went to Israel a few weeks after the attack. There he attended rallies to bring hostages home and held people in bomb shelters as sirens rang out.
Everywhere he turned, he said he saw two Hebrew words that mean: “united we will win.”
“These words became the mantra of every person in Israel,” said Rabbi Spector, explaining they were used by people of all political affiliations. He said Utah’s Jewish community is now stronger than ever.
“We stand with each other, our friends stand here with us and we stand with the people in Israel and we will not stop standing until every Israeli in the south, every Israeli in the north, every Israeli who is being held hostage in Gaza is home,” said Rabbi Spector.
Sat, September 13 2025
20 Elul 5785
