Next Tuesday, March 10, Denver Jewish Day School will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its annual dinner. No doubt, the spirit of celebration will be dampened by the passing this week of its long time head of school, Avi Halzel.
Halzel’s contageous enthusiasm, paired with his professional expertise on education and administration made him the perfect person to lead the K-12 school through growth, achievement and triumph, as well as through challenges such as COVID, Oct. 7 and the eternal quest for financial stability. Halzel led the school for 19 of its 50 years.
Right out of the gate when Avi Halzel first started at DJDS, he took on the high school sports establishment and stood up to the Colorado High School Activities Assn., enforcing his school’s pledge never to play in any games on Shabbat, even if that meant missing the opportunity to compete in a playoff or championship game. Halzel’s stance earned respect for DJDS nationwide and reinforced school spirit within its own walls. Ultimately, the DJDS Tigers boys basketball team clinched the state championship in 2023.
Avi Halzel relished the school’s weekly Kabbalat Shabbat assemblies, a time when the entire school, from the youngest kindergarteners to high school seniors, comes together in anticipation of Shabbat. Every week, Halzel enthusiastically played his bongo drums as the students sang. This was just another way Halzel emphasized the school’s commitment to Judaism and Jewish identity, all while galvanizing school spirit.
It wasn’t all fun and games for Halzel. He cared about the education DJDS students were receiving and knew a key element of that was hiring and retaining the best teachers. He worked with his board and development team to create an endowment fund for teacher salaries. Halzel truly valued his teachers.
When Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Halzel opened the doors of the school to any and all Israeli families who had to evacuate their homes in the Gaza envelope. Displaced Israeli children had a warm, welcoming place to learn, and their DJDS classmates learned what it was like to be directly affected by war, and how to practice the mitzvah of welcoming the stranger.
When Halzel’s late mother, a Holocaust survivor, would visit Denver, Halzel would have her meet with DJDS students, giving them the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust directly from a survivor.
These are just a few of the many examples of Avi Halzel’s leadership style and sensitivity. Every school year brought its challenges and acheivements, and Halzel approached them anew with humility, a calm demeanor and a huge dose of school spirit.
Avi Halzel was taken from us way young — he was 59 — and is sorely missed by his family and school community.
© IJN 2026
