A staunch advocate for Denver’s Jewish youth has died.
Dr. Avi Halzel, longtime CEO-Head of School at Denver Jewish Day School, passed away on March 1, 2026, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The son of a Jewish school head and a Holocaust survivor, Halzel, 59, began his career in Jewish education in Ohio, where he led several Jewish day schools. His tenure at DJDS was 19 years.
An avid drummer, Halzel always had a drum set near his office at DJDS. His enthusiasm for the school was unmatched.
“Avi was known for his positive spirit, calm demeanor, playful goofiness and thoughtful insight,” his family said in the wake of his passing.
“He led with both strength and humility, always guided by his values and his deep love for Jewish education.”
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, born on Oct. 12, 1966, Halzel grew up in Boston. His father was the head of a Jewish day school, and his mother was a teacher.
“He remained a devoted Boston sports fan, carrying his hometown pride with him wherever he lived,” his family said.
Halzel took great pride in the way DJDS was integrated into the Denver Jewish community. He was enthusiastic that his school could absorb many students from Israel after the Hamas massacre on Oct. 7, 2023.
“They are giving our students a firsthand knowledge of the crisis in Israel,” said Halzel in the Nov. 14, 2023 edition of the IJN.
“It’s one thing to hear your teacher talk about it, or hear it on the news, but it’s another when a student from Israel walks in the door that had to evacuate their home last week and sits down next to you.
“We typically welcome new students into a classroom every year, but this is even more powerful, and there have been some interesting conversations that have taken place in classrooms with the new students and our current students.”
The IJN’s Chris Leppek profiled Halzel in the Aug. 15, 2008 Education and Culture edition, in the midst of Halzel’s first year at what was then called Herzl-Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy at the Denver Campus.
“The challenges that we face are exciting and interesting — how to engage a population that doesn’t known about us, or doesn’t know what we have to offer, or doesn’t realize that if they come in our doors they might find something they really like,” Halzel told Leppek.
Halzel’s Jewish Colorado Tomorrow campaign, in collaboration the Allied Jewish Federation, led to Herzl-RMHA rebranded as Denver Jewish Day School.
In November, 2025, Halzel collaborated with JEWISHcolorado to absolve a $1.5 million obligation the school incurred when it expanded in 2005.
“This milestone represents more than just a financial transaction,” Halzel said in a release sent to the school community. “It’s a powerful affirmation of the work that JEWISHcolorado does for our community.”
That action occurred while Halzel was in the midst of a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Avi had reached out to ensure that we were releasing the information to our respective communities on the same day,” said Jco CEO Renee Rockford. “He said that he was dealing with a health issue but pushed it aside, saying, ‘more on that later.’
“His legacy will live on in the partnerships he built, the lives he touched, and the enduring example he set by his service to the school.”
Halzel’s family said:
“With his steady leadership, deep wisdom and unwavering commitment, he shaped generations of students and inspired colleagues, parents and families throughout the Jewish community.
“He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, a proud and caring father, a respected leader, a trusted mentor and a dear friend to many.”
Survivors are Halzel’s wife Rayna; and children Matan, Ariela, Adina and Gilad.
A service is scheduled for March 5 at HEA, with interment at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
Contributions to DJDS or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
© IJN 2025
