ROSH HASHANAH EDITION
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Rabbi Joel D. Newman, the former rabbi at Rodef Shalom for six years in the late 1980s and early 90s, has returned to Colorado as the rabbi of Bnai Vail.
After receiving undergraduate degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Newman was ordained at the Leo Baeck College in London, England.
He then served as an associate rabbi in St. Paul, Minn., for six years and then at Rodef Shalom in Denver for six years.
For the past 23 years, Rabbi Newman was one of eight rabbis in the Navy.
He was responsible for the Jewish life and religious services of the Marines and sailors west of the Mississippi River to Iraq.
While stationed in San Diego he deployed 15 times to the Arabian Gulf, where he traveled to Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, including to the ships in the Persian Gulf.
He also deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and twice to Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa.
He has made extensive deployments to bases in the Pacific, including Hawaii, Japan, Singapore, Guam and to Okinawa, Japan. conducting multiple High Holy Days and Passover services,
While serving with the Marines, Commander Newman made four combat deployments to Iraq (twice providing services to the 10th Mountain Division) and one combat deployment to Afghanistan where he conducted High Holy Day services.
Rabbi Newman retired from the Navy in June, 2014.
In 2010, Rabbi Newman was made a senior fellow of the Leo Baeck College in London.
Rabbi Newman and his wife, Janet, have always dreamed of returning to Colorado. Janet Newman completed her PhD in curriculum and instruction at DU in 1996. She was an adjunct professor with the School of Education at the University of Maryland and at California State University, San Marcos. She now teaches at the Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts in California.
They have two grown daughters who live in California.
Joining a new congregation is like a marriage, and this one appears to me to be a perfect fit, says Rabbi Newman. Vail brings together people from all over the country and from different branches of Judaism, not unlike my Navy experience, so I feel right at home.
Bnai Vail has served the Western Slope of Colorado since 1977.
This is an exciting time in the evolution of Bnai Vail, says Board President Mark Gordon. We have a seasoned rabbi who appeals to the variety of members that our congregation attracts.
The congregation reports that membership has grown steadily since Rabbi Newman joined this summer.
Bnai Vail offers Shabbat services every Friday night at the Vail Interfaith Chapel at 19 Vail Road. An Oneg begins at 5:30 p.m. with services at 6 p.m., followed by kiddush.
High Holiday service information is on www.bnaivail.org or at 970-477-2992.
