Rabbi Joel Schwartzman, spiritual leader of Bnai Chaim since 2000, retired on July 1, 2011, to spend more time with his family.
He will continue as part-time rabbi at Synagogue of the Summit, which encompasses the Jewish communities of Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and Breckenridge.
Schwartzman, who served as a Jewish chaplain in the US Air Force for 23 years, moved to Denver upon his retirement from the military in 1998.
He joined Temple Sinai in 1999 as assistant rabbi to his colleague and mentor, Rabbi Raymond Zwerin.
“I shall miss the kavod of being a rav and teacher to my congregants, and especially the children in Bnai Chaim’s religious school, who I have inspired and challenged to be proud Jews who enjoy the fullness of their heritage,” he says.
Rabbi Schwartzman and his wife Ziva, who are parents and grandparents, plan to visit their growing family and take advantage of Colorados natural beauty.
Schwartzman also says he will continue expressing his staunchly pro-Israel views to Denvers Jewish community.
”This was a major theme of mine in my waning years as a rabbi, he says, and I don’t intend my retirement to silence my voice in my unconditional support for Medinat Yisrael.”
