Rabbi Joel R. Schwartzman joined B'nai Chaim as its spiritual leader and teacher in July 2000. After receiving his rabbinical ordination from Hebrew Union College in 1975, Rabbi Schwartzman entered the United States Air Force as part of its first Chaplain Candidate Program. He served in several military chaplainry roles both abroad and in the States until retiring from Active Duty in 1998 as a Colonel. Rabbi Schwartzman served as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Sinai prior to coming to B'nai Chaim. He also currently is the dean of the Denver Institute of Jewish Studies and serves as a board member and secretary of the faith-based group, Housing Justice. He and his wife, Ziva, have two adult children, Micah and Ilana.