Clergy and Staff
Our Spiritual Leader - Rabbi Kim Harris
Rabbi Kim Harris received her cantorial ordination and Masters of Sacred Music with honors from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Rabbi Harris began her career as an educator. Experiences of leading worship at congregations in South Carolina, teaching in the religious school, and serving in a cantorial capacity for the Southeast Region of Women of Reform Judaism inspired her to combine her passion for teaching with her love of Jewish music and liturgy by seeking the cantorate and, later, the rabbinate, earning rabbinic ordination in 2017.
Rabbi Harris is a member of the American Conference of Cantors. She has enjoyed recognition both for her scholarship and musical compositions. Several of Rabbi Harris’s songs appear in works published by Transcontinental Music Publications (now URJ Books and Music). Her Master's thesis, Southern Voices: The History and Music of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded academic honors and can be found in university libraries across the country.
Rabbi Harris has been married to her husband Brian since 1983 and is proud of her family: her son Nathan, his wife Jennifer, grandsons Jacob and Noah, and daughter Dana. She is honored and happy to serve Congregation B'nai Chaim and looks forward to sharing many years of holy moments together.
Rabbi Harris' sermons and articles
Our Rabbi Emeritus - Rabbi Joel Schwartzman
In May of 2013, B’nai Chaim held a joyous Shabbat/Shavuot celebration at which the new Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Joel Schwartzman, was formally installed. The title of Rabbi Emeritus was bestowed on Rabbi Schwartzman in recognition of his years of service and dedication to B'nai Chaim.
Rabbi Joel Schwartzman is a retired Chaplain, Colonel, from the U.S. Air Force chaplaincy, having served over twenty three years. He served two Denver synagogues from 2000 to 2011, one as an Associate rabbi for a year, and Congregation B'nai Chaim for a decade as senior rabbi and now serves as Emeritus. He has served as president of Housing Justice, a faith based affordable housing advocacy group, and the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council. Rabbi Schwartzman served on the board of the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action (CCGAA). He is a member of the Mayor's Clergy Council for Denver's Road Home and of the Interfaith Worker Justice Council. He has served for a decade on the Jewish Community Relations Council, its Advocacy Group and Israel Advocacy Group. He has twice given invocations before U.S. Presidents, having offered the invocation when President Obama first came to Denver to sign the Recovery Act bill. He was honored with the Amos Award from the Denver Lutheran community. He recently published an article in the Central Conference of American Rabbis Journal about the art work he helped place at the United States Air Force Academy’s Jewish Chapel. He has an Honorary Doctorate from the Hebrew Union College for his thirty (plus) years in the Reform rabbinate.
Rabbi Schwartzman and his wife, Ziva, are the parents of Dr. Micah and Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman. Rabbi Ilana is rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami here in Salt Lake City. Ziva and Rabbi are the grandparents of Solly and Abie.
Rabbi Schwartzman's sermons and articles
Our Religious/Hebrew School Director - Michelle S. Weinberg
Wow, this will be my 14th year at B’nai Chaim! Here is a little bit about me:
My name is Michelle S. Weinberg. The S stands for my maiden name, Schneider. I always put the S as I wanted to retain part of my identity when we got married and this was way before people used hyphenated names! I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. I went to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and earned my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education.
I moved shortly after graduating to the Atlanta, Georgia area. While teaching, I met my future husband. Jeff said I was the tallest person standing in front of the school! Well, I was with a group of preschoolers at a Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School. He got my name, called me, and we began dating. We were engaged three weeks later! We got married 6 months after that and we will celebrate our 50th anniversary this coming December. We lived in Acworth, Georgia and I decided it was time to get a job in Cherokee County where we lived in our first home. While teaching I earned my Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Georgia State University. After teaching for 25 years in Cherokee County, we decided it was time to make a big move…to Colorado. Jeff had been working at Equifax after his career in Communications as a Director of the WAGA Channel 5 news for many years. Our daughter graduated High School, joined the Blue Knights Marching Band, and was attending Colorado State that fall.What a great time to just pick up and move west!
So, after moving to the Highlands Ranch in 1997, I taught fifth and sixth graders for two years in the Judaic Department at The Hertzl Jewish Day School, which is now the Denver Campus for Jewish Education.Time for another career change! I started teaching in the Gifted and Talented Program at South Elementary in Castle Rock. I then taught first and second grades. After 7 years of commuting, I switched schools and taught the first grade for the rest of my secular career at Cherokee Trail in Parker. I retired from Douglas County Schools in 2015, after completing my 42nd year in teaching in both Georgia and Colorado!
Here is a brief history of my Judaic background:
Growing up in Dayton, Ohio I attended Religious school and Hebrew school affiliated with Beth Abraham Synagogue. After our 10th grade confirmation, my class went on to study with Rabbi Jack Riemer for 2 more years. (He is the Rabbi that married us and we still keep in touch!) I began teaching Hebrew School and Sunday School in Hamilton, Ohio while attending Miami University. I actually organized their new school, designed the curriculum, hired all the teachers, and got a real feel for teaching and administration. In 1983, I continued teaching Hebrew and Sunday school at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia until 1997 when we moved to Colorado. I have been tutoring for B’nai Mitzvah since 1984!
I taught at both Temple Sinai and the HEA for many, many years. Then, in 2000, I became the Principal of Congregation Beth Shalom and continued there until 2011, when they closed their school.
I joined the staff at B’nai Chaim in 2011 and my exciting journey began!!
My husband Jeff and I are the proud parents of two adult children. Alison and her husband Ken, who works in IT, have recently celebrated their 10th anniversary and have a beautiful home in Pueblo West, Colorado. They enjoy their 5 cats, gardening, and cooking gourmet food! Our son Eric is the CIO with Western United Energy Surplus in Brighton, CO. Eric, and his wife, Lauren, who is a PA-C in Urology, have just celebrated their 11th anniversary. They live in a beautiful home in Parker and have two adorable children. Adeline is 6 and will be a first grader, while Holden is 4 and in preschool. As a very proud Bubie, I always have pictures on my phone to share! Don’t hesitate to ask!
We are planning an exciting year at B’nai Chaim. Please check our calendar and website often as things do change from time to time. I write an informative padlet each Sunday and try to keep everyone up to date: Feel free to check it out! http://padlet.com/msweinberg18/hea00uba8iryd91l
By the way, we love to have visitors, so if you know of anyone who may be interested in seeing us in action or if you have any questions or concerns, e-mail me at msweinberg18@gmail.com or feel free to either text or call at 303-901-2902.
I would love to hear from you,
Ms. Michelle