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
It is hard to believe that this will be my 13th year at B’nai Chaim! Should I become a Bat Mitzvah somehow...again? Here is a little bit about me.
My name is Michelle S. Weinberg. I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. I went to Miami University and received by BS Ed.
I moved shortly after graduating to the Atlanta, Georgia area. I lived in Marietta. I received my Masters Degree in Education from Georgia State University in Atlanta. I taught in a Solomon Schechter Jewish Day School for three years, met my husband in Atlanta, and continued teaching in a school system in Woodstock, Georgia, in Cherokee County, that reminds me a lot of Douglas County where I taught the first grade at Cherokee Elementary in Parker. I retired from Douglas County Schools in 2015, after completing my 42nd year in teaching both in Georgia and Colorado!
Here is a brief history:
I began teaching Hebrew School and Sunday School in Hamilton, Ohio while attending Miami University. In 1983, I continued teaching Hebrew and Sunday school at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia until 1997. I have been tutoring for B’nai Mitzvah since 1984!
After moving to the Highlands Ranch area 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, before joining the staff at South Elementary in Castle Rock in the Gifted and Talented Program, and then first and second grades. My next journey was teaching first grade at Cherokee Trail Elementary School in Parker, Colorado for 11 years. I taught at both Temple Sinai and the HEA for many years. Then, in 2000, I became the Principal of Congregation Beth Shalom and continued there until 2011.
I joined the staff at B’nai Chaim in 2011!
My husband Jeff and I, who celebrated our 48th anniversary, are the proud parents of two adult children. Alison and her husband Ken, who works in IT and have recently celebrated their 9th anniversary and have a beautiful home in Pueblo West, Colorado. Our son Eric is the CIO with Western United Energy Surplus in Brighton, CO. Eric is married to Lauren, who is a PA-C in Urology and they just celebrated their 10th anniversary and have two adorable children, Adeline, 5 1/2 and Holden, 3. As a proud Bubie, I always have pictures on my phone to share! Don’t hesitate to ask!
We are having an exciting year at B’nai Chaim. Please check our calendar and website often as things do change from time to time. I write a padlet: http://padlet.com/msweinberg18/hea00uba8iryd91l every Sunday afternoon. 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 text at 303-901-2902
I would love to hear from you,
Ms. Michelle