Our Clergy, Staff and Board of Trustees
BMH-BJ Clergy
Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky
303-951-8225
Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky was born in Philadelphia and received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. He began his rabbinic career at Baltimore’s Beth Tfiloh Congregagtion and then served Annapolis, MD’s Knesseth Israel Congregation. He spent 10 summers on the rabbinical staff of the B’nai B’rith Leadership Kallah in Starlight, Pennsylvania. Rabbi Chaitovsky also received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Rabbi Chaitovsky was the rabbi of BMH-BJ from 1995-2001 and returned to the synagogue and community he always loved in time for the Yamim Noraim in 2014 and then full-time at the start of 2015. During his years away, Rabbi Chaitovsky was the Senior Judaic Educator and then School Rabbi and Director of Jewish Life at the Shoshana Cardin High School, a pluralistic community school, in Baltimore.
A very popular and informative presenter, he has spoken to numerous teen and adult audiences around the world on a wide range of popular and scholarly topics. Rabbi Chaitovsky has extensive interest in Jewish ethics and contemporary society, and he is committed to the unity and diversity of the Jewish people. He also is an accomplished musician and an avid tennis player.
Rabbi Shalom Lebowitz
Rabbi Shalom Lebowitz is a teacher, musician, and community builder passionate about sharing Torah, creativity, and spiritual connection. Rabbi Shalom grew up in Boston, where he attended cheder and began his lifelong journey of Jewish learning. He continued his studies in yeshivot in New Haven and Miami, where he received semicha. On a Birthright trip, he was called to stay in Israel and explore the magic of Jerusalem. He then studied economics at Bar Ilan University while mentoring gap year students.
It was in Tzfat where Rabbi Shalom found his spiritual home — a city alive with art, mysticism, and the natural beauty of the Galilee. He developed and led a wide range of programs, including shabbatons, music-infused workshops, Torah classes, and concerts. He taught at a local kollel and a preschool and co-founded the band Shefa, known for its soulful fusion of Jewish, reggae, and jam-band vibe. He also created mystical musical walking tours of the city and launched a mountain biking company guiding riders through the forests of the Galilee.
In the wake of October 7th, Rabbi Shalom, his wife Dalya, and their son set out on an almost year-long journey across the U.S., sharing light and music in Jewish communities across the country — including Nashville, New York, Boston, Montreal, L.A., Hawaii, and Colorado. Feeling called to Denver, the family made it their new home.
Rabbi Shalom now teaches 4th and 5th grade Judaic studies at Denver Jewish Day School, where he brings Torah to life through experiential learning, creative holiday units, and his imaginative “Jewish Jedi” curriculum. Since arriving, he has become active in the local Jewish scene, leading music and tefillah at various synagogues and events throughout the city.
A month ago, Rabbi Shalom and Dalya welcomed a healthy baby girl to the world.
Rabbi Shalom’s vision is to help cultivate a joyful, soulful, and meaningful Jewish life — one that speaks to the heart, sparks the soul, connects us to nature and Torah, and makes Judaism deeply relevant for today’s youth and future generations.
Cantor Martin Goldstein-Retired
303-951-8239
Cantor Martin Goldstein is a 7th generation Chazzan in his 44th year as a singer, educator, and clergy. He began his time as the new Cantor at the BMH-BJ Congregation with the High Holy Days 5779. Cantor Marty, began his training at age 6 with his father, AH” Cantor Jacob Goldstein, who also served as Cantor of the BMH from 1970-72. Cantor Marty also studied with several of the great Cantors of our time including Cantor Moshe Ganchoff and Cantor Leibele Waldman.
Cantor Goldstein began his career singing with his parents Jack and Harriett Goldstein and 4 siblings as the Goldstein Family Singers. He continued his early training by singing in hotels such as Grossinger’s and Kutcher’s in the Catskill mountains as a choir boy and soloist. Cantor Goldstein was assistant conductor for the Shalom Singers during his choral training years in Boro Park, NY. Cantor Goldstein’s vocal training included time at Hunter College of the CUNY and at Manhattan School of Music in NYC and graduated from Empire State College of the SUNY. He began his career as a Cantor at age 19 with his first High Holidays in Del Rey Beach, Florida. Cantor Marty served 3 synagogues before coming the BMH-BJ. Temple Beth Chai in Hauppauge, New York, The Greenburgh Hebrew Center in Dobbs Ferry, NY and 25 years at the Hebrew Educational Alliance in Denver. Cantor Marty has trained hundreds of B’nai Mitzvah students during his career, as well as teaching various subjects in adult education. Among his favorites are Kabbalah and Jewish History.
Cantor Marty and his wife Eve have 4 children between them, Shayna, Jake, Rafi and Jack.
Cantor Emeritus Joel I. Lichterman
Cantor Emeritus cantorjlichterman@gmail.com
South African born Joel Lichterman studied piano from age 5 with renowned concert pianist, Doris Lardner, becoming a recognized award-winning classical pianist, musical arranger and accompanist to internationally recognized Hazzanim whilst in his teens.
Nurtured and mentored in all aspects of synagogue craft, liturgy and Jewish music by his father, Cantor Jakub Lichterman z”l, a recognized European trained star Cantor, Joel received professional investiture from the Cantors Assembly (L.H. Miller School – JTS), New York. Studies in commerce and music continued at the University of Cape Town, University of South Africa (Pretoria), Royal Schools of Music (London), Trinity College (Dublin), and voice production with Professor Lloyd Strauss-Smith (Cape Town). Under Joel’s direction his 50 member mixed voice Cape Town Jewish Choral Society (1979-1986), performed a varied repertoire of Jewish and secular music to much acclaim. Joel continues voice pedagogy with Dr. Cantor Ramon Tasat.
He became Senior Cantor to two of South Africa’s largest, prestigious synagogues, Green & Sea Point Hebrew Congregation and The Great Synagogue, South Africa’s “Mother” Synagogue.
In 1995, as Denver’s BMH-BJ Congregation Senior Hazzan, musical director, teacher and lecturer, “Cantor Joel” implemented his creative vision synthesizing traditional and contemporary liturgy and music. He founded and directed the formidable BMH-BJ Men's Choir, Kidz Korus and annual Shabbat Shira experience. Cantor Joel conceptualized and launched the monthly “Sunburst Shabbat Experience” attracting oversubscribed intergenerational attendance and participation. He spearheaded large-scale communal events featuring international artists like The Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir, Rami Kleinstein, The Adler Trio, Shlomo Gronich & The Sheba Choir, Naava Piatka‘s solo musical memoire “Better Don’t Talk”, and many others.
Cantor Joel is a consummate Bnei/Bnot mitzvah instructor. He also served for extended periods as BMH-BJ’s sole clergy as well as fundraiser extraordinaire. He continues a close personal and professional partnership with the synagogue and the greater Denver community, frequently returning to participate in or lead life cycle events.
In 2008, Hazzan Lichterman was honored with singing the National Anthem at the AIPAC Convention in Washington DC. He is one of eight featured Hazzanim in the 2010 Cantors Assembly Academy nominated documentary, “100 Voices: A Journey Home”, directed by Mathew Asner and Danny Gold.
Becoming Interim Hazzan to Congregation Chizuk Amuno, Baltimore (2018-2020), he enjoys many fresh opportunities to connect and forge meaningful relationships with East Coast communities. In 2021, he presented the largest musical lecture program to date for the Cantor’s Assembly’s “Listening Room” series.
As the eldest son of Holocaust survivors Hazzan Lichterman is the 2023 featured speaker for the Howard County (MD) Jewish Federation Yom Hashoa Commemoration.
With a passion for travel “Cantor Joel” and his wife Elaine have designed and led numerous highly successful South African Jewish Heritage Tours.
Joel and Elaine have two married sons and four wonderful grandchildren.
“His open door and hands-on approach to sharing his music and its meaning with audiences of all ages and backgrounds ensures that this Cantor is always on key”.
Cantor Zachary Kutner
Cantor Emeritus
Synagogue Staff
Ilene Rosen
Executive Director
303-951-8232 director@bmh-bj.org
Jacqui Beckett
President
Andy Schwartz
Assistant Executive Director & Facilities Manager
303-951-8227 facilities@bmh-bj.org
David Ruin
Communications
303-564-9548 office@bmh-bj.org
Rachael Neustadt
Clergy Assistant
303-951-8231 clergyassist@bmh-bj.org
Nora Jamieson
Office Manager
303-388-4203 njamieson@bmh-bj.org
BMH-BJ Preschool
Lindsey Levin-Salamon
Preschool Director
303-388-7543 psdirector@bmhbjpreschool.org
Sheryl Last
Assistant Director
Facilities Team
Ramon // Adyette
Mount Nebo Memorial Park
Jay Siegel
Director, Mt. Nebo Memorial Park
303-951-8236
info@mountnebocemetery.com
2024-2025 BMH-BJ Board of Trustees Jacqui Beckett, President
Marvin Hutchens, Vice President Van Troi Perozo, Vice President Roxie Berkman, Vice President
Stefan Sharkansky, Treasurer
Allie Pells, Secretary
Jeff Kline, Chairman of the Board
Jodi Cooper Eric Drucker Shelley Gold
Dr. Fred Mechanik
Jessica Mulverhill Eddie Saliman Ben Streltzer
BMH-BJ Past Presidents
Edward N. Barad
Mark Boscoe
Barbara Burry
Michael Engleberg
Richard Fleischman
Robert Friedman
Lawrence Gelfond
Jeff Kline
H. Michael Miller
Jerry Rotenberg Ilene Rosen
Daniel Woodrow