Listen to this articleCongregation Kol Ami’s religious school and youth director Rafi Schwartz died Aug 10 of brain cancer at the age of 45.
Born in Haifa, Israel, Schwartz permanently moved to Utah after completing military service to his country as an Israeli Air Force liaison officer at Hill Air Force Base. He earned a business degree at the University of Utah and held a number of teaching positions at the synagogue over the past 20 years, including Hebrew teacher and school director.
Schwartz is survived by his mother, sister, brothers and nephews and his partner Chlarson Seeley whom he met at the gay-friendly synagogue. Funeral services were held Aug 12 and Schwartz’s body was returned to Israel for burial.
