RMJHS to Hold Annual Heritage Award Evening May 18

Each year, the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society’s Heritage Awards Evening fundraiser honors a select group of individuals who have made significant contributions to their chosen profession, to Jewish communal life, and to the state of Colorado. This year, the RMJHS and Beck Archives, together with the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver, invite you to join us in the Turnhalle in the historic Tivoli Building on the Auraria Campus on Monday evening, May 18^th, as we raise a toast to the contributions of Jewish Coloradans to the beverage industry.

This year, the RMJHS Heritage Award recognizes three outstanding professionals:

Talia and Daniel Haykin are the husband-and-wife team behind Haykin Family Cider, a Colorado cidery built on a shared love of apples, craft, and each other. Daniel channels his passion for sparkling wine into meticulous cider production while continuing his work as an investment advisor with his father at Haykin Wealth Management. Talia brings a background in marketing and storytelling to her role leading the business day-to-day – from sales and events to the occasional emergency equipment repair. Together, they’ve built something that is equal parts family project and labor of love – and by every measure, one of the finest craft cideries in the world.

Charles Malek hails from a fourth-generation Denver Jewish family immersed in the alcoholic beverage industry began by his great uncle, Joe Zerobnick,  grandfather, Max Bother, and father, Ozzie Malek. Joe Zerobnick and his father started the first Seagram’s distributor, Midwest Liquor & Wine Company, following Prohibition. Today, Charles carries the family legacy forward as the owner and CEO of VintageView Wine Storage Systems. VintageView has become the world leader in metal wine racks, serving wine aficionados and restauranters all over the world.

Harry Hoffman z”l  opened up the first Harry Hoffman Liquors store when he was only 30. Harry was innovative and delivered high quality service that resulted in a very loyal customer base and, in turn, a very successful business. Harry Hoffman Liquors became the largest liquor retailer in Colorado. Time magazine ranked Harry Hoffman Liquors as one of “the three most interesting sights in Colorado” along with Pikes Peak and the Denver Mint. Harry met Lillian Butler on the dance floor at Elitches. They had three children, Nona, Sheila, and Howard, and their 53-year marriage was steeped in Jewish advocacy and philanthropy. Harry is remembered for his gregarious spirit, his strong passion for Jewish community, and his business acumen. 

The RMJHS will also give our Community Leadership Award to Joe Black, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanuel.  He served as Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanuel from 2010-2025 – previously serving as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Assistant and Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rabbi Black serves as a Chaplain in the Colorado House of Representatives and is Past President of the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council.   An award-winning songwriter and nationally recognized musician, he is also an accomplished writer and poet.

The highlight of the Heritage Awards this year will be a Haykin Family Cider tasting program. Don’t miss out on being a part of this special evening and supporting the RMJHS’s annual fundraiser!  Kosher dietary laws will be observed. To register, visit bit.ly/2026-rmjhs-heritage or contact RMJHS Director Dr. Joshua Furman at Joshua.Furman@DU.edu or 303-871-3085. More information about RMJHS is on the DU Jewish Studies website.