Radio Chavura host Dean Rotbart, who also hosts a the weekly Business Unconventional radio newsmagazine, interviewed Rabbi Hillel Goldberg about this week's commemorative issue of the Intermountain Jewish News (IJN), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Dean's interview with Rabbi Goldberg, who is the IJN's executive editor, was taped in August 2012 in anticipation of the paper's centennial-year festivities.  Dean is joined by David Biondo, who serves as Dean's co-host on Business Unconventional.  B. Unconventional is broadcast each Sunday on 710 KNUS AM in Denver from 8 am to 9 am.

In this edited portion of the August 26, 2012 business program, Rabbi Goldberg discusses what it takes to keep the IJN vibrant and relevant, as well as his pride over the high-quality of readers and advertisers that the paper attracts.

Rabbi Goldberg's father, Max, of blessed memory (z'l), purchased the IJN in 1943 for $1.  At the time, the community-owned publication was a financial mess.  Max Goldberg and Robert Gamzey, who was brought in as a partner, revitalized the paper both financially and editorially.  The IJN has won dozens - perhaps hundreds - of editorial honors over the decades.

Upon his father's passing, Rabbi Goldberg's mother, Miriam assumed the leadership of the paper and oversaw its continued growth until passing along the duties to Rabbi Goldberg. Virtually all of the Rabbi's children are active (or have been active) in contributing to the IJN.

Rabbi Goldberg notes that several of the IJN's employees have remained with the paper for more than 35 years, including assistant editor Chris Leppek. 

Original Broadcast:  August 2012
Length: 14:52 

This is a bonus audio featuring an extended Radio Chavura interview with Bill Korn.  You can hear the broadcast portion of the interview (May 12, 2013) here.

The merchant store that became a national conglomerate. The immigrant family that emerged as among the wealthiest in America. The synagogue president who was also county commissioner (and - bizarrely - for a short time, the owner of a brothel).

For a period of thirty years at the onset of the 20th century, Leadville was the economic driver of the state of Colorado and home to a thriving Jewish community.

Denver's own weekly Jewish radio magazine, Radio Chavura, discussing Rabbi Manuel and Bess Laderman, of blessed memory, with their children, Rabbi Paul Laderman and Mierle Laderman Ukeles.  Paul joins the program by phone from Jerusalem, Israel.  Mierle was interviewed from her New York office.

Rabbi Manuel Laderman was the first rabbi at The Hebrew Educational Alliance and served the shul, the Jewish community and the greater Denver area for 47 years.  Bess Laderman was a patron of the arts, who worked tirelessly on behalf of the Colorado Symphony and other local organizations.

Radio Chavura is broadcast each Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. on 990 KRKS AM in Denver.  The program's website can be found at www.Chavura.com.

Radio Chavura is co-hosted and produced by Dean and Maxwell Rotbart, a father-son duo.  Sponsors include Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie and Care Wear and Signal Butte Financial Corp.

Contact the program at: radiochavura@gmail.com or phone, 1-855-JEWISH-4 (1-855-539-4744)

Original Air Date: July 1, 2012
Photo: Rabbi Paul Laderman