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”.