Meredith Kahan, Acting Senior Rabbi
Rabbi Kahan began her Jewish life at Rockdale Temple, the daughter and granddaughter of longtime Rockdale members. She earned her bachelor's degree in social work at THE Ohio State University, and was thrilled to return home to Cincinnati for her rabbinical education at Hebrew Union College. She served Rockdale as Rabbinic Intern during her final two years at HUC, continuing her work with the congregation’s worship, music, youth, outreach and education programs, and of course, building relationships with Rockdale members. Rabbi Kahan was ordained from HUC in 2013, after completing her thesis focused on the use of sacred music in teaching children how to pray as Jews. Immediately following ordination, she began serving as Rockdale Temple’s Assistant Rabbi & Educator. Rabbi Kahan is a life-long lover of books and music, enjoys traveling, and can be found cheering on the Buckeyes year-round! Rabbi Kahan, along with her husband Sean Flowers, their son Seth and daughter Becca, feel blessed to be part of the Rockdale Temple family. Rabbi Kahan will serve Rockdale Temple as Acting Senior Rabbi beginning June 2020. She is deeply grateful for the many years of mentorship of Rabbi Sissy Coran, z"l.
Click here to contact Rabbi Kahan.
Shena Jaffee, rabbi in residence
Rabbi Jaffee, a native Cincinnatian who was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 2001, has served as Director of Jewish Life at the Mayerson JCC for the past ten years. Previously, Rabbi Jaffee held positions as Regional Director of Admissions and Recruitment at HUC-JIR, as Associate Rabbi of Temple Sinai in Washington, DC, and as Assistant Director of the University of Michigan Hillel. She has served as a board member of both the Cincinnati Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Cincinnati. She is also a past president of the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. Most happily, Rabbi Jaffee is married to Brian Jaffee and has two daughters, Maya and Noa. The Jaffee family are members of Rockdale Temple, and Rabbi Jaffee is pleased to continue her sacred relationship with our congregation in this new way.
Rabbinic Intern Benjamin Rosen
Ben Rosen is a third-year rabbinical student at HUC-JIR and the Jewish Foundation Fellow for Summer 2020. A Cincinnati native, Ben graduated with a degree in Political Science from THE Ohio State University before deciding to pursue the rabbinate. Ben and his wife Tess live in Norwood with two cats and a number of succulents. His passions include Jewish folklore, Torah study, interfaith work, and theater.
Rabbi Sigma Faye Coran, z"L
Rabbi Sigma Faye Coran, z"l, became Senior Rabbi of K.K. Bene Israel Rockdale Temple on July 1, 2004, and was the first female Senior Rabbi to serve a Cincinnati congregation.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Rabbi Coran grew up in Akron, Ohio. She studied clinical psychology and biology at Tufts University and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1993. Before coming to Rockdale Temple, Rabbi Coran served congregations in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Worcester, Massachusetts, and was the Jewish Chaplain at Williams College. Rabbi Coran was proud of being active in a variety of social justice organizations. She attained a Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College in honor of her 25 years in the rabbinate in 2018. Rabbi Coran lived in Cincinnati with her husband, Rabbi Kraus, and their family. As a parent of children spanning from elementary school to post-college, she was "on the same page" as many who seek community at Rockdale.
As a questioner, she kept us searching. Rabbi Coran was a leader in Ohio Religious Action Center, a social justice movement across our state. She was an avid reader, a media-watcher, and most importantly, a great listener - three traits that sparked conversation and connection. We're glad that we had her guidance and that she challenged, comforted, and laughed with us for so many years!
To view Rabbi Coran's memorial page, click here.
Mark N. Goldman, D.d., Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Goldman served as the 9th Senior Rabbi at Rockdale Temple from 1986 to 2004. Ordained in 1967, Rabbi Goldman served as U.S. Army Chaplain at Fort Hood, Texas during the Vietnam War; Assistant Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, New York City; Chaplain of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Rabbi at Temple Sinai, Lawrence, New York. Rabbi Goldman has served on the boards of Caracole House, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and has been President of the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis. Rabbi Goldman served on the Race Relations Council of Greater Cincinnati, is active in interfaith work, and received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Spirit Award in 2004. From 2004-2013, Rabbi Goldman served the congregation of Temple Bet Yam in St. Augustine, Florida.
