Meredith Kahan, 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 and their children Seth, Becca, and Sari, feel blessed to be part of the Rockdale Temple family. Rabbi Kahan served Rockdale Temple as Acting Senior Rabbi from May 2020 to March 2021, when she was elected the tenth Senior Rabbi of K.K. Bene Israel/Rockdale Temple. She is deeply grateful for the many years of mentorship of Rabbi Sissy Coran, z"l.
Click here to contact Rabbi Kahan.
Erin Binder, Assistant rabbi & Educator
Rabbi Binder was ordained in May 2021 from the New York campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and also holds a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from the College-Institute. She received her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University, and has a Master’s degree in International Development from New York University.
Rabbi Binder is from Austin, Texas, but spent her high school years in Cincinnati when her father was a rabbinical student at HUC and also served as Rockdale’s student intern. A graduate of Wyoming High School, her real home as a teenager was at Rockdale Temple where she was confirmed, served on the youth group board, and worked as a madricha in the religious school.
Her journey to the rabbinate included many years in youth group, URJ summer camp, Hillel, synagogue leadership, and lots of Jewish travel around the world. Her learning at HUC was enhanced by her internship at Larchmont Temple, the Bonnie and Daniel Tisch Rabbinic Fellowship, the iFellows program of the iCenter for Israel Education, a chaplaincy internship at Mount Sinai/Beth Israel Hospital, and her leadership of the HUC Soup Kitchen. Rabbi Binder’s rabbinic thesis was entitled The Role of Women in Leadership: Case Studies from the Early Prophets.
Rabbi Binder is thrilled to be (re)joining the Rockdale Temple community.
Click here to contact Rabbi Binder.
Caitlin Brazner, Rabbinic Intern
Caitlin Brazner is a rising 5th year rabbinical and education student at HUC-JIR, Cincinnati. After graduating college in 2010, Caitlin participated in AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps in Washington, DC. After her deeply impactful AVODAH experience, she worked for five years in Reform congregations in Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland, as well as at URJ Camp Harlam, in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania. Caitlin is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Go Packers!), and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison (Go Badgers!). During her time as a rabbinical student, she has served as the student rabbi of Temple B’nai Israel in Kokomo, Indiana, Temple Israel in Paducah, Kentucky, and United Hebrew Congregation in Terre Haute, Indiana. Caitlin has also completed one unit of clinical pastoral education, serving as a student chaplain for The Jewish Hospital and the Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care in Cincinnati, Ohio. Caitlin is looking forward to serving as the rabbinic intern for Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio for her 5th Year TJF Fellowship. She is very happy to find herself living in the Midwest again with her husband, Scott Larsen (current Operations & Events Manager at Rockdale Temple), and their dog, Pig. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys reading, drawing, catching up on Netflix, and walks with Pig.
Click here to contact Caitlin Brazner.
ilana symons, Rabbinic Intern
Ilana Symons is a rising third year rabbinical student at HUC-JIR. She grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and received her B.A. from New York University in Philosophy. While in New York, Ilana taught religious school across the city and held various leadership positions at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, including as president of Kesher: Reform Jews at NYU. This year, Ilana taught at Adath Israel Congregation and served a pulpit in Marquette, MI. In her free time, Ilana can be found at the theater or in a museum.
Click here to contact Ilana Symons.
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.
