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Clergy

Rabbi Joshua M. Brown  

Rabbi Joshua Brown has served as our congregation's senior rabbi since July 1, 2016.  Rabbi Brown dedicates his time to our congregation as a rabbi passionate about lifelong Jewish learning, social justice, and pastoral care.  His belief that Judaism is intended to punctuate our lives helping us celebrate our greatest joys and survive our greatest fears informs his spiritual leadership every day.  

Rabbi Brown currently serves on the board of the Cleveland  American Jewish Committee as well as the board of Miami University Hillel.  Previously, Rabbi Brown proudly served on the URJ Commission for Social Action as well as the core team for the Ohio Religious Action Center.  He was ordained in May 2008 at the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Prior to ordination, he completed a Master's in Jewish Education from the Rhea Hirsch School of Education, also on the HUC-JIR campus in Los Angeles, and a B.A. degree in Family Studies and Social Work from Miami University (OH). 

A native of Atlanta, Rabbi Brown, has also served Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Temple Israel in Omaha, Nebraska.  Rabbi Brown enjoys living in Akron with his wife Carrie, a native of Cleveland, and their three children—Hannah, Noah, and Ezra.

Cantor Kathy Fromson

Cantor Kathy joined Temple Israel Akron in July, 2015. She had served as a guest cantor for various congregations in the Cleveland area since 2000. She studied with Cantor Misha Pisman of Park Synagogue Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilio and with Kiva Shtull for training in Nusach, Torah Trope, and sacred music.

Cantor Kathy grew up in Beachwood, graduated from Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights, and earned a bachelor’s degree in romance languages from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She studied piano for 8 years at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is self-taught on guitar. She currently studies vocal instruction with Tim Culver, Associate Professor of Voice at Kent State University.

In addition to her ongoing pulpit responsibilities, Cantor Kathy oversees the B’nai Mitzvah program, the High Holy Day Choir, and the Wee Sing music program for tots. She also teaches music in Temple Israel’s Religious School.


Cantor Kathy and her husband Scott, an attorney, reside in Solon, Ohio with their dog Louie. Their three adult children, Brett, Noah & Halle, can often be heard singing and playing guitar with Cantor Kathy for Shabbat services.

See Rabbi Brown and Cantor Kathy on our livestream!

Tue, April 22 2025 24 Nisan 5785