Rabbi Zachary Goodman
Rabbi Zachary Goodman is serving as the Assistant Rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple.
Rabbi Goodman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas before attending the University of Texas in Austin where he received his bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies and a minor in business administration. When he was accepted to Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, his rabbinic studies brought him to Jerusalem for a full year before continuing the program for the next four years on the historic Cincinnati campus of HUC-JIR.
During rabbinical school, Rabbi Goodman was fortunate enough to work as the solo rabbi at small congregations in Grand Forks, North Dakota and New Iberia, Louisiana. He also served as the rabbinic intern at Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati. In addition to Rabbi Goodman’s congregational work, he was an active member of the Rabbinic Student Association and was elected by his peers to serve as a class representative, Treasurer and ultimately President. Throughout his rabbinical school years, he was always passionate about Israel education, youth and teen engagement, young professional programming and learning in all of its many forms.
Rabbi Goodman’s rabbinical thesis, titled “Abraham Joshua Heschel: A 20th Century Prophet,” explored the life and writings of Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel, chapters focused on his theological understandings, his inter-faith activities and involvement in the drafting of Nostra Aetate, as well as Heschel’s social-advocacy through his participation in the American Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam Movements.
In their free time, Rabbi Goodman and his wife, Katie love to explore the outdoors, travel, cook, watch sports and host game nights with friends. Music is also an important part of his life and loves to play guitar, piano and sing.
I will be ordained – on the same Bimah where Katie and I stood under our Chuppah – in Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 1, 2019. We are both beyond excited to grow some roots in Toronto! I look forward to meeting you and your family soon!
