Rabbinic Vision
We, the Rabbis Rice are committed to being rabbinic leaders who bring holiness, respect, self-awareness, and love of Judaism into everything we do. We seek to foster creative ways for everyone to strengthen their relationship with God; increase their knowledge of Torah, feel their sense of belonging in Klal Yisrael (the community of Israel); and act on the notion that we are here to help heal the world.
God. We seek to help others approach God through study, religious services and story-telling, holiday celebrations, and life cycle events. Crafting holy moments and marking sacred times in the life of the community, we draw from the liturgy of our tradition, as well as compose contemporary, creative rituals when appropriate. It is our hope to infuse our congregants with a sense of security and dignity in Reform Judaism, as well as help them to feel comfortable in any and all religious settings that they might encounter.
Torah. We strive to offer remarkable formal and informal learning experiences and teach in a way that empowers others to shape their own spirituality. We especially attempt to ensure that all of our youth develop a steadfast commitment to and love for Judaism. We hope that every time someone enters the synagogue, they walk out with a sense of understanding they would not previously have had about how and why Judaism enriches their lives. With regards to interfaith families, we support and offer opportunities to enhance their connection to the community while recognizing their unique spiritual journeys. We are also dedicated to our own professional development and ongoing Torah study, as a model for our community.
Israel. We are committed to a rabbinate that supports and advocates on behalf of the State of Israel and celebrates its culture, while holding her up to our highest Jewish values. The name Yisra-El means to struggle with God. As such we wrestle with the many aspects of what it means to be a Jew in America, but also seek to make connections to Israelis and other Jewish communities throughout the world.
It is our hope that as rabbis at Congregation Micah, we will model what it means to be a mensch!
Staff
PHILIP "FLIP" RICE, RABBI
Inspiring us all to use our religious imaginations, Rabbi Flip loves to teach through story, is passionate about innovative religious services, and revels in teaching how ancient texts can still speak to us today. A community leader of interfaith dialogue, he lectures locally at Belmont University, and was a founder of Get Connected – the locally run Israel teen trip experience.
Born in Washington D.C. and raised in Miami, Florida, Flip is a graduate of the University of Virginia (1992) with a major in History, holds a Masters in Western Religious Thought and Spirituality from Florida State University (1996), and received his Master of Hebrew Letters (1999) from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Flip was ordained as a rabbi from HUC-JIR (2001) and recently earned a Doctor of Ministry from Lipscomb University (2018). Prior to arriving in Nashville, Flip was an Associate Rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, Washington (2001-2005).
Flip also enjoys practicing yoga, swimming, sailing, scuba-diving, and spending time with his wife and three children.
Favorite Jewish Food: Latkes
Favorite memory at Micah: “My first Shabbat @ Micah and every moment thereafter…”
Laurie Rice, Rabbi
Rabbi Laurie hails from Los Angeles, California. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Northwestern University, as a dual major in History and Slavic Languages and Literatures. She was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2001, having received her Masters in Hebrew Letters in 1999.
Prior to coming to Micah, she served congregation 5 years as the Rabbi at Congregation Kol Ami in Woodinville, Washington. Currently, Rabbi Laurie co-chairs the President's Rabbinic Council for the Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion. Locally, she is a member of the PAG committee for the Vanderbilt Chaplaincy Program, an ambassador for the AMEND program of the YWCA, and a member of the Ethics Committee of Alive Hospice. She adores spending time with her husband and co-rabbi, Flip, and their three children. She also loves running the roads of Nashville and Percy Warner Park.
josh goldberg, cantor
Cantor Goldberg brings a wealth of musical and liturgical experience to Congregation Micah. He comes to us from Los Angeles, CA, where he worked at Stephen Wise Temple. He graduated with a BA in Popular Music from University of Southern California before attending The Academy for Jewish Religion for his cantorial studies. Josh was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, at Temple Emanu-El where Senior Rabbi David Stern shared, “His music is a window into his soul, providing an opening invitation to ours.” Additionally, Cantor Goldberg is an accomplished songwriter and performer, including touring collaborations with Grammy Award-winner Macy Gray, and Jewish musicians Craig Taubman, Rick Recht, and Mikey Pauker. His music has been published in multiple volumes by Transcontinental Music Publications and has been performed by others at the White House as well as at synagogues, summer camps, and youth conventions throughout the United States. He also founded his own record label and production company, Kosher Style Records, which has helped dozens of other Jewish artists around the country develop and grow their careers.
Kerry Tapia, Executive Director
Kerry returned to Nashville in 2021 from New Orleans where she served for 9 years as the Executive Director at the historic Touro Synagogue. A homecoming, Kerry served as Micah's Office Manager from 2001-2012, and we are delighted to have her back. She brings with her a wealth of experience in the areas of financial oversight, management, administrative leadership, strategic planning and implementation, professional-lay collaboration, and campus management and security. Kerry is experienced in both development work and endowment cultivation, project management and problem solving. She is excited to be back at Congregation Micah, and to partner with our Rabbis and staff to implement Micah's vision for the future. Kerry is committed to fostering an open-door environment, so please come by and say hello!
Julie Greenberg, Education Director
Before moving to Nashville in 2000, Julie was a middle and high school English, History, and Journalism teacher in Texas. Her professional teaching background and curriculum writing experience led to her hire at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College as the Program Coordinator and Trainer of the Classroom Organization Management Program (COMP). Already an active member and Religious School teacher at Micah, Julie joined the professional staff as Education Director in 2003.
With a Masters of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt’s Divinity School, Julie brings not only expertise in Jewish studies but also extraordinary sensitivity to and familiarity with other faith traditions. As Education Director, Julie has invigorated and restructured an authentic, creative and substantive curriculum for students of all ages. In 2009, Julie was awarded the “Reform Jewish Educator” title from the URJ’s professional education department, the National Association of Temple Educators. This award recognizes distinguished academic achievement and professional service to Reform educators, cantors and rabbis.
Julie continues to enjoy developing new curricula, teaching, promoting the connection between Jewish study and tikkun olam, supporting Micah’s cadre of volunteer teachers, and learning along with her own two children in Religious School. When not at Micah, Julie enjoys reading, writing, traveling, gardening, and cooking with her husband and children.
MINDY DRONGOWSKI, Membership director
A native of the Detroit metro area, Mindy has spent most of her adult life in community and family service in both Jewish and secular settings. The mother of two proudly Jewish young adult daughters, she’s served as a school volunteer and PTA president, worked for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit in their partner agency ORT, and worked for Tamarack Camps, Michigan’s children and family Jewish camping organization.
More recently here in Nashville, Mindy has been a member of the office staff at Micah for eight years, acted as advisor for Micah’s National Federation of Temple Youth teen group, and served as a volunteer, host family, and trip chaperone for Nashville’s “Get Connected” teen exchange with Hadera, Israel.
Karen Taylor, Administrative Coordinator
Karen joined Micah’s team in November of 2021. She was born in Oakland, CA, and moved all over the US growing up. She moved to Nashville in 2005 as a transplant from Chalmette, LA, during Hurricane Katrina. She has a large family with seven kids, which include six boys and one baby girl born in January 2024, with her significant other Bryan. Karen’s favorite job has been running a psychiatric clinic in Clarksville, TN, inspiring her to get a psychology degree from Grand Canyon University. Karen is passionate about helping others in any way that she can and is a firm believer in “paying it forward” and teaching her kids the same values. She fully believes in being kind to others and compassionate. In her spare time, she enjoys family time by playing board games, movie nights, or attending local family friendly activities with her kids. Here at Micah, she has a vast knowledge of the cemetery, billing, and many other areas to help families in any way she can.
Karen’s life quote “If you see someone, smile. You never know who needs it that day.”
GABRIEL bEDNE, cOMMUNICATIONS cOORDINATOR
While born in Columbus, Ohio originally, Gabriel is a long time resident of Nashville, Tennessee. Gabriel was raised here since the age of 3 and was a congregant here at Micah long before he ever worked here. His history with the congregation includes attending Sunday School regularly, having his Bar Mizvah here, participating in confirmation, and going on a trip to Israel. Since then he has pursued an education in Computer Science and Communications, before finally settling on Multimedia Design. He received an Associate’s Degree from Nashville State Community College in Multimedia Design and until now worked as a manager with a local company in Nashville. He is excited to return to Micah and begin using his media skills to assist in furthering the goals of the congregation - a group of people near and dear to his heart. In his spare time he enjoys consuming an eclectic mix of movies, music, comics, books, and video games. He tries to spend the rest of his time travelling new places and photographing what he sees along the way.
Emily Grove, Program and Events Coordinator
Emily was raised in Brentwood, Tennessee and attended religious school at Congregation Micah through Confirmation. Her passion for cultural exploration led her to travel to Israel on the first Nashville Jewish Community “Get Connected” Teen Trip to Israel in 2008. The trip solidified her connection to Judaism and influenced her to study religion in college. She graduated Cum Laude from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Religious Studies. Emily is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience in the world of Jewish education and event programming. Prior to her start at Micah, she served proudly as the full-time Religious School Administrator at West End Synagogue. Her time as a professional in the Jewish community has given her opportunities for specialized development through NewCAJE (Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education) Conference attendance and allowed her the chance to take a life-changing Birthright Trip to Israel in 2015. Emily looks forward to fostering a dynamic and enriching environment for students and families alike to implement the various programs and services we offer. She will work intimately with our families, from Brit Mitzvah Binder to Bimah and every step in between. Emily and her husband, Daniel, reside in Smyrna, Tennessee, with their cat (Miso “Tofu Feet” Grove).