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 Josh Goldberg brings a wealth of musical and liturgical experience to Congregation Micah. Cantor Goldberg is an accomplished vocalist and musician, a prolific songwriter, music producer, filmmaker, and educator. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, he moved to Los Angeles for his undergraduate and graduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Music in Popular Music Studies from the University of Southern California and a Masters of Sacred Music and Cantorial ordination from the Academy of Jewish Religion, CA. His master’s thesis was titled “From the Studio to the Sanctuary and Back: The evolution of recorded commercial worship music in Judaism and Christianity in the United States”. While in Los Angeles he served as a Cantorial Intern at Temple Akiba and Stephen Wise Temple. Before that, he spent time on the road with Jewish music icons such as Craig Taubman, and Rick Recht.

Cantor Goldberg is a proud member of the American Conference of Cantors, the Cantors Assembly, and the Recording Academy. Cantor Goldberg’s compositions have been published in multiple anthologies by Transcontinental Music, the world’s largest publisher of Jewish music. Cantor Goldberg has put his Jewish and musical knowledge to work producing recordings for dozens of outstanding Jewish music artists from all over the U.S., releasing four full-length albums of his own as well as producing an award-winning feature length film, all of which are commercially available online. His work is regularly featured on Jewish Life Television and Jewish Rock Radio.

Cantor Goldberg is thrilled to work at Congregation Micah engaging with congregants of all ages and walks of life including students at Micah Children’s Academy, teaching JLab religious school and brit mitzvah students, engaging young adults with Micahnections, and working on adult education programs for our more “seasoned” community members.

Cantor Goldberg lives in Bellevue with his wife Andrea, their dog, Frankie, and their Cat, Jazz.

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 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. 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 sensitivity to and familiarity with other faith traditions. Over the past two decades Julie has developed a creative and substantive curriculum for students of all ages. In 2009, Julie was awarded the “Reform Jewish Educator” title from the Association of Reform Jewish Educators. This award recognizes distinguished academic achievement and professional service of Reform educators and clergy. 

Julie continues to develop intergenerational curricula, promote the connection between Jewish study and tikkun olam, support Micah’s cadre of volunteer teachers, provide an inclusive learning environments, teach and tutor students, and lead the monthly Micah Reads book club. When not at Micah, Julie enjoys reading, writing poetry, traveling, gardening, and cooking. 

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).