Rabbi Kenneth A. Kanter

Before coming to RRJ, Ken served for 15 years, as faculty member, Associate Dean and Director of the Rabbinical School at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati.

Born in Chicago, Ken received his B.A. in Jewish and American History from Harvard, his M.A.H.L. and Ordination from HUC-JIR, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity. In 2005, he concluded twenty-six years as a congregational rabbi, serving as Founding Rabbi of Congregation Micah in Nashville, Tennessee, senior rabbi of Chattanooga’s Mizpah Congregation and Assistant Rabbi of Ohabai Sholom in Nashville. He also served as Jewish Chaplain and Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University. Kanter is an internationally known lecturer and author of books, journals and articles focusing on the Jewish contribution to American popular music from the 1840’s to the 1940’s. Among these are The Jews on Tin Pan Alley (1982), Jewish-American History and Culture, (1992) and The Encyclopedia of Jewish American Popular Culture, (2009).

Kanter is married to Dr. Toni Schklar Kanter. They have eight children and seven grandchildren.