Daniel Shalom Kaiman, Principal Rabbi
A strong believer in social activism motivated by Jewish learning, Rabbi Dan Kaiman strives to teach a Judaism of passionate engagement, self-critical reflection, and experimental creativity. Imaginative Jewish ritual sits at the core of his work. Jewish meditation and contemplative practice are important parts of Rabbi Kaiman's spiritual framework.
Rabbi Kaiman was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, and spent formative years in Maplewood, New Jersey. After studying Political Science at Rutgers University, he earned a master’s degree and rabbinic ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California.
Rabbi Kaiman's own journey to a life dedicated to Judaism and the Jewish people was shaped by his earliest experiences. Pensacola, a pioneering, immigrant Jewish community much like Tulsa, was a place where everyone mattered and typical divides melted away in favor of close-knit communal relationships.
An active participant in civic, interfaith, and cross-cultural work, Rabbi Kaiman serves on the boards of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries, Tulsa Public Schools Community Advisory, and Family Promise of Tulsa County. He is affiliate chaplain at the University of Tulsa.
Dan shares his life with Rachel Gold, who works with graduate students in the areas of community health and leadership at the University of Tulsa. The Kaiman-Golds have two daughters.