Rabbi Mark Kaiserman

Rabbi Mark Kaiserman became the rabbi of Reform Temple of Forest Hills in July 2013 returning to his childhood New York City and becoming part of this dynamic synagogue community.

During his rabbinic career, Rabbi Kaiserman has worked at all corners of the country. He served as the rabbi of Temple Emanu-El of West Essex in Livingston, New Jersey, as assistant/associate rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas, and an Interim Rabbi at Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Fountain Valley, California.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Rabbi Kaiserman received a B.A. in English Literature and Judaic Studies from Binghamton University.  He earned his M.A. in Hebrew Letters in 1996 and his rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion’s Cincinnati campus in 1997. In recognition of his 25 years in the rabbinate, he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity (honoros causa) in 2022 by HUC-JIR.

Working with all ages, Rabbi Kaiserman has especially focused on connecting with youth in both formal and informal settings. He might be found with taking a trip with ToFHY (the Temple Youth Group) or Confirmation Class, or spending the summer volunteering summer at the URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy. He has been honored with Youth Worker of the Month by RJYouthworker and for his work with NFTY’s Texas/Oklahoma Region and the URJ Greene Family Camp.

With a childhood love for acting, he has co-written numerous popular Purim shpiels for all ages adapting the music from shows such as The Sound of Music, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, Disney, and The Wizard of Oz.

Holding onto the idea that making the world better than we found it is our Jewish core value, social justice and pastoral connections are a key part of his rabbinate. He is active in supporting the LGBTQ+ community in the synagogue, community, and world. Interfaith work has been a concentration including serving on the Forest Hills Interfaith Clergy Association. He also is an active volunteer in the CCAR (Central Conference of American Rabbis) as a rabbinic mentor, and previously served the CCAR Ethics Committee. He is currently studying at HUC-JIR part-time in The Interfaith Doctor of Ministry Program for Education in Pastoral Care expecting to receive his Doctorate in 2025.

While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Kaiserman served as student rabbi in several small pulpits Texarkana, Texas, Victoria, Texas, and Quincy, Illinois.

He is an amateur film buff and a diehard New York Mets fan. He loves to travel and has been to all 50 U.S. states and to a baseball game at every Major League Stadium.