Rabbi Joshua Caruso (he/him/his) was Ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (NY) in 1998, Rabbi Caruso is proud to teach, preach, pastor, and personally engage in the practice of lifelong learning. He has officiated at numerous lifecycle events for generations of our community members at temple. It’s his joy to share in these moments.

Rabbi Caruso, who served on Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple’s clergy team from 2002-2024, sees social justice as an integral part of his rabbinate. He was inspired to bring Congregation-Based Community Organizing to Cleveland, nurturing its growth among its members. In 2011, his efforts led to the formation of Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC), a coalition of more than 30 diverse faith communities from across Northeast Ohio committed to bringing social and racial justice to the fore. GCC is now the most powerful faith-based citizens’ voice in Northeast Ohio.

In addition to serving on the Strategy Team of GCC, Rabbi Caruso sits on the Cuyahoga County Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity, is a member of the Commission on Social Action for the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), and serves on the Core Team of RAC-Ohio, a state-based justice project representing Reform Jews throughout the State of Ohio.

Rabbi Caruso is blessed to share life’s journey with his wife, Leah, and their children, Harper, Asher, and Shayna.