Kahana was born in 1937[1] and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where he attended a branch of the Novardok Yeshiva, where he was ordained.
He worked as a civil servant in Israel's Ministry of Religious Affairs[2] and has also led the Birkat Kohanim Institute,[3] which has attempted to establish a database of reliable Kohanim in Israel.
[4] He is currently the spiritual leader of Hazon Yichezkeil a member synagogue of Young Israel (Yisrael Hatzair) in the Old City of Jerusalem.
[5] Additionally he has founded the Institute for Talmudic Commentaries (המכון להסברת מפרשי התלמוד) through which he has published "Mei Menuchot" (מי מנוחות - Restful Waters) a Hebrew elucidation of the Tosafot commentary on several tractates of the Talmud.
[6] He has also been cited as collaborating on the recent and controversial attempts to resurrect the ancient Sanhedrin in the capacity of Av Beit Din[7] (אב בית דין - Father of the Court House), which is the second in command to the Rosh HaYeshiva / Nasi ( נשיא/ראש הישיבה - Head of the Yeshiva/Prince).