Kaganovich is a Jewish surname. Ultimately it comes from the Hebrew word "kohen" which means "priest". Notable people with the surname include:Ida Rosenthal, Russian-American dressmaker, businesswoman Lazar Kaganovich (1893–1991), Soviet politician Mikhail Kaganovich (1888–1941), Soviet politician Der Nister (1884–1950), pen name of Pinchas Kaganovich (Kahanovich), a Yiddish author, philosopher, translator, and critic