Biography

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah in New York, the world’s largest lesbian and gay synagogue. The congregation is a model of civic engagement and theological innovation, taking the experience of gay and lesbian Jews as a starting point for rectifying the status of marginalized groups in Judaism and in society. Rabbi Kleinbaum leads the congregation in being a voice for justice in Judaism, in the national dialogue on religion and society, and in the civil rights struggles in the U.S. and Israel. She was recently appointed National Co-Chair of Rabbis for Human Rights. Rabbi Kleinbaum is a pioneer in pastoral care for people with AIDS and their families. She grew up in a Conservative synagogue, attended an Orthodox high school, was ordained a Reconstructionist rabbi, and worked for the Reform Movement prior to becoming Congregation Beth Simchat Torah’s rabbi.

Resources by this expert

• Essay in the anthology Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation
  (Rutgers University Press, 2001)
• Essay in Rabbis: The Many Faces of Judaism: 100 Unexpected Photographs of Rabbis With Essays in Their Own Words (Universe Publishing, 2002)

Recent Interviews & Articles

• The New York Blade, June 29, 2007, Gay Pride and Its No-Shows
• Associated Press State & Local Wire, June 25, 2007, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist groups at head of NYC gay parade
• New York 1, June 23, 2007, LGBT Community Gears Up For 38th Annual Heritage of Pride March
• The Times of London, June 23, 2007, Faith News
• New York 1, June 20, 2007, Gay Woman Rabbi to Lead Pride Parade
• New York Magazine, June 16, 2007, Straight Rabbi at Gay Shul Set to Be Not-Quite-Married
• National Public Radio (NPR), May 18, 2007, Falwell's Conflicted Legacy
• The New York Times, April 30, 2007, "A Push to legalize Gay Marriage"
• Newsweek, April 2, 2007, "America's Top 50 Rabbis"
• Agence France Presse, March 15, 2007, "Rabbi arrested at New York demo over gays in the military"
• New York Blade, November 20, 2006, by Brenda Gazzar, Local Jews Clash Over Pride in Israel
• Religion News Service, November 6, by Michele Chabin, Controversial Gay Parade OK'd for Jerusalem
• Gay City News, August 23, 2006, "With Hope, World Pride Closes: Lasting impact of Jerusalem event marred by war
  and divisions remains to be seen"
• Haaretz, March 12, 2006, by Daphna Berman "Pride and Lots of Prejudice"
• Gay City News, March 2, 2006, " A Civil Rights Movement Getting Religion"
• Washington Post, February 1 , 2006"Various Diplomatic Dispatches"
• The Advocate, letter to the editor, September 22, 2005 "The Vatican"
• New York Times, March 31, 2005, by Laurie Goodstein and Greg Myre "Clerics Fighting a Gay Festival for Jerusalem"
• New York Blade, April 23, 2004 "Jews', Palestinians' common cause"
• The Jewish Week, April 23, 2004 "Twin Points of Light"
• The Jewish Week, April 2, 2004 "The Wedding Guests from the DA's Office"
• The Jewish Week, March 26, 2004 "Rabbi Tells Nassau DA About Lesbian Wedding"
• The New York Times, March 21, 2004 "At a Gay Synagogue, a Rabbi Isn't Fazed by Legalities"
• The Jewish Week, March 19, 2004 "Rabbi Vows 'Civil Disobedience'"
• The New York Times, March 19, 2004 "City Hall Steps: Pulpit, and Now an Altar"
• Washington Post, March 16, 2004 "Charges in same-sex nuptials"
• New York Daily News, March 12, 2004 "Clergy rally for gay nups"
• The Jewish Week, March 11, 2004 "Gay Marriage Debate Now Embroiling Jews"
• The New York Times, March 8, 2004 "Gay Marriage: A Variety of Lenses"
  (letter to editor)
• Gay City News, February 26, 2004 "Split Decision from Elected Officials"
• New York Blade, February 26, 2004 "Flash rally' draws hundreds"
• Gay.com, February 25, 2004 "Rallies protest Bush, gay marriage ban"
• UJA-Federation of New York News, February 11, 2004 "Coming Out for Israel"
• Time Out New York, January 15, 2004, "State of the Union"

Organizational links for this expert

• Congregation Beth Simchat Torah

back to top