Everybody Can Do Something: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

June, traditionally Pride Month, is almost here, and this year, Pride will test the courage of our nation. It has been a challenging time for the LGBTQ+ community – with attempts to erase trans people, roll back civil rights for the wider LGBTQ community, ban Pride flags, and in 10 states there are bills to take back the right to marry… as well as pressure for corporations and faith groups to distance themselves from Pride celebrations.

In a powerful response, Interfaith Alliance is bringing together an amazing coalition of leaders and communities around the urgent call to Recommit to Pride – and we are encouraging people from all backgrounds to sign the Recommit to Pride Pledge.

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, a true pioneer in progressive activism and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Jewish community. Rabbi Kleinbaum has dedicated her life to creating spaces of faith and support for marginalized communities, and her insights are more relevant now than ever.

In this in-depth conversation, you’ll hear all about:

• The Power of Community and Action: Rabbi Kleinbaum emphasizes that while no one can do everything, everyone can do something. This mantra has guided her throughout her journey, from her early days in the LGBTQ+ movement to her current role as the director of The Beacon, a multi-faith initiative aimed at mobilizing communities in response to political challenges.
• Joy Amidst Struggle: One of the most profound lessons offered is the importance of making room for joy, even in the face of suffering. Rabbi Kleinbaum highlights how both the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities have historically used humor and celebration as tools for survival. She reminded us that while we must acknowledge the pain and challenges we face, we also have a responsibility to nurture our spirits and find joy in our lives.
• Engagement in the Present Moment: Rabbi Kleinbaum’s work with The Beacon encourages each of us to take an active role in our communities. By participating in local actions and expressing a vision for a better future, we can create a “split screen” that showcases both the challenges we face, and the hope we hold.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is a fixture in Jewish life, progressive activism, and interfaith organizing in New York City and far beyond. She led the largest LGBTQ synagogue in the world, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, from 1992 – 2024 with a powerful message of inclusivity, social justice and spiritual resistance. From service and support to the most marginalized during the height of the AIDS crisis, to the devastation of the first Trump administration, Rabbi Sharon brought courage and wisdom to her decades of leadership at CBST, where she now holds the title of Rabbi Emerita. Today she serves as director of The Beacon, and teaches at Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City and the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Boston.

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