Sharon Kleinbaum
Member of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
In office
2019–2023
Appointed byChuck Schumer
Personal details
Born1959 (age 64–65)
Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.
Spouse(s)Margaret Wenig (divorced)
​
(m. 2018)​
EducationBarnard College (BA)
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Semikhah)

Sharon Kleinbaum (born 1959) is an American rabbi who serves as spiritual leader of New York City's Congregation Beit Simchat Torah. She has been an active campaigner for human rights and civil marriage for gay couples.

On July 30, 2021, President Biden announced plans to appoint Kleinbaum to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom;[1] presidential appointments to the commission do not require congressional approval.[2]

Early life and education

Kleinbaum was born and raised in Rutherford, New Jersey.[3] She is a 1977 graduate of the Frisch School and graduated, cum laude, from Barnard College with a degree in political science in 1981. While at Barnard College, she led protests against Barnard's investments in South Africa and against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.[4] She is openly lesbian and has two daughters.[4][5] She received her ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1990. Kleinbaum has also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. She is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

Career

Kleinbaum was installed as CBST's first rabbi in 1992.[6][4][7] She is a prominent advocate for human rights.[7]

In 1995, Kleinbaum, along with Rabbi Margaret Wenig and Russell Pearce, sent a resolution asking for support for civil marriage for gay couples to the Reform movement's Commission on Social Action; when it was approved by them, Wenig submitted it to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which approved it in 1996.

Kleinbaum served on Mayor Bloomberg's Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) Runaway and Homeless Youth and New York Police Department's LGBT Advisory Committee (2009-2010). Kleinbaum has also served on Mayor de Blasio's Transition Committee (2013–2014), and the U.S. Department of State's Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group Sub-working Group on Social Justice (2014). Appointed by Senator Chuck Schumer, she served as a commissioner for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom from 2019 to 2020. She also serves on New York City's Commission on Human Rights, Mayor de Blasio's Faith Based Advisory Council, the board of New York Jewish Agenda, the New Sanctuary Coalition of New York, and is on the board of the New Israel Fund (NIF).

Personal life

She married Rabbi Margaret Wenig in 2008. They later divorced.[8][9] Kleinbaum married Randi Weingarten on March 25, 2018.[10]

Awards

Kleinbaum was named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America by Newsweek for several years,[11] as well as one of Newsweek's 150 Women Who Shake the World.[12] She was also named one of the Top 10 Women Religious Leaders[13] and one of the 15 Inspiring LGBT Religious Leaders[14] by the Huffington Post. She has also been named one of the country's top 50 Jewish leaders by the Forward [15] and the New York Jewish Week, as well as being named one of Forward's Sisterhood 50 American Influential Rabbis[16] and AM New York named her one of New York City's Most Influential Women for Women's Day.[17] Kleinbaum is a recipient of the Jewish Fund for Justice Woman of Valor Award. Other awards she has received include:

Articles and books

Filmography

Films that Rabbi Kleinbaum is featured in

References

  1. ^ "President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Leaders to Serve in Key Religious Affairs Roles" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: White House. July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". uscirf.gov. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ^ Service, ALEX WITCHEL (14 May 1993). "KEEPING THE FAITH IT'S NOT EASY BEING A LESBIAN RABBI, BUT SHARON KLEINBAUM NEVER GIVES UP HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL LEARN TO ACCEPT HER AND THE CONGREGATION SHE LEADS". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  4. ^ a b c "Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution (Jewish Women's Archive)". Jwa.org. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  5. ^ Compton, Julie (29 December 2016). "Lesbian rabbi fights intolerance with love". NBC News. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  6. ^ Witchel, Alex (May 5, 1993). "AT WORK WITH: Sharon Kleinbaum; 'Luckiest Rabbi In America' Holds Faith Amid the Hate". The New York Times.
  7. ^ a b "Social Justice | Impact | Stories of Impact | Liberation through Religion: A Conversation with Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum". Arcus Foundation. 2010-10-15. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  8. ^ "Sharon Kleinbaum's Personal and Political Battles - Tablet Magazine". Tabletmag.com. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  9. ^ Green, Jesse (2013-02-22). "The Peculiar Mechanics of Gay Divorce". New York. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  10. ^ Strauss, Alix (2018-03-25). "A Merger for the Rabbi and the Labor Leader". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  11. ^ [1] in America by Newsweek 2007-2013
  12. ^ "150 Women Who Shake the World". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  13. ^ "Top 10 Women Religious leaders". The Huffington Post. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  14. ^ "15 Inspiring LGBT Religious Leaders". The Huffington Post. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  15. ^ The Forward's Top 50 Jewish Leaders,
  16. ^ "The Forward's Sisterhood 50 American Influential Women Rabbis". The Jewish Daily Forward. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Women's Day 2014: NYC's influential women - am New York". www.amny.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-09.

Further reading

External links

Women rabbis and Torah scholars
Authority control databases
Categories