Sharon Kleinbaum, 65, served as the rabbi at Congregation Bet Simach Torah (CBST) in Manhattan, where she taught a progressive vision for Judaism that extended beyond the liberal Jewish community. In response to Donald Trump’s election, she led the synagogue in outreach to Muslims and opened an immigration clinic to assist LGBTQ refugees in seeking asylum in the U.S. Kleinbaum viewed helping immigrants as a religious calling and integral to the synagogue’s mission.
CBST has around 1,000 paying members and draws 4,000 attendees for High Holy Day services, attracting a diverse group of Jews, including celebrities and LGBTQ activists. Kleinbaum’s leadership began during the AIDS crisis in the 1990s, where she provided pastoral care to a community that saw many members succumb to the disease. She played a crucial role in securing a salaried rabbi for the synagogue to meet the growing pastoral needs of the congregation.
As New York legalized same-sex marriage in 2013, Kleinbaum performed outdoor weddings for LGBTQ couples, including a ceremony in a former Broadway theater. Her retirement plans remain undecided, but she expressed interest in continuing social justice work or engagement in Democratic politics. Despite stepping down as the senior rabbi at CBST, she will maintain ties with the community as the “senior rabbi emerita.” Kleinbaum’s legacy includes fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment at CBST while advocating for progressive values within Judaism and society at large.
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