A Pioneering New York Rabbi Says Goodbye to Her L.G.B.T.Q. Congregation

Retirement of Rabbi Kleinbaum, a Leader in LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement #

After a three-decade-long controversy, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is retiring from her role as the leader of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in Midtown Manhattan. The congregation, the largest LGBTQ synagogue in the US, has grown under Rabbi Kleinbaum’s progressive vision for Judaism. She has also become a national figure in the LGBTQ civil rights movement, advocating for acceptance within Judaism. Over the years, Rabbi Kleinbaum has been a confidante to liberal political leaders.