2026-03-01 10:14:PM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #LeftwingJewry ![[image-242.png|300]] # Keshet - Keshet (Hebrew for "rainbow") is a U.S. based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on Jewish-LGBTQ advocacy. - According to Keshet's longtime director Idit Klein, "every committed Jew should see LGBTQ rights as a _tzedek_ issue, not in spite of their commitment to Jewish tradition but because of it."[^13] *Tzedek is a Jewish principle for "justice" or "fairness." * - Keshet is based in Boston with regional offices in New York, Miami, Chicago, Texas, and San Francisco.[^1] - Keshet is pro-Israel. #### Activities - Keshet was founded in 1996 by Jonathan Krasner and Jared Goldfarb.[^1] - The organization was taken over by Idit Klein in 2001 with funding from the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston - the name for the Boston [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federation.]] - Keshet promotes "LGBTQ safe zones" with Jewish-branded gay stickers. ![[image-244.png]] *Copy of the sticker Keshet [provides](https://www.keshetonline.org/resources/lgbtq-jewish-safe-zone-stickers/#:~:text=Displaying%20these-,LGBTQ%20Jewish%20Safe%20Zone%20and%20Pride%20stickers,-is%20an%20easy) for people to print and use.* --- - Keshet trains Jewish organizations, institutions, and synagogues to use "LGBTQ affirming" and "inclusive" hiring practices and language.[^1] - Keshet runs pro-LGBT Jewish summer camps called shabbaton.[^1] - In 2020, amid mass riots following the death of George Floyd, Keshet joined 600+ Jewish organizations saying " Unequivocally: Black Lives Matter."[^11] - The message was presented in a full page ad in the *New York Times.* ![[image-245.png|550]] *2020 NYT ad taken out by over 600 Jewish organizations. Keshet is circled in blue.* - In 2022, Keshet and the [[Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)]] led 100+ Jewish organizations in a letter to the Senate in support of the Respect for Marriage Act.[^6] - Keshet and the URJ were joined by: [[ADL]], [[Avodah]], [[Aytzim]], [[American Jewish World Service]], [[Bend the Arc]], [[B'nai B'rith]], [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]], [[Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC)]], [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]], [[Hadassah]], [[J Street]], various [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)|Jewish Federations]], [[JCC Association of North America|JCC Asheville]], [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]], [[Jewish Council on Urban Affairs]], [[Jewish Labor Committee (JLC)]], [[Jewish Women International]], [[Jews for a Secular Democracy]], [[National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)]], [[New Israel Fund]], [[Rabbinical Assembly]], [[The Workers Circle]]. - The Respect for Marriage Act codified the principles of: - *Loving v. Virginia* - 1967 - Federally legalized interracial marriage. *The plaintiffs, Mildred and Richard Loving, were represented by two Jewish lawyers from the [[ACLU]].*[^4][^5] - *United States v. Windsor* - 2013 - Corrupted the definition of marriage by ruling section three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. *Section three of the DOMA defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman.* - *Obergefell v. Hodges* - 2015 - Legalized gay marriage federally, removing state sovereignty regarding marriage policy. - In 2023, Keshet and the [[Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)]] led a coalition of 90+ Jewish organizations lobbying in opposition to an "anti-transgender sports ban."[^7] - The coalition cited "Jewish tradition" and "Jewish legal text" to bolster their support of transgender children. [*I am not making this up*](https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-house-representatives-opposing-anti-transgender-sports#:~:text=Jewish%20tradition%20teaches%20that%20all%20people%20are%20created%20b%27tzelem%20Elohim%2C%20in%20the%20Divine%20image%2C%20and%20are%20worthy%20of%20dignity%20and%20respect.%20Judaism%20also%20specifically%20recognizes%20the%20diversity%20of%20gender%20identity.%20In%20fact%2C%20our%20Jewish%20legal%20texts%20mention%20at%20least%20six%20different%20genders.) - Co-signatories included: [[A Wider Bridge]], [[Avodah]], [[Bend the Arc]], [[J Street]], [[Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA)]], [[Jewish Women International]], [[Jewish Labor Committee (JLC)]], [[Rabbinical Assembly]], [[Jews for Racial and Economic Justice]], [[Central Conference of American Rabbis]], [[Jews for a Secular Democracy]], [[The Workers Circle]], [[Jews for Racial and Economic Justice]]. - In 2024 Keshet sponsored "over 50 pride events."[^9] ![[image-243.png|663x441]] *Cover photo for Keshet's 2024 [annual report](https://www.keshetonline.org/annual-report-2024/#:~:text=to%20read%20our-,Annual%20Report,-!).* *physiognomy doesn't fail.* #### Funding and Donors - Keshet reports around $4-7 million in annual revenue.[^2] - In 2024, Keshet reported $4.51 million in revenue, 94% of which from donor contributions/grants. - Donors include: - [[Charles Schusterman|Charles]] and [[Lynn Schusterman]] via the [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]] - "Has been funding Keshet for 20 years." Noted in the 2024 Keshet annual report for contributing $360,000+ in the year. [^1] - [[Harry Weinberg]]'s foundation - $360,000+ annually[^9] - [[Jim Joseph Foundation]] - $360,000+ annually[^9] - [[Crown Family Philanthropies]] - $100,00+ annually[^9] - [[UJA-Federation of New York]] - $100,000+ annually[^9] - [[Seth Klarman]]'s family foundation - $100,000+ annually[^9] - The [[Samuel Bronfman]] Foundation (founded by [[Edgar Bronfman Sr.]]) - $18,000+ annually[^9] - [[Harold Grinspoon Foundation]] - $15,000-$24,999 in 2019[^10] - [[Paul Singer]]'s [[Paul E. Singer Foundation]] - $5000 in 2018[^14] #### Notable Figures - Idit Klein - President and CEO from 2001-2025.[^1] - Klein is a [gay Jew](https://forward.com/opinion/625696/made-to-feel-unwelcome-at-pride-lgbtq-jews-will-not-cede-joy/#:~:text=I%20feared%20that-,my%20gay%20identity,-might%20threaten%20my). - Klein is an Israeli-American dual citizen.[^8] - Klein is now the VP for public engagement at the [[New Israel Fund]].[^12] - According to Klein, "it can be powerfully affirming for a gay man to read homoerotic _midrash_."[^13] *Midrash is a term for rabbinic commentary and interpretation of religious texts.* - Jaime Krass - President and CEO since 2025. - Judge Seth Marnin - Keshet board chair from 2019-2023.[^3] - Marnin is a Jewish woman who thinks she's a man, i.e., a transsexual. - Marnin is the first "openly transgender male judge in the United States."[^3] - Marnin was introduced to Keshet when she [worked with Idit Klein](https://forward.com/culture/731272/idit-klein-leaving-keshet-lgbtq-jews-jamie-krass/#:~:text=New%20York%20Judge,in%20your%20humanity%E2%80%9D) and the [[ADL]] on legal cases in favor of gay marriage in 2013.[^1] #### References [^1]: Abigail Pogrebin, “She Revolutionized the World for LGBTQ Jews, and Now She’s Ready for a New Challenge,” _Forward_, June 26, 2025, [https://forward.com/culture/731272/idit-klein-leaving-keshet-lgbtq-jews-jamie-krass/](https://forward.com/culture/731272/idit-klein-leaving-keshet-lgbtq-jews-jamie-krass/). [^2]: ProPublica, “Keshet Inc.,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/481278664](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/481278664). [^3]: “Seth Marnin,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Marnin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Marnin). [^4]: “Philip Hirschkop,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Hirschkop#Loving_v._Virginia,_1967](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Hirschkop#Loving_v._Virginia,_1967). [^5]: “Bernard S. Cohen,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_S._Cohen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_S._Cohen). [^6]: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, “U.S. Jewish Organizations’ Letter to Senate Supporting Respect for Marriage Act,” _RAC.org_, September 6, 2022, [https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-senate-supporting-respect-marriage-act](https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-senate-supporting-respect-marriage-act). [^7]: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, “U.S. Jewish Organizations’ Letter to the House of Representatives Opposing Anti-Transgender Sports,” _RAC.org_, April 17, 2023, [https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-house-representatives-opposing-anti-transgender-sports](https://rac.org/press-room/us-jewish-organizations-letter-house-representatives-opposing-anti-transgender-sports). [^8]: Idit Klein, “Made to Feel Unwelcome at Pride, LGBTQ Jews Will Not Cede Joy,” _Forward_, June 22, 2024, [https://forward.com/opinion/625696/made-to-feel-unwelcome-at-pride-lgbtq-jews-will-not-cede-joy/](https://forward.com/opinion/625696/made-to-feel-unwelcome-at-pride-lgbtq-jews-will-not-cede-joy/). [^9]: Annual Report 2024, *Keshet*, [https://www.keshetonline.org/annual-report-2024/](https://www.keshetonline.org/annual-report-2024/). [^10]: 2019 Annual Report, *Keshet*, [https://www.keshetonline.org/2019-annual-report-2/](https://www.keshetonline.org/2019-annual-report-2/). [^11]: Jewish organizations say: black lives matter, _Medium_, August 28, 2020, [https://medium.com/@jewishorgssayblacklivesmatter/majority-of-american-jews-in-full-page-new-york-times-ad-unequivocally-black-lives-matter-60ae44e7c305](https://medium.com/@jewishorgssayblacklivesmatter/majority-of-american-jews-in-full-page-new-york-times-ad-unequivocally-black-lives-matter-60ae44e7c305). [^12]: New Israel Fund, “Idit Klein,” _New Israel Fund_, [https://nif.org/team/idit-klein/](https://nif.org/team/idit-klein/). [^13]: Kenissa, “Idit Klein,” _Kenissa_, October 5, 2016, [https://kenissa.org/2016/10/idit-klein/](https://kenissa.org/2016/10/idit-klein/). [^14]: ProPublica, “Paul E Singer Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending November 2018),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342/201902849349100700/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342/201902849349100700/full).