December 12, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum will give the drashah/sermon as Rabbi Emerita at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (6:30 p.m.; 30 W. 30th St, New York, NY)
Mondays at 12 p.m. ET: The Beacon National Zoom Call with Rabbi Kleinbaum (RSVP here)
The Beacon brings together people of all faiths and secular backgrounds who feel called to stand with those facing injustice. Through WhatsApp groups, the Beacon mobilizes its diverse community members to take action. Where there is cruelty, we create visible acts of solidarity and compassion. Where there is fear, we build community and mutual understanding.
The Beacon launched in New York City on January 20, 2025. Our multifaith and multicultural traditions inspire us to welcome the stranger, love our neighbor, and pursue justice. Together, we are developing an action model that other cities can replicate. Together, we are beacons of light and love.
As beacons, our actions offer messages and images that powerfully contrast the hate, fear, and despair amplified in the news cycle. Through community organizing, training, and partnerships with legal, social service, labor, and faith-based organizations, we’re creating a new narrative that demonstrates the power of organized compassion in the face of hate and discriminatory acts.
When future generations ask how we responded in this crucial moment, they will see that we chose to be instruments of peace, vessels of light, and builders of the beloved community we wish to see.
Previous Events
December 7, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum was in conversation with Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers (AFT), exploring the essential role of educators in sustaining democracy and the power of collective action, in a follow-up “Authors in Conversation” event hosted by The Beacon
December 4, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum was a speaker during the session “Theologies of Power and Resistance” at the Religious Resistance to Authoritarianism conference, hosted by Interfaith Center of New York
November 21-22: Rabbi Kleinbaum was scholar in residence with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz at Temple Sinai in Brookline, MA, including the speech “What Does a Lesbian Reconstructionist Rabbi Have in Common with an Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi? Freedom, Identity and the Future of Jewish Democracy” and sessions including “We Don’t Stand Idly By: A Study Session on LGBTQ+ Justice, Democracy, and the Jewish Duty of Presence”
November 17-18, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum was a speaker during the session “Gender, Sexuality, and Inclusion” at the JTS conference “Upholding Human Dignity in Turbulent Times: An Interreligious Convening”
November 2, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum was in conversation with Randi Weingarten, president of American Federation of Teachers (AFT), for “Authors in Conversation,” discussing her New York Times-bestselling book “Why Fascists Fear Teachers,” hosted by The Beacon
October 26, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum spoke at Zohran Mamdani’s final New York City mayoral candidacy rally, held at Forest Hills Stadium (Queens, NY)
October 13, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum was a featured speaker at Multifaith Mondays, discussing the power of nonviolence at Multifaith Mondays: Moral Witness for Democracy (5:30 p.m.; Columbus Circle at 59th St. and Central Park West)
September 17, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum teaches “Gandhi: The Power of Nonviolence” with Dr. Dennis Dalton, a second Gandhi course from The Beacon, via Zoom.
September 15, 2025: Speaker at Interfaith Alliance National Conference; National Religious Freedom in Public Schools Summit Keynote with Randi Weingarten, moderated by Rev. Paul Raushenbush, CEO of Interfaith Alliance (Dallas, TX)
September 14, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum speaks at UnXeptable’s End The War Bring Them Home rally, (2 p.m.; Washington Square Park’s Garibaldi Plaza, New York, NY)
September 10, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum in conversation with Rabbi Noa Sattath, Executive Director of ACRI), at Ha’aretz Conference (Marlene Meyerson JCC, New York, NY)
September 10, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum teaches “Gandhi: The Power of Nonviolence” with Dr. Dennis Dalton, a second Gandhi course from The Beacon, via Zoom
September 3, 2025: Guest speaker at Union Theological Seminary’s 189th Convocation (New York, NY)
September 3, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum teaches “Gandhi: The Power of Nonviolence” with Dr. Dennis Dalton, a second Gandhi course from The Beacon, via Zoom
August 8, 2025: Rabbi Emeritus Sermon/Drashah at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (6:30 p.m.; 130 E. 30th St, NYC) — Watch here »
August 3, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum delivered the guest sermon “Comfort Ye My People” at First Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown, NY — Watch here »
July 30, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum served as a panelist at Union Theological Seminary’s “Spirituality in a Time of Unrest: A Virtual Conversation on Faith, Resilience, and Public Life,” moderated by UTS President Rev. Dr. Serene Jones — Watch here »
July 21, 2025: Featured speaker at Multifaith Mondays: Moral Witness for Democracy (5:30 p.m.; Columbus Circle at 59th St. and Central Park West)
July 7, 2025: Panelist at Oxford University on history and theology of LGBTQ+ in Judaism, part of GIC+ Project’s Senior Religious Leadership and LGBTQ+ Rights Summer Programme
June 28, 2025: Pride Speaker at B’nai Jeshurun, Shabbat Morning Service (270 W. 89th St., New York, NY)
June 27, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum offers the invocation at Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York State Interfaith Reception
June 24, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum teaches “Intro to Gandhian Philosophy & Nonviolence” via The Beacon, on Zoom
June 23, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum offers the opening prayer at the 2025 James Parks Morton Interfaith Center of New York Awards Gala (New York, NY)
June 21, 2025: Pride Speaker at Congregation Darchei Noam (150 W. 85th St., New York, NY)
June 17, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum teaches “Intro to Gandhian Philosophy & Nonviolence” via The Beacon, on Zoom
June 16, 2025: Guest Speaker at Multifaith Mondays: Moral Witness for Democracy, Columbus Circle at 59th St. and Central Park West, NYC
June 10, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum teaches “Intro to Gandhian Philosophy & Nonviolence” via The Beacon, on Zoom
June 7, 2025: Guest Speaker at Rutherford, New Jersey’s PrideFest (Lincoln Park, 115 Highland Cross, Rutherford, NJ)
June 6, 2025: Pride Drashah at Anshe Chesed (251 W. 100th St., New York, NY)
June 4, 2025: SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva Honors Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum at Shaping Tradition, In-Person and Online
June 2, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum gave the speech “What the LGBTQ Movement Has to Teach Us ABout How to Survive Times of Great Adversity” at Congregation Beth Sholom (354 Maitland Ave, Teaneck, NJ)
June 1, 2025: Guest speaker at Rabbi Yael Ridberg’s stepping down event at Congregation Dor Hadash (San Diego, CA)
May 29, 2025: Rabbi Kleinbaum gave the drashah/sermon as Rabbi Emerita at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (130 W. 30th St, New York, NY)
May 15, 2025: Guest Speaker at Installation of Rabbi Aliza Schwartz (Temple Hillel B’nai Torah, 120 Corey St., West Roxbury, MA)
May 14, 2025: Invocation by Rabbi Kleinbaum at NY Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reception in honor of Jewish Heritage Month
April 27, 2025: Blessing for Idit Klein’s stepping down event at Keshet
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum 