Keshet (organization)

Keshet Inc
FormationJuly 20, 2001 (2001-07-20)[1]
FounderIdit Klein[2]
Founded atJamaica Plain, Massachusetts[2]
Merger ofJewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Keshet
Type501(c)(3) nonprofit organization[2]
48-1278664[2]
PurposeKeshet works for the full equality of all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families in Jewish life. We strengthen Jewish communities. We equip Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge to build LGBTQ+ affirming communities; create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen.[2]
HeadquartersNewton, Massachusetts[2]
Locations
Coordinates42°18′52″N 71°06′14″W / 42.3145051°N 71.1038443°W / 42.3145051; -71.1038443
Executive Director
Jaimie Krass [2]
Revenue$6,577,240[2] (2023)
Expenses$4,818,138[2] (2023)
Staff34[2] (2023)
Volunteers35[2] (2023)
Websitewww.keshetonline.org

Keshet (Hebrew: קשת, romanized: keshet, lit. 'rainbow') is a national organization with offices in Boston, New York, Chicago, Florida, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Keshet works for the full equality of all LGBTQ+ Jews and their families in Jewish life. Keshet strengthens Jewish communities, equips Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge to build LGBTQ+ affirming communities, creates spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued, and advances LGBTQ+ rights nationwide.

History

Keshet was founded in 1996 as a small, volunteer-run group in Boston by Jonathan Krasner and Jared Goldfarb.[3] In 2001, Idit Klein was hired as Keshet’s first full-time employee.

In 2001, Keshet supported the creation of the first Gay-Straight Alliance at a Jewish high school at the New Jewish High School in Waltham, Massachusetts. In 2005, Keshet produced the documentary Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School and companion curriculum.

From 2004-2007, Keshet mobilized widespread Jewish community support to preserve the first-in-the-nation marriage equality in Massachusetts.

In 2010, it was announced that Jewish Mosaic: The National Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, another American Jewish LGBTQ+ organization, would merge with Keshet, with the post-merger organization retaining the name "Keshet". The merger was aided through a grant from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.[4][5][6]

In 2012, Keshet launched the first-ever Keshet Shabbaton for LGBTQ+ and Ally Jewish Teens.

In 2013, Keshet partnered with Kar-Ben Publishing to publish The Purim Superhero, the first Jewish children’s book to feature gay characters.

In 2018, Keshet mobilized over 70% of all Jewish communities in Massachusetts to successfully defend transgender rights statewide.

Between 2021-2024, Keshet established new Keshet offices in Florida and Texas to join teams in Boston, New York, Chicago, and the Bay Area.

In 2022, Keshet launched Thrive: the Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, which now includes over 300 Jewish organizational partners.

In 2023, Keshet hired a full-time Jews of Color program manager. In 2024, Keshet hosted the first-ever Shabbaton for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color. Keshet released “Threads of Identity: LGBTQ+ Jews of Color in the Fabric of Jewish Life” in 2025. It is the first-ever report to explore the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color in Jewish spaces.

In 2025, Keshet, in partnership with the Hebrew Free Loan Society, created Move to Thrive, the first-ever Jewish loan fund for LGBTQ+ people needing to relocate to safer states due to anti-LGBTQ+ attacks.

National programs

Education & Training

Through individualized consultations, trainings, and Keshet’s cohort-based Shivyon: Keshet’s Equality Project, the Keshet Education & Training team provides Jewish institutions — synagogues, day schools, JCCs, federations, summer camps, and more — with tools to inspire and implement changes that foster LGBTQ+ equality. These changes have varied from the views of leaders and community members to an organization’s policies and programs.[7]

Community Mobilization & LGBTQ+ Advocacy

As more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies are introduced, Keshet is mobilizing Jewish communities nationwide to fight back. Keshet partners with Jewish organizations to prioritize LGBTQ+ equality within their social justice agendas and with secular LGBTQ+ movement partners to bring a Jewish voice to civil rights campaigns. Keshet has impacted the outcomes of a number of legislative initiatives, notably its support for Marriage Equality in the State of Massachusetts in 2004 and for Marriage Equally at the federal level in 2015, canvassing Jewish organizations and institutions to support the measures whenever a vote has arisen. Keshet has also voiced strong support for the Equality Act, the Respect for Marriage Act of 2022, and H.R. 2725, The Do No Harm Act of 2024.[8][9][10][11] Other notable bills Keshet has opposed include H.R.734 - Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 and H.R.5 - Parents Bill of Rights Act of 2023.[12][13] In 2024, Keshet successfully defeated 21 of 22 anti-LGBTQ+ state bills in coalition with their organizational partners in Florida.[14]

Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+

Founded in collaboration with the Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender & Sexual Diversity (SOJOURN), Thrive is a coalition for Jewish community institutions that want to protect and advance LGBTQ+ civil rights on both state and federal levels. Thrive has participated in multiple political campaigns, including advocating for the Respect for Marriage Act of 2022.[15] As of 2025, there are over 330 member organizations.[16]

Jews of Color Programming

Keshet offers programming and resources to cultivate communities of belonging for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color, including an annual weekend retreat, monthly online affinity spaces, and materials to help Jewish communities become stronger and more effective allies, and to welcome and affirm LGBTQ+ Jews of Color.

Keshet published Threads of Identity: LGBTQ+ Jews of Color in the Fabric of Jewish Life in February 2025, the first-of-its-kind study of the experiences of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color in Jewish spaces. The findings of the study highlight the lack of inclusion, support, and representation LGBTQ+ Jews of Color experience within the Jewish Community.[17][18] The study was supported by the Jews of Color Initiative’s research grant, in particular the Jews of Color Initiative’s “Beyond the Count” research team.[19]

Move to Thrive

In March 2025, Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society partnered to create an interest-free loan program for LGBTQ+ people facing discrimination to help cover costs of relocation within the United States.[20]

Youth Programs

Keshet Youth Programs

Keshet offers a variety of programs and resources geared for LGBTQ+ Jewish youth and allies, including tweens (11-13), teens (13-18), and post-high school young people (18-24). The Youth Programs team runs annual weekend retreats, weekly online programs, local youth hangouts in Chicago and New York, and creates resources for youth-serving professionals to help them affirm and support LGBTQ+ Jewish youth.[21]

Keshet Shabbaton

Keshet hosts LGBTQ+ & Ally Teen Shabbaton retreats, also known as Shabbat weekend retreats, for LGBTQ+ and ally Jewish teenagers ages 13-18. These retreats take place in regional locations throughout the United States.

Leadership

From 2001 through mid 2025, Idit Klein served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of Keshet. Klein grew Keshet from a local organization with an annual budget of $42,000 to a national organization with offices in six states and a multi-million budget. In addition, she served as the executive producer of Keshet’s documentary film, “Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School” which inspired the formation of GSAs in Jewish schools around the country.

As of August 1, 2025, Jaimie Krass succeeded Klein as Keshet President and CEO.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Business Entity Summary: Keshet Inc". Corporations Division. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Keshet 2023 IRS Form 990" (PDF). keshetonline.org.
  3. ^ "קשת Keshet: For LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ". the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  4. ^ "Keshet and Jewish Mosaic to merge | The Fundermentalist | JTA - Jewish & Israel News". blogs.jta.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  5. ^ Berkman, Jacob (2010-06-18). "Keshet and Jewish Mosaic to merge". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  6. ^ "Behind the Keshet-Jewish Mosaic Merger". Keshet. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  7. ^ "Inside the Keshet Shivyon Equality Project". Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest New Jersey. February 20, 2025.
  8. ^ Riley, John (2019-05-14). "Religious leaders and people of faith rally in DC in support of Equality Act". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  9. ^ Justice, Jewish Center for (2021-02-23). "UPDATE 🚨 The Equality Act has passed HOUSE, now in SENATE 🏳️‍🌈 Here's how to take action". Jewish Center for Justice. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  10. ^ Kampeas, Ron (2022-09-08). "More than 100 Jewish groups back the bill that would codify same-sex marriage protections into federal law". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  11. ^ "Shabbat Shalom from Temple Beth El". www.tbetacoma.org. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  12. ^ "US Jewish Organizations Letter to the House of Representatives Opposing Legislation Banning Transgender Youth Athletes". Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "Reach Out to Your Congresspeople for LGBTQ Rights". www.tbemadison.org. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  14. ^ "'Love is Kosher': Jewish Federation steps up for LGBTQ+ rights with first-ever Palm Beach Pride Parade float". Sun Sentinel. 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  15. ^ "U.S. Jewish Organizations' Letter to Senate Supporting Respect for Marriage Act". Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Archived from the original on 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  16. ^ "Thrive Coalition". Sojourn. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  17. ^ Stub, Zev (2025-03-12). "Isolated and excluded: New survey highlights challenges of global LGBTQ+ Jews of Color". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  18. ^ "Threads of Identity". Keshet. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  19. ^ "RESEARCH". Jews of Color Initiative. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  20. ^ "Keshet and HFLS Launch "Move to Thrive" Interest-Free Loan Program for LGBTQ+". Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS). Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  21. ^ "Youth Programs". Keshet. Retrieved 2025-08-18.
  22. ^ Pogrebin, Abigail (2025-06-26). "She revolutionized the world for LGBTQ Jews, and now she's ready for a new challenge". The Forward. Retrieved 2025-08-18.

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