A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sa’ed Atshan, 2024–2025 Randolph Fellow in Peace, Conflict, and the Middle East at Vassar. Professor Atshan will be joined by Rabbi Bryan Mann, Rachlin Director of Jewish Student Life and Assistant Director of the RSCLP, and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Senior Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBTQ synagogue.

Questions to be addressed by the panelist include: How does one reconcile faith and sexuality? What is unique about Judaism and what overlaps with other religious communities? How does a queer faith-based lens shed light on Zionism, Israel/Palestine, and American politics? How can we center compassion, peace, and justice in a world in need of healing?

Sa’ed Atshan is the 2024–25 Randolph Fellow in Peace, Conflict, and the Middle East at Vassar College, Chair of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Swarthmore College. He is the author of Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique (Stanford University Press, 2020), coauthor of The Moral Triangle: Germans, Israelis, Palestinians (Duke University Press, 2020), and co-editor of Reel Gender: Palestinian and Israeli Cinema (Bloomsbury, 2022). He is currently completing a book on Paradoxes of Humanitarianism: The Social Life of Aid in the Palestinian Territories (Stanford).

Rabbi Bryan Mann is Rachlin Director for Jewish Student Life and Assistant Director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life and Contemplative Practices at Vassar. He has been at Vassar since Fall 2020. He received his rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College in 2018 along with a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education and a certificate in spirituality and social justice. As a queer rabbi, his queerness is shaped by his Judaism and his Judaism is shaped by his queerness. He is a proud dog dad to Babka, a 4-year-old black lab, and a lover of all things fantasy. He is currently reading his way through Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and playing his way through Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Prior to coming to Vassar, he worked as a congregational rabbi at a Reform synagogue in Brandon, FL.

Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum is a prominent figure in the Jewish community known for her leadership and advocacy. She has dedicated her life to promoting social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and progressive values within Judaism. Rabbi Kleinbaum served for 32 years as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City, a congregation that specifically welcomes LGBTQ+ people and allies. Under her guidance, CBST grew into one of the largest LGBTQ+-affirming synagogues in the world. She played a pivotal role in creating an inclusive space where LGBTQ+ Jews could express their faith without fear of discrimination. Known for her eloquent teachings and passionate advocacy, Rabbi Kleinbaum is a vocal supporter of various causes, including marriage equality, HIV/AIDS awareness, and refugee rights. She often emphasizes the importance of intersectionality and the need for diverse voices within both the Jewish community and broader social movements. Throughout her career, Rabbi Kleinbaum has challenged traditional interpretations of Judaism to align with her progressive values, encouraging a more inclusive and compassionate approach. Her work has had a significant impact on reshaping the narrative around LGBTQ+ inclusion within religious spaces. As Rabbi Emerita, she continues to inspire and lead, making substantial contributions to the ongoing conversations about faith, identity, and social justice. Her life’s work reflects a commitment to fostering understanding, empathy, and positive change within both the Jewish community and society at large.

Sponsored by the Dean of the Faculty Office.

Campus community only, please.