Idit Klein is a prominent Jewish-American activist and the President and CEO of Keshet, the leading national organization working for the full equality and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in Jewish life.
Klein took the helm of Keshet in 2001, transforming it from a local Boston group into a powerhouse with national reach. One of her most iconic achievements is serving as the executive producer of the documentary Hineini: Coming Out in a Jewish High School, which sparked a global conversation on LGBTQ+ inclusion in Jewish educational settings. Her work focuses not just on policy change, but on shifting the cultural landscape of Jewish life through inclusive curricula in schools, camps, and synagogues.
Klein’s stance is rooted in “intersectional” justice. She maintains that supporting LGBTQ+ rights and Palestinian dignity are not contradictory, as both stem from the belief that everyone is created B’tselem Elohim (in the Divine Image). In late 2023 and 2024, she joined other Jewish leaders in signing open letters calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urging the U.S. to protect all civilian lives. She has stated: “As someone dedicated to building belonging, I know what happens when a group’s fundamental humanity is denied. We cannot seek inclusion within our community while remaining blind to systemic oppression outside of it. Our faith demands that we fight for the right to life and self-determination for every person.”