Rabbi Jason Klein

Rabbi Jason Klein (he/they) brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role as a spiritual leader, educator, and advocate for social justice. With a diverse rabbinic background spanning various congregational and educational settings, Rabbi Klein is committed to enriching Jewish communities and fostering meaningful connections among their members. Rabbi Klein has a passion for Jewish prayer, the diversity of Jewish traditions across communities, midrash, feminist and queer readings of Jewish texts, and modern approaches to Jewish law. Rabbi Klein strives to be an advocate for racial equity and for lasting justice and peace for Israeli and Palestinian people. His writing has appeared in Torah Queeries (Drinkwater et al.), A Guide to Jewish Practice (Teutsch), and ritualwell.org.

Throughout his career, Rabbi Klein has served in pivotal roles that reflect his multifaceted approach to leadership. After spending four years as rabbi at the Reconstructionist Congregation Beth Emeth in Hewlett, New York, where he honed his pulpit skills and deepened his engagement with congregants, he dedicated seven years as the Hillel Director at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, overseeing ritual life, pastoral care, and development. His tenure there was marked by his proactive approach to supporting students and colleagues across faith traditions while fostering a vibrant Jewish community on campus.

Rabbi Klein returned to New York City for five years serving the Jewish Community Project of Lower Manhattan, where he oversaw ritual life and pastoral care and worked closely with his team and volunteer leaders to build innovative engagement and educational opportunities. He left the east coast to oversee education at Temple Israel, a large congregation in Minneapolis, as Director of Lifelong Learning. From summer camp to Torah study, his dynamic leadership style and creative approach to engagement impact multigenerational across the generations. Most recently as Associate University Chaplain for the Jewish Community at Brown University and Rabbi of Brown RISD Hillel, Rabbi Klein nurtured Jewish students and their peers across religious, cultural, and political backgrounds.

Beyond his pastoral and educational roles, Rabbi Klein is a passionate advocate for social justice, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ rights and interfaith collaboration. As the first openly gay president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, he has championed diversity and accessibility within Jewish communities nationwide. 

With a rich tapestry of experiences, Rabbi Klein continues his work at CBST to inspire and enrich our community. His dedication to radical hospitality and fostering communities that reflect the lived diversity of the Jewish people has left an indelible mark on the communities fortunate to have benefited from his leadership.