CONTACT:
Thea Hillman, Chief Communications Officer, Keshet
thea.hillman@keshetonline.org 

Krass’ Lifelong Commitment to LGBTQ+ Equality and Belonging Will Propel Keshet to Meet U.S. Political and Social Moment

Boston, MA — June 20, 2025 — Today, Ari Kristan (she/her), Chair of the Keshet Board of Directors, announced that Jaimie Krass (she/her) will be the organization’s next President and Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2025. Krass will be succeeding Idit Klein (she/her), who will step down on July 31, 2025, after 24 years at the helm of Keshet, the nation’s leading organization working for LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life. 

The Keshet Board voted unanimously in support of Krass for the role. “What stood out to us about Jaimie’s candidacy was her deep knowledge of the Jewish and LGBTQ+ landscapes; her hopeful and strategic approach to the work; and the strength of her vision for Keshet in this moment and into the future,” said Kristan. 

Krass will be stepping into this role from her current position as Keshet Director of Youth Programs. As Director of Youth Programs, Krass revolutionized Keshet’s youth programming model in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing crucial space for youth in need of community, growing participation in Keshet programs by over 200%, and bolstering partnerships with national Jewish communal organizations and youth movements. Under Krass’ leadership, Keshet youth programs have become a national model for youth leadership development, youth-led program design, and cultivating belonging in Jewish life. 

Krass said, “I am honored to be stepping into this role, especially as assaults on our rights—particularly the rights of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people—are intensifying, amidst rising antisemitism, racism, and other forms of hate. Our identities, our humanity, our dignity, which we know to be holy, face painful disparagement in these attacks. Keshet’s role as a national leader has never been more vital.” 

While stewarding Keshet’s life-affirming youth work, Krass also advanced Keshet’s fundraising efforts and provided additional leadership as Keshet navigated heightened communal divisions, through her work with senior leadership, key stakeholders, and organizational partners.   

Klein said, “I am thrilled to know that Jaimie will be the next President and CEO of Keshet. Jaimie brings astute analysis, insight, and profound wisdom along with enormous heart, empathy, and authenticity to everything she does at Keshet and in the world. I am confident that she will take Keshet to dramatically new heights in ways that are beyond what we can currently envision.” 

Prior to joining Keshet, Krass worked as a campus Hillel professional at Columbia/Barnard and Muhlenberg. Jaimie has her MA in Jewish education and nonprofit leadership from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and her BA in Jewish studies and political science from the University of Florida. 

PHOTO – Jaimie Krass

PHOTO – Idit Klein

National Leaders Reflect on Jaimie Krass:  

“National Council of Jewish Women is thrilled to congratulate our longtime friend and collaborator Jaimie Krass on her appointment as CEO of Keshet. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Jaimie for years, as she worked on campus at Hillel and then in her role as Director of Youth Programs at Keshet, and have seen firsthand the depth of her leadership. She is strategic, relational, and profoundly committed to the dignity and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and youth. Jaimie brings a unique ability to mobilize communities, nurture young leaders, and move people toward justice with clarity, courage, and heart. As LGBTQ+ rights face relentless attacks, Jaimie is exactly the kind of bold, visionary leader Keshet and our broader Jewish community need in this moment.” 

— Sheila Katz, she/her, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women 

“One of the things that moves me so deeply about Jaimie’s leadership is that she has the unique ability to hold the big picture advocacy work with caring for, and connecting with, individuals. From her work in supporting LGBTQ+ teens to supporting the next generation of leaders as they rise, and from helping to build Keshet’s culture to embodying the very ideals that ground her leadership, she’s a force to be reckoned with and I feel thankful for her clarity, confidence, and enthusiasm as she prepares to take on this new role.” 

— Kohenet Keshira haLev Fife, she/they, Founding Kohenet of Kesher Pittsburgh,
Independent Community weaver, Consultant, and Facilitator 

“I was both thrilled and immediately more calm when I learned that Jaimie Krass will be at the helm of Keshet moving forward. Jaimie is a dependable, kind, creative, and passionate leader and colleague. She knows and feels deeply all that is at stake right now – especially for youth but for all of us. She has the unique skills to hold our diverse community together as we fight with heart and wisdom for the rights of LGBTQ+ Jews and our allies. She is a trusted thought partner of mine who I truly enjoy dreaming and strategizing with and who always makes time to think through a thorny challenge or emerging need. I look forward to the next chapter of working with Jaimie as she steps into her new role as CEO and President of Keshet.” 

— Rabbi Tamara Cohen, she/her, Chief of Program and Strategy, Moving Traditions 

“For the past five years, I’ve witnessed Jaimie’s incredible leadership firsthand. She’s grown the scale and impact of Keshet’s youth programs, led the team through divisive and complicated times, and created programs where Jewish LGBTQ+ youth can show up as their full selves. Through it all, she’s taken the time to serve as a personal role model to dozens of teens, including my son. Jaimie’s warmth, commitment, and strategic approach embody what Keshet is about. I’m so excited for the impact I know she’ll have in her new role.” 

— Elizabeth Fisher, she/her, Chief Talent Officer, Jewish Federations of North America 

“Jamie Krass is the ideal leader to advance Keshet’s work to ensure that the Jewish community is a safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community. Her expertise, work ethic, and commitment to community building reflect the passion she brings to her work. These qualities have been invaluable to BBYO in our ongoing efforts to set the highest standard of safety and inclusivity for Jewish teens of all backgrounds.”       

—  Matthew Grossman, he/him, CEO, BBYO

ABOUT KESHET
Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. By strengthening Jewish communities and equipping Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge they need to make all LGBTQ+ Jews feel welcome, we work to ensure the full equality of all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families in Jewish life. We also create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued and advance LGBTQ+ rights nationwide. Visit keshetonline.org to join us.