Amidst over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ pieces of legislation, an onslaught of attacks on our rights at the federal level, and escalating antisemitism, Keshet rose to new heights.
Here we are. Resilient. Hopeful. Proud of what we accomplished together, in defiance of everything that attempted to dim our colors this year. Those attempts are not slowing down, and neither are we.
Keshet 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 and valued; and advance LGBTQ+ rights nationwide.
600Partnered with more than 600 Jewish organizations that collectively serve millions of people across North America to advance LGBTQ+ belonging and equality in Jewish life
13,000Engaged over 13,000 people to empower queer Jewish youth, train Jewish leaders to build communities of belonging, and organize their Jewish communities to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights
353Mobilized 353 Jewish organizations to fight back against legislative attacks on the rights of LGBTQ+ youth through Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, a partnership of Keshet and SOJOURN
98Organized close to 100 LGBTQ+ Jewish Pride events and Pride march contingents in major cities across the U.S., including New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, and more
Our Education & Training team bolsters Jewish institutions—synagogues, day schools, JCCs, federations, summer camps, and more—to live their values as communities of equality and belonging. Through individualized consultations, trainings, and our cohort-based Shivyon: Keshet’s Equality Project, our Education & Training team fosters change across Jewish life, from the perspectives of our leaders and community members to the policies and programs of our institutions. In the wake of the inauguration and the subsequent anti-LGBTQ+, and particularly anti-trans, executive orders and administration memos, we began to receive a record number of pained, urgent requests from Jewish leaders, seeking guidance from Keshet about how to stay safe and support their transgender, nonbinary, and intersex community members. Keshet met this need by preparing new resources with research-backed and up-to-date information for Jewish community members and organizations. These resources, such as “Services for Trans Adults and Families of Trans People,” “How Your Jewish Community Can Be a Safe Haven for Trans People,” and “Trans Youth and Athletes Belong in Sports” helped LGBTQ+ Jews and allies take care of themselves and their communities as we faced the pressing issues before us in 2025.
233Jewish organizations—day schools, camps, synagogues, JCCs, service organizations, and other institutions—trained by Shivyon: Keshet Equality Project and other Keshet signature offerings
8,300Staff and leaders trained at Jewish institutions across the United States
81%of organizations participating in Keshet Education & Training programs reported implementing or working towards at least one change to policy, programs, or culture to advance LGBTQ+ equality
“Through Shivyon: Keshet’s Equality Project, we have been able to shift our LGBTQ+ programming to be more impactful, increase awareness surrounding our code of ethics, make our membership and school forms more inclusive, and train our school’s faculty on how to be more inclusive to students and families. The coaching sessions, goals, resources, and constant evaluation were incredibly helpful.”
– Shira Stevenson, Director of Small Groups & Diversity, Temple Emanu-El, Texas
Keshet creates communities where LGBTQ+ and ally Jewish youth can thrive. From our in-person Shabbatonim weekend retreats, to our weekly online programs, to youth leadership offerings, we cultivate spaces where teens (ages 13-18) and young adults (ages 18-24) can strengthen their confidence, connection, and pride. Through Keshet, queer and transgender Jewish youth hone the skills to be the leaders and changemakers that our Jewish community—and our country—need. In 2025 Keshet launched programs for a new age group: LGBTQ+ Jewish tweens ages 11-13, in response to a nationwide gap in LGBTQ+ programs for this group and the need expressed by parents, synagogues, and the tweens themselves.
1,679Youth engaged through programs
85%of Keshet Youth Programs were youth-led
83%of participating youth report increased ease, confidence, and pride in LGBTQ+ Jewish identity
83%of youth report that thanks to their leadership in Keshet, they are able to serve as change agents for LGBTQ+ equality in their home communities
100%of youth Shabbaton participants reported feeling safe and affirmed
“Keshet is the thing giving me hope right now. It makes me really happy, and I know if Keshet keeps doing the work they’re doing—for youth, and adults, and everyone in between—that the world will be a better place. It gives me hope for the world.”
– Rena, 18, Keshet Youth Leader and Shabbaton participant
As more and more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies are introduced, Keshet continues to galvanize Jewish communities to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights at the state and federal levels. We partner with Jewish organizations to include LGBTQ+ equality within their social justice priorities and work with secular LGBTQ+ movement partners to bring a Jewish voice to campaigns for our rights, safety, and dignity. In 2025, Keshet’s Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth grew to more than 350 partner organizations taking action together so that our young people to have the freedom to be their full selves, pursue their dreams, and live with dignity.
353Jewish community organizations collectively fought back against attacks on the rights of transgender young people with Thrive: The Jewish Coalition to Defend Trans and LGBQ+ Youth, representing a 32% growth from last year’s membership
5,715People mobilized to take action in support of LGBTQ+ rights through in-person meetings, phone banking, email campaigns, and other touchpoints
40%of people who took action through Keshet reported it being their first time advocating for LGBTQ+ rights
“When planning my first Faith Institute at Creating Change (the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy conference in the U.S.), I knew Keshet was the right organization to represent the Jewish voice and build a meaningful program. Beyond facilitating key sessions, Keshet also led the Jewish Caucus, Shabbat service, and a workshop—creating a truly inclusive and pluralistic space for all participants. Their presence ensures Jewish representation in faith-based LGBTQ+ advocacy, helping us navigate complex challenges while fostering a welcoming environment.”
– Tahil Sharma, Faith Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force
In 2025, Keshet’s programs by and for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color created spaces for hundreds of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color across the country, including our monthly online affinity group and our annual in-person Keshet Neshamot/Rainbow Souls Shabbaton for LGBTQ+ Jews of Color, where we come together for a weekend retreat to celebrate Shabbat. Through this work, Keshet recognized a glaring lack of research about the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color. So we took action, conducted a survey of nearly 100 LGBTQ+ Jews of Color from more than 20 states across the country, and published Threads of Identity: LGBTQ+ Jews of Color in the Fabric of Jewish Life. This first-of-its-kind report, now viewed more than 5,000 times, reflects the voices and insights of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color and offers actionable steps for the Jewish community to honor the full spectrum of its members. Keshet began to incorporate findings from Threads of Identity into our programs, creating a unique photography exhibit entitled, Flowers for Our People, reimagining iconic figures from Jewish texts through the lens of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color and thus providing meaningful representation of LGBTQ+ Jews of Color where it didn’t exist before.
201Participants engaged
95%of participants report feeling increased ease, confidence, and/or pride in their LGBTQ+ Jew of Color Identity
95%of participants report feeling a stronger sense of community and a heightened sense of belonging within the Jewish community
21Programs offered
“It is so important to document the experiences of queer Jews of Color. So often, we are asked to lead with one piece of our identity—race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It is rare to be asked and allowed to show up as a full person. This first study focusing on queer Jews of Color is starting to create spaces where queer Jews of Color can do just that, and where those of us who study contemporary American Jewish life can learn about all aspects of their intersectional experiences. Much research needs to be done on the particular experience of QJOC, but this study is a vital first step.”
– Dr. Samira Mehta,
Associate Professor of Women and Gender Studies and Jewish Studies at University of Colorado Boulder
When Keshet saw the dire need for LGBTQ+ people to relocate for safety amid a dizzying onslaught of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in their home states, we reached out to a trusted partner, Hebrew Free Loan Society. Together our organizations developed an innovative solution: Move to Thrive interest-free loans. In 2025, more than $228,000 in loans were disbursed, enabling 51 individuals, like Ci and her family, to move to states in which they can live more safely and thrive as their full selves.
“As an LGBTQ+ couple raising four adopted children of color, Keshet’s Move to Thrive program gave us the chance to escape, rebuild our life in Massachusetts, and find a safe and welcoming Jewish community. This loan gave us hope for the future.”
– Ci, Massachusetts
“Moving an entire household across state lines involves many unexpected expenses, and the loan helped us manage those logistics in a way that felt stable rather than precarious.
Just as importantly, the program represented something larger than financial assistance. It was a reminder that there are organizations and communities that care deeply about the well-being and safety of LGBTQ+ people.”
– Frankie, Minnesota
“Life in Texas was more terrifying and exhausting day by day. The school district where I taught was enforcing proposed bills around trans kids before they even passed. Move to Thrive helped my spouse and I cover costs that included home hunting, the moving truck, and all the fees associated with moving over 900 miles away from everyone we’ve ever known. Now I’m teaching here and I can fully, safely, authentically be who I am.”
– James, Minnesota
National Office - Boston
1860 Washington St.
Newton, MA 02466
Phone: 617.524.9227
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