Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, waves to the crowd after speaking during a benefit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, right, and Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, in New York. (Photo: AP/Julie Jacobson)
Hillary Rodham Clinton, at what felt like a particularly unpredictable gig on her schedule, gave the keynote address at a fundraising event for Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), New York City’s LGBTQ synagogue, on Monday night.
She spoke before a crowd of 700 that had gathered at a theater of the Fashion Institute of Technology for “Bringing Vision to Life,” both to raise money for the mortgage on its new Manhattan temple and to honor Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, a notable human rights activist, for her 25 years of service.
“As she led this congregation forward, Rabbi Kleinbaum helped CBST become what it is today: a bold spiritual community of resistance and love,” said Clinton, taking the podium following a performance by the Greenwich Village Orchestra of Lincoln Portrait, by Aaron Copland, who, it was noted, was gay and Jewish, and accused of Communist affiliations during the McCarthy era. “Love is always, always needed,” she added. “It turns out resistance comes in and out of our needs, but it is high on the need list right now.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during a benefit to
celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Congregation
Beit Simchat Torah, Monday
