First Openly Transgender Rabbi & Disability Activist; Spiritual Care & Grief Support Practitioner

Oakland, CA, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Rabbi Elliot Kukla Biography

Elliot Kukla is a rabbi, author, and activist. In 2006, he was the first openly transgender person to be ordained as a rabbi. He has been tending to grief, dying, and becoming (more) disabled since 2007, and has been engaged in justice work since 1996. His practice of radical spiritual care brings together these two streams of expertise with his lived experience of being a trans, non-binary, disabled, anti-zionist Jew.

Elliot offers individual and organizational spiritual care for grief and loss, in addition to speaking and writing for international audiences about the intersections of justice and care. He is the founder of the Collective Loss and Adaptation Project (CLAP), which honors the disenfranchised and suffocated grief of disabled people. He is also a core faculty member at SVARA: A traditionally radical yeshiva.

Elliot’s essays have been featured in Time Magazine, Teen Vogue, British Vogue, Them, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and many other places. His essays are included in numerous anthologies and university syllabi, and have been translated into Spanish, Korean, French and Japanese. His activism is frequently featured in the media.

Kukla’s writing has been used to lobby against the medical rationing of disabled people in the California state senate and to set policies for welcoming transgender people by all non-orthodox branches of Judaism. He has spoken to audiences around the world including keynoting for Etsy, the Jewish Museum of San Francisco, and the virtual version of "Crip Camp" (the Oscar-nominated film). In 2019 he was named one of the 50 most influential Jews of 2019 by The Forward. In 2022, he was even a New Yorker crossword clue (April 12, 7 across).

BOOK Rabbi Elliot Kukla

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/14/2025.

Rabbi Elliot Kukla Speaking Topics

  • Sanctifying Queer, Trans, and Nonbinary Lifecycles

    This current moment of anti-trans backlash is often framed as a clash between traditional religious values and new-fangled ideas about gender. However, gender creativity exists all over the world and through-out history within traditional religious texts and spiritual practices. In this session, I tell my own story as the first openly transgender rabbi ordained by a movement in Judaism. I have written prayers for sanctifying gender non-conforming lives that are used by all non-orthodox branches of Judaism. We will explore how to sanctify lifecycle moments that are unique to queer, trans and nonbinary people such as coming out, transitioning or moving to a less anti-queer city, as well as rituals for our everyday lives. This session leaves audiences with the spiritual tools to bring holiness to our lives and dispel stigma and shame.

  • TransTextual

    Meet the genders beyond male and female in ancient Jewish holy books.

    The current moment of anti-trans backlash is often framed as a clash between traditional religious values and newfangled ideas about gender. However, gender radicals exist within millennia-old sacred texts of Judaism. In this session, Rabbi Elliot tells his own story about how discovering the six genders beyond male and female in the Talmud inspired him to become the first openly transgender rabbi.

    We will also learn about how Adam (the first human being) and Abraham and Sarah (the first monotheists) were gender radicals, according to the ancient rabbis. No knowledge of Hebrew, religious background, or particular beliefs are required or expected to participate in this class.

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Rabbi Elliot Kukla Videos

Trans Religious Leaders Share What Faith Means to Them

Trans Religious Leaders Share What Faith Means to Them

Do we just say there's one way to grow up, or do we say there's lots of different ways to be a person?' — Trans religious leaders stand in the gap,...

  • How do I book Rabbi Elliot Kukla to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Rabbi Elliot Kukla for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Rabbi Elliot Kukla, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Rabbi Elliot Kukla or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Rabbi Elliot Kukla

    Speaking fees for Rabbi Elliot Kukla, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Rabbi Elliot Kukla are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Rabbi Elliot Kukla, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Rabbi Elliot Kukla speak about?

    Rabbi Elliot Kukla is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Aging, Disability, Diversity & Inclusion, Faith & Religion, Faith & Religion, Family & Parenting, Health & Wellness, Inspirational, Jewish Heritage, LGBTQ, Mental Health, Motivational, Political
  • Where does Rabbi Elliot Kukla travel from?

    Rabbi Elliot Kukla generally travels from Oakland, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Rabbi Elliot Kukla’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Rabbi Elliot Kukla for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Rabbi Elliot Kukla for your next private or corporate function.
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Rabbi Elliot Kukla is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Sanctifying Queer, Trans, and Nonbinary Lifecycles, TransTextual, The Spirituality of Access , Ritual Labs, Laziness as a Spiritual Practice and The Book of Ruth as a Model of Radical Solidarity. The estimated speaking fee range to book Rabbi Elliot Kukla for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Rabbi Elliot Kukla generally travels from Oakland, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kylar Broadus, Nicholas Pratley, Rhea Debussy, Jeffrey Marsh and Samy Nemir Olivares. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Rabbi Elliot Kukla for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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