Elliot Kukla

Elliot Kukla is a notable American rabbi who has made significant contributions to the field of Judaism. He holds the distinction of being the first openly transgender person to be ordained by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, a Reform Jewish seminary. This milestone ordination marked an important step in promoting diversity and inclusion within the Jewish community.

Rabbi Kukla has had a diverse and accomplished career, serving congregations in various locations including his hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as well as West Hollywood, California, and Lubbock, Texas. From 2008 to 2021, he was a rabbi at the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center. In addition to his work as a rabbi, Kukla is also the founder and co-director of the Collective Loss Adaptation Project (CLAP), an initiative that aims to acknowledge and honor the often-overlooked grief of disabled individuals. Through his work, Rabbi Kukla has demonstrated a commitment to promoting healing, inclusivity, and social justice within the Jewish community and beyond.