Feminist to Know: Abby Stein
In November 2015, Abby Stein came out as trans on her blog, The Second Transition. At the time, she had already left the Hasidic community in which she was raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. In coming out, Stein became the first openly trans woman to have grown up in ulta-Orthodox, Hasidic Judaism.
Stein was born to Israeli immigrants of Ukrainian descent and comes from a long line of rabbis, including the founder of Hasidic Judaism, Baal Shem Tov. Her life in Williamsburg’s Hasidic community was highly gender-segregated, including all of her schooling and much of her access to community spaces. In 2011, Stein found herself with a rabbinical degree in a heterosexual-appearing marriage, contending with fixed ideas of gender and sexuality that didn’t align with her own feelings.
Stein left the community in 2012. Before that, she had barely spoken English, had had no access to the Internet, and had few resources with which to understand her identity. She credits the NY-based nonprofit Footsteps with helping her during this time. When she came out as transgender a few years later, she said:
“Lastly, I want to say here, in clear and bold words to all humans out there who are going through [similar] experiences, and especially [those] of Ultra-Orthodox background: ‘You can Do It!!! It is not going to be easy, but it is way easier than not transitioning. When you start to see the changes, and feel more comfortable with your body, you wouldn't stop loving yourself.’”
Since then, Stein has dedicated her life to Jewish trans advocacy. She authored her first book, Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman, in 2019, and has since written for collections, publications, and other book projects. Stein has also worked to create online safe spaces for other trans women. In 2018, she co-founded her own feminist, multifaith group for women and nonbinary people, Sacred Space.
In 2019, Stein returned to rabbinical work with a new perspective on spiritual guidance, counseling, community outreach, and the rest of the responsibilities of the role. She serves on the National Council of Jewish Women’s Rabbi’s for Repro board where she staunchly defends abortion rights and reproductive justice broadly.
Most recently, in July 2024, Abby Stein was arrested on Capitol Hill, alongside a number of Jewish leaders and activists, while protesting Israel’s Biden-backed genocide in Gaza. Stein been a leader in direct action for a ceasefire and arms embargo, particularly as the loss of life in Gaza grows. Her willingness to put herself on the frontline of the movement is testament to her life’s work of fighting for dignity, self-determination, and safety for everyone.