Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh

A life-long truth-seeker, Rabbi Darby Jared Leigh is a native New Yorker who loves mountains. A passionate snowboarder and fire-juggler, Leigh’s rabbinate is characterized by inclusivity and a commitment to diversity. He currently serves as the Associate Rabbi at Bnai Keshet in Montclair, N.J., and as a Rabbi of The New Shul in New York City.

Rabbi Leigh, a former actor with The National Theater of the Deaf, was featured in the ABC and NBC televised, Emmy-nominated documentary "A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities." He has been invited on stage with rock bands Twisted Sister and Jane’s Addiction to perform songs in American Sign Language. Rabbi Leigh provided consulting services for the Oscar-nominated documentary "Sound and Fury" and for Hands On, an organization that provides sign-language interpreting for Broadway and off-Broadway productions. He worked with www.RitualWell.org to create videos of A.S.L. translations of Jewish songs and prayers that are accessible on the internet and he has taught on issues related to deafness and access for the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, the New York City Fire Department, as well as for other organizations.

Leigh was selected as one of 22 rabbis across the country as the first fellows in Rabbis Without Borders, an initiative from CLAL, The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.

Rabbi Leigh has worked with The Open Captioners to bring real time captioning access to the High Holy Day services at Bnai Keshet, Rabbi Leigh worked with colleagues in NJ to create the first ever, inter-synagogue, GLBTQ-Pride Seder/ Service in Essex County. Rabbi Leigh has also worked with MetroWest ABLE, a committee of UJC MetroWest, to ensure Bnai Keshet’s participation in the first iterations of Shabbat Shalem, a Shabbat designated to heighten awareness and sensitivity to issues of disability and inclusivity. For Shabbat Shalem 2010, Rabbi Leigh led an American Sign Language Shabbat service, which was voice-interpreted for the “deaf-impaired.”