Adeena Penner

Founder and Director

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Rebbetzin Adeena Penner is the Director of Kesher Families, a new organization supporting families of an individual who identifies as LGBTQ. She is the mother of a son who is gay. Since 2019 Adeena has been speaking publicly about how her family has navigated this new reality. She and her husband have been meeting privately with families in similar situations since 2018.

 

Adeena is also the parent of a son with autism and often presents on panels about having a child with special needs. She is a valued resource for many in the Jewish community navigating personal and family challenges. She holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Stern College for Women and a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from New York University.

 

She worked for 15 years in the field of occupational therapy at the Board of Education of New York, the Chush School in Williamsburg, and Camp HASC. She served as the Rebbetzin of the Young Israel of Holliswood for 20 years and continues to maintain her ties to, and involvement in, the community.