ABC News:
Growing up in a black, Pentecostal family in Cleveland, Alysa Stanton never imagined the day when she would be preparing to be ordained as a Jewish rabbi.
But that day will come June 6 for the single mother who will be ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, becoming the first African-American female rabbi in the world.
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I believe we should proselytize among the unchurched. We should welcome anyone who wants to join us. We never recovered from what happened.
Every other group proselytizes, and they are growing. We haven't figured that out yet.
I wish her well, and I hope she brings more people into the fold.
No, don't.
One of the things I respect about Judiasm is that proselytizing isn't part of the doctrine.
It's bad enough when J e s us Zom bies harrass me with their B i b les. I don't want anyone trying to shove their Tor ahs down my throat either.
isn't part of the doctrine? thx 4 the laugh.
Oh yeah. Another person suffering from the god delusion. Let's celebrate.
A Christopher Hitchens follower are you?
There is no need to attack people who are religious like that.
Just because someone believes in God doesn't make them delusional.
There is room enough in our great democracy for all beliefs to stand together as one.
Do you also believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny, maybe the tooth fairy?
and people are also free to be delusional, QED.
Respect should be a tenant of everyone, regardless of their their belief in God or non-belief. Name calling does not belittle the one on the receiving end, but rather the one who delivers it...
Atheists can be just as fanatical as any other belief system. Cool your jets and just accept those who happen to view the universe differently from you.
Oh by the way...I don't believe in a "God" but I keep an open mind.
Let's "celebrate" that acceptance and keep it snark-free.
my thoughts, exactly.
One God. One world. One People.
wrong. thrice.
I agree
I'm from Cleveland, too. I spent some early grade school years in a Jewish community-University Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. I did have some problems with being racially insulted by the kids but I figured they learned it from somewhere. Adults, I'm sure. All in all, a lot of Jewish culture rubbed of on me anyway because it is fascinating and oddly comforting. As a black gentile kid who longed to go to Hebrew School, I can relate to her decision. I colored just as many Menorahs as Xmas trees in art class and everyone in my neighborhood had window candles and I wanted them too. To this day, driving through Uni Heights and seeing window candles makes me feel at home.
Shalom, Rabbi Stanton.
Thank you for your nice story. It is a beautiful way to explain Judaism and mankind.
Blessings.
Lovely. Even though I can assume you're not a Buddhist...You sure seem like one.
You are as kind as you are open.
Shalom and Hum to you.
Back in the day she was known as aieesha Stanowitz.
You know, that made me spit up my coffee. Good one.
stop that
Oye, I'd like to kill my meshugana landlord.
Wow....what an accomplishment. Best wishes to you, Rabbi Stanton!
When I read this I thought of my friend who's hispanic and gay and converting to judaism. Yeah. I've been meeting a lot of people of color and gays converting to judaism. Everybody wants to be a jew. A lot of people are turning their backs on christianity. I blame Madonna for this trend.
Blame Madonna? What about blaming chr ist i anity?
She's "political rock chick", so cut her a break.
Don't blame christianity. Blame the fact that people want to be a part of a religion that suits their needs and desires, basically, a religion that allows them to do what they please without any guilt. That may be different for different people, but we are always looking for idols with no accountability.
I hope she has the strength to dealng with those Orthodox, as unfortunately many of them frequently behave in both a sexist and racist manner.
She's a reform Jew so she probably won't be interacting much with Orthodox Jews. Though most Ethiopian Jews in Israel belong to the Orthodox movement. Are you saying that Ethiopians are racist? Or which "many" did you mean?
First? What about Reb Funnhye, Michele Obama's cousin?
First female.
Thank you, P-Cat.
I was about to point this out.
The article got it right. The HuffPost titler got it wrong.
She is years to late to be the first African-American Rabbi. Michelle Obama's first cousin is Rabbi Capers Funnye, spiritual leader of a mostly black synagogue on Chicago’s South Side.
Funnye (pronounced fuh-NAY) is chief rabbi at the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in southwest Chicago. He is a member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis as well as serving on the boards of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the American Jewish Congress of the Midwest.
There are many Black Jews in United States as well as Africa, in particular. I have been a member of two synagogues with African American Jews. They are an integral part of the http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/21/alyssa-stanton-first-afri_n_206574.htmlhtml#unity.
female though. First Female African American Rabbi
Rod Carew and Elliot Maddox, two of my favorite ball players were Jews of Color, if you will. Maddox was one of the smoothest centerfielders you'd ever want to watch! Carew, well, the name says it all. Great player!
They left out "female." Mazel Tov Rabbi Stanton!
EXCELLENT.....I'm feeling very verklemt right now...hold on...the eyes are puddling up....ok...I'm ok.
All joking aside...this really is something to smile about....
Mazel Tov Rabbi Stanton!
And i thought the majority of jews were none white, silly me.
It is in Israel majority of Jews are "non-white."
Jewish rabbi? Is there any other kind?
They should delete "Jewish" from the headline and replace it with "female."
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First Posted: 05-21-09 07:43 PM | Updated: 05-21-09 07:47 PM