CINCINNATI – A woman has been ordained as what is believed to be mainstream Judaism’s first Black female rabbi next month.
CINCINNATI – A woman has been ordained as what is believed to be mainstream Judaism’s first Black female rabbi next month.
Alysa Stanton now leads a predominantly white congregation of about 60 families in Greenville, North Carolina, after her June 6 ordination.
Stanton was living in a Jewish neighborhood of suburban Cleveland when she began her spiritual quest in childhood, considering some Christian and Eastern religions before converting to Judaism in her 20s.
“It has been a journey with many twists and turns along the way, but Judaism is the language of my soul, and it’s what resonates with me,” the 45-year-old Stanton said.
Yet Stanton didn’t always feel accepted by Jewish congregations or some friends after she converted.
“A lot of my African-American friends thought I’d sold out, the Jewish community wasn’t as accepting then and some Christian friends thought I had grown horns,” said Stanton, who had been a Christian. “I felt ostracized at times, but I had to learn who I was, what my values were and move forward.”
Congregation Bayt Shalom in North Carolina eagerly awaits her arrival.
“We needed someone who is a magnet, who radiates warmth,” said member Carol Ogus Woodruff, 54. “She brings a scholarly awareness but also has great relationships with kids and can talk to different kinds of people.”
Questions about race or gender never arose at Congregation Bayt Shalom, congregation President Michael Barondes said. Stanton’s ability to listen and to communicate with others immediately impressed members.
Stanton, who worked as a licensed psychotherapist specializing in grief, loss and trauma, thought she was too old and too poor to start rabbinical studies at age 38. But she believed it was meant to be.
______
To read the rest of this article, subscribe to our digital or paper edition. For previous editions, contact us for details.
In photo: Alysa Stanton poses in front of an ark in the synagogue at Hebrew Union College, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Cincinnati. Stanton is to be ordained June 6 as mainstream Judaism’s first black woman rabbi. She will become the rabbi at Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 1. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
