America's First Black, Female Rabbi

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June 6, 2009

Guardian June 15, 2009
Time June 6, 2009

Congratulations to Alysa Stanton, America's first black female rabbi. On June 6 she graduated from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati and will become the rabbi at Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, N.C., on Aug. 1.

Stanton arrived at Judaism after sampling a number of different religions.

From the Guardian article:

She was attracted to it she says because Judaism encompasses not just religion but also spiritualism, social justice and community.

The Guardian article also mentioned that at her graduation:

Her adopted daughter Shana was reduced to tears by a group of white Christian protesters outside the temple taunting her and making disparaging remarks.

The article didn't explain why they were protesting. I am not sure if they were upset with Stanton for leaving Christianity and becoming a rabbi or if they were looking for an excuse to disrupt the graduation service. I think it has to be one or the other.

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