Alysa Stanton: The First African American Female Rabbi
According to the Benchmark Report issued by The White House
Project, female rabbis did not exist before 1972, yet, as of 2008,
they made up 17 percent of all ordained rabbis in America. Alysa
Stanton was ordained by the Hebrew Union College- the Reform
Rabbinical School- in June of 2009 and is now included in this
statistic. Impressively, Stanton has also created a brand new
statistic: on June 6th, 2009, Stanton became the 1st African
American female rabbi in the world. How’s that for breaking the
stained glass ceiling?
Stanton grew up in a Pentecostal family in Cleveland. Raised in the predominately White, Jewish neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, Stanton was exposed to the Jewish religion at a young age despite not being part of the Jewish faith herself. Her uncle, a devout Christian, gave her her first Hebrew grammar book at the age of 10. Her mother, a church pianist, also encouraged her to explore faiths other than her own. By her 20’s, Stanton had converted to Judaism. However, according to Stanton, had you told her that she would eventually become a rabbi she would have never believed you.
Stanton majored in psychology at Colorado State University and would regularly attend services at Hillel. After school, Stanton worked as a psychotherapist in Denver, Colorado with a specialty in grief and trauma, all the while exploring her relationship with the Jewish faith; a relationship that would blossom in ways Stanton had never once thought possible. Filled with a sudden desire to become a rabbi, Stanton consulted Eliot Baskin, who she had known while attending services at Hillel when she was enrolled at CSU. Baskin encouraged her to pursue her passion and suggested she apply to his alma-mater, Hebrew Union College. In 2002, Stanton began her rabbinate studies.
Today, Stanton can be found behind the pulpit at Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, North Carolina; a small synagogue that is home to both Conservative and Reform Jews. After studying for her rabbinate for 7 years, rather than the usual 5 because of health issues, Stanton is now the proud leader of a Congregation made up of about 60 families. Her love for the Jewish faith, which was obvious to both her mother and uncle at a young age, now greets her congregation each and every day. Her presence radiates both on and off the bema. And her passion, well, that is nearly impossible to overlook.
Stanton grew up in a Pentecostal family in Cleveland. Raised in the predominately White, Jewish neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, Stanton was exposed to the Jewish religion at a young age despite not being part of the Jewish faith herself. Her uncle, a devout Christian, gave her her first Hebrew grammar book at the age of 10. Her mother, a church pianist, also encouraged her to explore faiths other than her own. By her 20’s, Stanton had converted to Judaism. However, according to Stanton, had you told her that she would eventually become a rabbi she would have never believed you.
Stanton majored in psychology at Colorado State University and would regularly attend services at Hillel. After school, Stanton worked as a psychotherapist in Denver, Colorado with a specialty in grief and trauma, all the while exploring her relationship with the Jewish faith; a relationship that would blossom in ways Stanton had never once thought possible. Filled with a sudden desire to become a rabbi, Stanton consulted Eliot Baskin, who she had known while attending services at Hillel when she was enrolled at CSU. Baskin encouraged her to pursue her passion and suggested she apply to his alma-mater, Hebrew Union College. In 2002, Stanton began her rabbinate studies.
Today, Stanton can be found behind the pulpit at Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, North Carolina; a small synagogue that is home to both Conservative and Reform Jews. After studying for her rabbinate for 7 years, rather than the usual 5 because of health issues, Stanton is now the proud leader of a Congregation made up of about 60 families. Her love for the Jewish faith, which was obvious to both her mother and uncle at a young age, now greets her congregation each and every day. Her presence radiates both on and off the bema. And her passion, well, that is nearly impossible to overlook.
© 2012 Created by The White House Project.
Powered by 
.
