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Stanton’s Ordination Ignites Media Frenzy |
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 by April N. Baskin, Corinne Lightweaver, July 13, 2009 |
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The world has descended upon Rabbi Alysa Stanton. From coast to coast and continent to continent, global media trumpet the ordination of "the first African-American female rabbi." Whether it's The Forward, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Jewish Week, CNN, Black Entertainment Television, the Huffington Post, The New York Times, and seemingly every other Jewish and secular media outlet, all of them, by-and-large, cover the same facts:
"Alysa Stanton is the first mainstream African American female rabbi in the world. A convert to Judaism after being raised in a Pentecostal family, she was ordained by Hebrew Union College on June 6, 2009. She is the new congregational rabbi of Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, North Carolina."
That's the whole story. That's where most of the media stops. What interests us is what is not covered, the questions that are not asked.
America's response to Stanton's ordination calls for introspection and self-examination by the larger Jewish community. It is true that Alysa Stanton's ordination is a historical moment that should be celebrated. However, disproportionate attention is paid to her gender, racial background, and path to Judaism when her work and character should receive equal coverage, if not be at the forefront. What's more, the emphasis on her being "the first" downplays a decades-old, increasing shift in the fabric of American Jewish life.
Rabbi Stanton's ordination did not happen in a vacuum. She is not the first person of color to become a rabbi, nor is she the first woman of color to become a rabbi. Just as Rosa Parks wasn't the first or even the second to refuse to move to the back of the bus, Stanton is the rabbi of color who received the attention of the mass media. It is true that she IS the first African American female rabbi. Yet it needs to be acknowledged that other Jewish clergy of color who are not of African American descent have preceded her in mainstream synagogues, and more are in rabbinical school or on the way. Furthermore, Jews of color who are currently serving as presidents of congregations and working on synagogue boards are not the first to do so.
So, why aren't the people of color who preceded her in the rabbinate getting equal press coverage? Over the course of American history, a social construct of race developed and the racial binary of white vs. black arose as those in power separated themselves from African Americans, who were-and still are-systematically oppressed. As immigrants came to the United States, they were either classified as black or assigned a non-white status. To this day, that non-white status is often applied to certain ethnic communities including Asian Americans, Latinos, and even Jews at times. Neither black nor white, depending on the situation, all of these groups are classified as the middle ground of America's social construct of race. And while certainly all of these populations receive media attention, African Americans receive more attention, while Anglo-whiteness remains the norm and groups in the middle ground are often rendered invisible.
Even though the Jewish community is negatively affected by this power dynamic, it is not immune to this systemic habit of ignoring people who are not black, but also not white. We should be beyond the black/white binary in the United States. It seems that in the case of Stanton's ordination, the U.S. press is gloriously pursuing shock value over critical journalism, marketing sensationalism, and emphasizing the supposed improbability of a black person, let alone a black female, becoming Jewish and a rabbi.
To move beyond this systemic polarization, it helps to know that the number of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform rabbis of color is already significant. Three prominent rabbis-among many-come to mind. Last month was the ten-year anniversary of Korean American Angela Buchdahl's graduation from cantorial school, followed by her ordination as a rabbi in 2001. Cuban-born Rabbi Rigoberto Emanuel Viñas is ordained as a rabbi and master Torah scribe. Colombian-born Rabbi Juan Mejía, who intends to work with crypto-Jews in the American Southwest, graduated this year from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.
While information about rabbis of color is readily accessible, some misinformation is still being reported. Take for example a May 29 report from the Associated Press claiming that the only known black male rabbi graduated from American Jewish University (undoubtedly referring to Rabbi Gershom Sizomu of Uganda). On the contrary, there are many black male rabbis in Orthodox communities. In many of these communities, a man who studies in yeshiva for a certain period can choose to take the requisite exams to earn smicha, thereby becoming a rabbi.
There is no doubt that Alysa Stanton has broken ground and established herself as a leader. She has gained not only worldwide interest, but respect as well. Among those who know her, she is seen as a gracious and reflective person who can inspire and aspire while keeping her feet solidly on the ground. Through her studies and her compelling personality, she has become an ambassador for a group of Jews who have long been ignored. Yet, she herself says she is committed to serving all Jews.
After this initial introduction of Stanton, we hope that the media will turn its focus to issues of substance and content. Tiffany Rivka Gordon, an African American rabbinical student at Hebrew College in Boston, says, "I'd like to hear about Alysa's thoughts on halacha and holidays, not so much about what she is."
Gordon also notes, "After black and female, Alysa is identified as a convert, which just speaks more to the myth that Jews of color in this country are automatically converts." We ask, why focus on the rabbi's conversion with no concurrent investigation of her current conceptions of spirituality, her views on Israel, or her rabbinic interpretations of contemporary halachic debates or ethical dilemmas? Not to mention, according to Jewish tradition, a Jew is not supposed to remind another of his/her conversion.
The media frenzy around Alysa Stanton's ordination has opened the possibility of improved coverage of Jews from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, but in order to be relevant, journalists must dig deeper. Fortunately, times are changing. According to Gordon, "My own personal experience is so not colored by my skin." Instead, she says, "People genuinely want to know what my opinions are as a young Jew, not only as a Jew of color."
As those who know Stanton well can testify, she is a spiritually inspiring rabbi who has much to give and many lessons to teach. As she states with conviction, "I believe that it is a new era for changing, strengthening and deepening our faith in humanity, regardless of one's religious creed or spiritual practice. I believe this is a time where hope needs to be embraced with all of our might... I have committed my life to being a rabbi of the people, a rabbi of hope."
This post originally appeared on JVoices and is reprinted with permission.
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Mikewind Dale - Michael Makovi
I'm sorry, but...I'm not sure what is so remarkable. Jews come in all colors, so difference does it make? In my yeshiva, we have Jews from the United States, from Russia, from Greece, from Germany, from India, etc. etc.
I'm especially confused by the reference to Rabbi Viñas. At http://www.joi.org/bloglinks/Youth%20Is%20Served%20for%20an%20Aging%20Congregation.htm, we read: "Initially, Mrs. Katz said, there were rumors that Rabbi Viñas would change the congregation's longstanding customs to reflect his own practices rooted in the Sephardic traditions of North Africa and Spain. But Rabbi Viñas made it a point to stipulate in his contract that he had no plans to alter the way the synagogue sees itself - as an Eastern European Ashkenazic shul."
Apparently, Rabbi Viñas is an ordinary, run-of-the-mill Sephardi Jew. If we're going to remark on the fact that he is from Cuba, why not remark on the thousands of Sephardi rabbis from all over the world? There are established Jewish communities throughout South America, mostly of Syrian extraction, and Rabbi Viñas is but one of the thousands of rabbis from that continent. If we add Sephardi Jews - Judeo-Spanish (Spain, Portugal, Holland, Italy, Greece, Turkey) and Mizrahi (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen) - from throughout the world, the numbers only increase.
My own rabbi, Rabbi Marc Angel in NYC, for example, his grandparents are from Turkey and Rhodes, as are countless Jews from his hometown in Seattle, Washington, home to a prominent Judeo-Spanish Jewish community. Similar communities throughout the United States and throughout the world.
In fact, the first Jews in America were Judeo-Spanish. The first synagogue built in America is the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, built in 1759 for Congregation Jeshuat Israel. The congregants arrived from Curaçao (off the coast of Venezuela) in 1658 (they worshipped for more than a century in private homes, until the synagogue was built), but they were originally from Spain and Portugal. So perhaps we ought to instead remark on the fact that there are non-Spanish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews in America!
David Kelsey
We ask, why focus on the rabbi's conversion with no concurrent investigation of her current conceptions of spirituality, her views on Israel, or her rabbinic interpretations of contemporary halachic debates or ethical dilemmas?
Because she JUST GRADUATED rabbinic school. So in other words, for the same reason we don't investigate the views of every other GREEN rabbi.
Race doesn't make one a great sage, ladies.
HalfSours
The authors of this post are correct. CNN should have sent her letters for responza on issue ranging from techeles to mezumenes.
PAS
is Congregation Shearith Israel, The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in the City of New York, which was founded in 1655 CE and built the first synagogue in what was to become the United States. Constructed in 1730, it was located on Mill Street. Prior to that time, the congregation leased a building on Beaver Street as early as 1695 CE.
The oldest Jewish congregation in North America is Mikve Israel founded in 1651 CE in Curacao. It's current synagogue was built in 1730 and is the oldest extant synagogue in the Western Hemisphere.
All three congregations were founded by Sephardi Jews from the Iberian Pennisula who arrived in the New World via Holland. They originally settled in Recife in northeastern Brazil which was controlled by the Dutch between 1637 and 1654 CE. After its recapture by the Portuguese, the vast majority of the Jewish community left Recife and went back to Holland; however some sailed to the Dutch colonies in North America--including Curacao and New Amsterdam.
BrookeLynn
A rabbi from a southern black Christian Pentecostal church--
Just imagine encorporating a passionate & fantastic gospel choir into Saturday morning synagogue services! I have seen dying congregations brought back to life with great music.
Just fyi David - I happen to be one of those people who thoroughly investigates the views & personality of the rabbi (new or old) before I decide to join a shul. Similarly, when I was in college, I used to try to select my courses based on the best teachers. And, these days, I'm extremely happy to work at a job where I really like & respect my supervisor.
Lyubansky
Firsts (of any sort) are obviously newsworthy, though the authors are right to point out that the context in which they occur is important. What's missing though is not her conception of spirituality or rabbinic interpretations (why are they of more interest than those of any other rabbi's?) but the story of her life journey. What led a Southern black Christian Pentecostal to not just convert to Judaism but to make it her life work? And how does she think her unusual background influences her approach to Judaism and life in general. Maybe this story has been written...if so perhaps someone will post a link.
lbjack
Not the new rabbi herself but the tiresome media hype.
It started with Obama. Part of the media-incited Obama mania has been the cynical pandering to AA audiences. So, just as the endless refrains of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" are finally dying down, we get the morose Jacko saga. And while they're still milking that one, it's time for the Henry Louis Gates Show. CNN has been jacking up the volume as a way of flogging their "Black in America" production.
As for this Sister Act III, in the world of Reform Judaism, anything goes, as long as it's warm and cuddly and "inclusive". So indeed, what's the big deal?
Well, as it happens, quite a lot, race-wise. Racism is a shameful blot on Jews. The blood factor has defined what a Jew is since time immemorial. Even today, the Orthodox cast a jaundiced eye on conversions. This inclusion by blood -- or conversely, exclusion by blood -- has left Jews open to the same racialist charges as those against certain Germans. But this is a religious issue, and I don't think it's pernicious in itself, despite the pernicious practical fallout.
Inherently pernicious is Jewish cultural racism, particularly of "white" Jews, mainly Ashkenazi, against non-white Jews, mainly Sephardim (who return the favor) and Beta Israel. We've all heard the stories -- the outrageous treatment of Ethiopian refugees in Israel, not simply because they are "others" but because they are black others. Some progress is being made by the government towards the Beta, progress being a relative term, since conditions are still wretched. I'm not sure how well a soul-sister rabbi would go over midst the hard Ashkenazi precincts of today's Israel.
Jews are bigots not because they're Jews but because they're provincial. Ukrainian Jewish bigotry is Ukrainian bigotry. Southern Jews are racist because they're Southern. Not that the Nazis noticed or cared, but German Jews regarded Eastern Jews as vermin, too. New York Jews greeted Holocaust survivors with, "What are you doing here?" (Read Martha Gellhorn.)
I'd like to see lots more black rabbis, male and female, and not just as novelty acts, and not just in the United States. I agree, soul -- music, singing, preaching -- would energize congregations. Jewish gospel anyone?
lbjack
Hmm...come to think of it, Jews have their own riff on the Christian revival movement -- Chabad-Lubavitch. I suppose Stanton's ordination would be anathema to Haredi types, but the joyous approach to religion is where left and right Judaism converge. This is a good thing.