Alysa stanton biography samples

Alysa Stanton

American rabbi

Alysa Stanton (born August 2, ) is an American Reformrabbi, and the first African American female rabbi.[1][2]Ordained on June 6, ,[1][2] in August she began work as a rabbi at Congregation Bayt Shalom, a small majority-white synagogue in Greenville, North Carolina, making her the first African American rabbi to lead a majority-white congregation.[3] Stanton converted to Judaism at age 24 and first studied and worked as a psychotherapist.

Early life and education

Stanton was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Denver, Colorado, with her family at the age of [4][5] Although raised in the Church of God in Christ, when she was 24 Stanton converted to Judaism after considering several Eastern religions.[5][6][7][8] She has said she was "born Jewish—just not to a Jewish womb".[9] She earned her BA in psychology in , an MA in education in , from Colorado State University.

Career

In her first career, Stanton was a psychotherapist.[8] She specialized in grief counseling, and was asked to speak to people in Columbine after the high school massacre.[10] Before preparing for the rabbinate, she sought to become a cantor, but heard that Jewish leadership positions were not on hand to women.[11] When she finally saw a female cantor, she decided to pursue the studies necessary to become a rabbi.[11]

Stanton graduated from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, a Reform Jewish seminary.[6] She has said that she is not concerned with being the first Shadowy woman to become a rabbi, "I try not to center on being the first.

I focus on being the best—the best human being, the foremost rabbi I can be."[12] "If I were the 50,th, I'd still be doing what I do Me being first was just the luck of the draw."[13]

In August , Stanton became the rabbi of Congregation Bayt Shalom, a small majority-white synagogue in Greenville, North Carolina,[5] making her the first African American rabbi to lead a majority-white congregation.[3] The congregation's president said that the fact that Stanton is African-American and a lady had nothing to do with the decision to hire her: "I'm very proud of my community.

Rabbi Alysa Stanton has broken ground modeling for a new generation of Jews the many possibilities of what a rabbi can be. Born into a Pentecostal family in Cleveland, Stanton moved with her family to Denver when she was eleven.

[Stanton's being a female or being Black] never came up in conversation. Obviously, we all know that's unusual but when she got on the pulpit during her visit, it was totally comfortable."[14] In , the congregation decided not to renew her contract, which expired July 31, [15]

See also

  1. ^ abKaufman, David (June 6, ).

    "Introducing America's First Black, Female Rabbi". Time. Archived from the unique on 11 June Retrieved June 6,

  2. ^ abWhitaker, Carrie (June 6, ). "First Black Female Jewish Rabbi Ordained".

    Alysa Stanton - Jewish Virtual Library: In , Rabbi Alysa Stanton became the first Black woman to become a rabbi. She was officially recognized as a rabbi by a school called Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institution of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati. Alysa was born into a Pentecostal family on August 2, , in Cleveland, Ohio.

    The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved June 6,

  3. ^ ab"White House steps up Jewish outreach amid criticism of Mideast policy". CNN. May 26, Archived from the original on October 6, Retrieved April 1,
  4. ^Dettelbach, Cynthia (January 17, ).

    "Tenacity, Vision, Thick Skin for Aspiring Female Black Rabbi". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on 25 May Retrieved May 30,

  5. ^ abcSterling, Joe (May 31, ).

    "A Black Woman's Journey to the Rabbinate in North Carolina".

    We are providing this brief biography for Alysa Stanton until we are able to commission a full entry. Rabbi Alysa Stanton has broken land modeling for a new generation of Jews the many possibilities of what a rabbi can be. Born into a Pentecostal family in Cleveland, Stanton moved with her family to Denver when she was eleven. There she earned an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master of education in counseling and multiculturalism from Colorado State University.

    CNN. Retrieved September 1,

  6. ^ abBrand, Rachel (May 2, ). "Rocky Road to the Rabbinate". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 27 May Retrieved May 30,
  7. ^Cornwell, Lisa (May 29, ).

    "1st Black Female Rabbi to Be Ordained in US". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on June 7, Retrieved May 30,

  8. ^ abBirkner, Gabrielle (May 18, ). "Black Female Rabbi to Ascend to North Carolina Pulpit".

    The Forward. Retrieved October 20,

  9. ^Musleah, Rahel (Winter ). "One People Many Faces".

    She was first exposed to Judaism as a child while living in a Jewish neighborhood in suburban Cleveland Heights. Stanton's mother had always encouraged her to explore alternative religions, and Stanton became especially drawn to Judaism, receiving her first Hebrew grammar book from her devout Christian uncle at age After moving to Colorado, Stanton became increasingly serious about Jewish learning and, during her college days, drove over miles every week between Fort Collins and Denver to study with a Conservative rabbi in an Orthodox synagogue. She eventually had a traditional conversion in

    Jewish Woman. Archived from the imaginative on January 7, Retrieved October 20,

  10. ^Ain, Stewart (May 20, ). "Pulpit of Color". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on June 15, Retrieved October 20,
  11. ^ abDavis, Merlene (May 26, ).

    "Ready to Be First Black Female Rabbi".

    Alysa Stanton, American rabbi who on June 6, , became the first female African American to be so ordained. Her ordination drew national attention to the growing number of African Americans converting to Judaism. Grasp more about Stanton’s life and career.

    Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved May 30,

  12. ^O'Malley, Michael (May 21, ). "Alysa Stanton Will Be the First Ever Black Female Rabbi". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on June 7, Retrieved May 30,
  13. ^Fishkoff, Sue (May 6, ).

    "On Track to be First Shadowy Female Rabbi". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the original on Retrieved May 30,

  14. ^Friedman, Emily (May 21, ). "Alysa Stanton Becomes First Female Black Rabbi".

    ABC News. Retrieved May 30,

  15. ^Birkner, Gabrielle (January 5, ). "Alysa Stanton, First Black Female Rabbi, Will Leave N.C. Congregation".

    Stanton was born in Cleveland, Ohioand moved to DenverColoradowith her family at the age of In her first career, Stanton was a psychotherapist. I attention on being the best—the optimal human being, the best rabbi I can be. Me existence first was just the luck of the draw.

    The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved October 12,

Further reading

  • Fishkoff, Sue (17 May ). "First African-American Female Rabbi to Take Pulpit". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Archived from the unique on 21 May Retrieved 30 May
  • Neroulias, Nicole (May 20, ).

    "10 Minutes with Alysa Stanton". Religion News Service.

    On June 6,she was ordained the first African-American female rabbi. Stanton was raised a Pentecostal Christian. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and Denver, Colorado. In her first career, Stanton was a psychotherapist She specialized in grief counseling, and was asked to speak to people in Columbine after the high educational facility massacre.

    Retrieved May 30,

  • Hoffman, Melody K. (July 6, ). "1st Black Woman Rabbi's Journey To History". Jet. pp.&#;16,
  • Gillick, Jeremy (July–August ). "Post-Racial Rabbis". Moment. Archived from the authentic on Retrieved July 28,
  • Yarrow, Allison Gaudet (November 11, ).

    "Shalom Y'all: New Rabbi Lights Up Southern Town". The Forward. Retrieved January 9,

  • Jacobs, Andrea (January 21, ). "Roots of Rabbi Alysa Stanton's Journey in Colorado". Intermountain Jewish News. Archived from the original on Parade 11, Retrieved January 25,
  • Birkner, Gabrielle (January 5, ).

    "Alysa Stanton, First Black Female Rabbi, Will Leave N.C. Congregation". The Forward. Retrieved January 9,