African-American rabbi to speak at virtual SUNO event

26th April 2021   ·   0 Comments

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

The African-American rabbi Capers Funnye will be speaking as part of the Jewish Federation of New Orleans’ HBCU Speaker Series on April 29 at 7 p.m.

The HBCU Speaker Series is a three-part event with the goal of connecting Jewish and African-American communities in the Greater New Orleans area on topics of mutual interest. Funnye’s talk will focus on Black Jews and racial justice. The talk will be virtual and will be hosted by Southern University of New Orleans.

“The Jewish Federation is committed to enhancing relationships throughout the New Orleans area, especially with the African-American community, as a means to making a positive impact in our region,” said Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Jewish Federation of New Orleans. “The Center for Jewish Multicultural Affairs’ partnership with our local HBCUs in conjunction with our speaker series represents a tangible and meaningful opportunity for the Jewish and African-American communities to come together to learn more about each other and about ways that we can work together going forward.”

Funnye was born in South Carolina, but grew up in the South Side of Chicago and is a first cousin once removed of former First Lady Michelle Obama. He was brought up as a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. But while he was studying at Howard University, he drifted away from Christianity and started to research other religions.

“I began reading a great deal,” Funnye said. “The more I read about Judaism, the more I became attracted to it. I was enthralled with the faith.”

When Funnye was a young man in New York City, he attended the Beth Shalom Hebrew Congregation in Brooklyn. There, Chief Rabbi Levi Ben Levy noticed his enthusiasm and asked if he would consider becoming a rabbi. Levy told him not to make a decision immediately, but to really think about it. Funnye reflected on it, then began studying with Levy to become a rabbi. He was ordained as a rabbi in 1985. It’s been a great fit for Funnye ever since.

“I’m a people person,” Funnye said. “I feel and care deeply about people and where they are on their spiritual journeys.”

Funnye now leads the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of Chicago, Illinois. But his work is by no means limited to Chicago. From 2001 to 2019, he traveled to Africa at least once a year to meet with Jewish populations in sub-Saharan African countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe and many more. He has seen dramatic growth in Africa’s Jewish population in that time.

“It has grown immensely,” Funnye said. “Those communities are growing steadily. They have a love of the faith, a love of the people, and a love of the state of Israel.”

The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily put a stop to Funnye’s trips to Africa, but he hopes he will be able to resume them soon. He also looks forward to returning to in-person services in the United States. He said his congregants can see him on virtual broadcasts, but he wants to be able to regularly see his congregants in person again.

In the United States, Funnye said he has seen improvement in the relations between Jewish communities and African-American communities in recent years. He said he speaks at many events about racial justice and inequities faced by African Americans. A recent virtual talk hosted by the Jewish Congregation of New Mexico had approximately 2,000 attendees. He has found the Jewish community very receptive to discussions of police brutality, underrepresentation and racial justice.

“The Jewish community wants very much to be a part of correcting these inequities,” Funnye said.

Funnye said that he still does encounter some white Jews who are surprised to find an African American sharing their faith.

“I am a Jew and I am an African-American,” Funnye said. “We (African-American Jews) are your co-religionists. We look different but the soul of our people is what needs to be seen, not our ethnicity.”

SUNO’s chancellor, Dr. James H. Ammons Jr. said Funnye’s talk and messaging is in keeping with the university’s core values of respect, diversity and inclusion.

“Southern University of New Orleans is honored to partner with the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Center for Jewish Multicultural Affairs to host the upcoming installment of the HBCU Speaker Series,” said Dr. Ammons. “In alignment with our core values, this collaborative event will serve as a meaningful opportunity for the African-American and Jewish communities to reconnect and explore pathways to achieve shared goals.”

To register for Rabbi Funnye’s virtual event (it’s free), visit tinyurl.com/CJMA-SUNO.

This article originally published in the April 26, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.