Capers Funnye facts for kids

Capers C. Funnye Jr. (born April 14, 1952) is an African-American rabbi. A rabbi is a religious teacher and leader in the Jewish faith. He leads the Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago, Illinois. This community has about 200 members.

Funnye is also known for being a cousin of the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. His journey to becoming a rabbi is unique. He grew up in a Christian family but became interested in Judaism as a young man. He has worked hard to build connections between different Jewish groups.

Early Life and Family

Capers Funnye Jr. was born in Georgetown, South Carolina. His father's family were part of the Gullah people, also known as Geechee. The Gullah are an ethnic group in the coastal areas of the American South. They have kept many of their African traditions alive.

When Funnye was young, his family moved to Chicago. This was part of the Great Migration. During this time, many African-American families moved from the southern states to northern cities to find better jobs and opportunities.

In Chicago, he was close with his mother's family. His mother, Verdelle, was the sister of Michelle Obama's grandfather, Fraser Robinson Jr. This makes Funnye and Michelle Obama cousins.

A Path to Judaism

Funnye was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When he was 17, his minister even suggested he become a clergyman. However, during his time at Howard University, he began to explore other religions.

He was inspired by the civil rights movement and started to learn about Islam and Judaism. He met a leader of a Black Hebrew group in Chicago and joined his congregation. Black Hebrews are people of African descent who believe they are related to the ancient Israelites of the Bible.

Funnye wanted to learn more. He studied with Rabbi Levi Ben Levy, a leader of a Black Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York. In 1985, Rabbi Levy ordained him, which means he officially made him a rabbi.

To build bridges with the wider Jewish community, Funnye also completed a formal conversion to Conservative Judaism, one of the major branches of Judaism. He earned a degree in Jewish Studies and a master's degree from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago.

Career as a Rabbi

In 1985, Funnye became the rabbi at Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago. It is now one of the largest Black synagogues in the United States. A synagogue is a Jewish house of worship.

His congregation is very diverse. Most members are African American, but it also includes Hispanic and white members. People who want to join must study Judaism for a year before officially converting.

The synagogue's services are a mix of old and new traditions. Like in Orthodox synagogues, men and women sit in separate areas. But they also have a choir that sings traditional African-American songs called spirituals to the beat of a drum.

Building Bridges

Rabbi Funnye has worked to connect different Jewish communities. In 1995, he helped start the National Conference of Black Jews. The group's goal was to bring together Black Jews from all over the country. He has said, "I am a Jew, and that breaks through all color and ethnic barriers."

He has also traveled to meet with Jewish communities outside the United States. This includes the Beta Israel in Ethiopia and the Igbo Jews in Nigeria.

In 2015, Funnye became the Chief Rabbi of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis. This board is made up of leaders from Black Jewish and Israelite communities.