Sandra Lawson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sandra Lawson
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Lawson in 2018
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| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) |
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| Occupation | Rabbi |
Sandra Lawson (born 1970) is an American rabbi who is known for breaking new ground in the Jewish faith. In 2018, she became the world's first openly gay, female, and black rabbi. She is also a military veteran, sociologist, musician, and author.
Lawson is currently the Director of Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism, an organization that supports a modern movement in Judaism. Before this, she was the Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life at Elon University.
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Early Life and Education
Sandra Lawson was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up in a military family that was Christian but didn't practice the religion regularly.
She was an excellent student and graduated with high honors from Saint Leo University in Florida. She earned a degree in sociology, which is the study of human society and social behavior. She later earned a master's degree in sociology from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia.
A Path to a New Faith
Military Service
While in college, Lawson joined the U.S. Army. She served in military law enforcement, where she worked on cases involving families and children. After her time in the military, she started her own business as a personal trainer.
Discovering Judaism
Lawson's life changed when she met one of her clients, Rabbi Joshua Lesser. Through him, she began to learn about Judaism. She visited his synagogue and felt a strong connection to the community and the faith. In 2004, she officially converted to Judaism.
Becoming a Rabbi
A few years later, Lawson decided she wanted to become a rabbi. A rabbi is a spiritual leader and teacher in the Jewish faith. She was inspired after representing the Jewish community at a memorial service for civil rights leader Coretta Scott King.
In 2011, she was accepted into the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. She was the first African-American and the first openly gay African-American to be accepted there. She was officially ordained as a rabbi in 2018.
A Modern Rabbi for a Modern World
After becoming a rabbi, Lawson was hired by Elon University to be the Associate Chaplain for Jewish Life. In 2021, she took on a new role as the first Director of Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Reconstructing Judaism.
Rabbi Lawson is known for finding creative ways to teach people about Judaism. When she was a student, she held services in a vegan cafe. She also uses social media like Snapchat and TikTok to connect with people and share her teachings. This has earned her nicknames like "Snapchat's Top Rabbi."
Recognition and Beliefs
Rabbi Lawson's work has earned her many awards.
- In 2019, the JTA named her one of "The 50 Jews everyone should follow on Twitter."
- In 2020, she was included in a list called "The Forward 50," which recognized important people of that year.
- In 2022, the Center for American Progress named her one of 22 Faith Leaders to watch.
Lawson has said that she supports the State of Israel but focuses more on social issues in the United States. She has also spoken about facing online harassment from people who claim to be pro-Palestinian. In 2020, she was part of a panel of Jewish women of color who discussed their experiences.
Geoffrey Claussen, a professor and rabbi, has noted that Lawson's writings on the importance of curiosity are a valuable contribution to musar literature, which focuses on Jewish ethics and personal growth.
