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08.09.2008
...And Now Meet Michelle Obama's First Cousin, Rabbi Capers Funnye

This country is so gloriously mixed up that we are getting more and more exceptional. I mean "exceptional" in the ongoing reality of "American exceptionalism." The crossing of ethnic, racial and religious streams actually invigorates. It may actually be how God blesses America.

In any case, Rabbi Funnye is (according to Ha'aretz and the Forward) Michelle Obama's first cousin once removed. He is the chief rabbi of the Beth Shalom B'nei Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in southwest Chicago and "serves on on the Chicago Board of Rabbis."

Posted: Monday, September 08, 2008 10:16 AM with 8 comment(s)

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jacksondyer said:

You mean the folks who believe that the original Jews (Hebrews) were Black?

I met a number of "Black Israelites" once and they told me that only Black people can be "real Jews."  

I wonder what Rabbi Funnye believes.

September 8, 2008 11:11 AM

pawlowski said:

Wait a minute now.  I thought Obama was related to Cheney.  

September 8, 2008 11:26 AM

noga1 said:

Here is my favourite African-American (Jew) from Chicago:

www.youtube.com/watch

September 8, 2008 12:19 PM

jacksondyer said:

"Wait a minute now.  I thought Obama was related to Cheney. "

No, that's Biden. He's related to Sarah Palin.

September 8, 2008 12:22 PM

blackton said:

From Forward: Funnye converted to Judaism and was ordained as a rabbi under the supervision of black Israelite rabbis. He then went through another conversion, supervised by Orthodox and Conservative rabbis. Funnye has worked to connect his own congregation with the rest of Chicago’s Jewish community. He serves on the Chicago Board of Rabbis and is vice president of the Israelite Board of Rabbis, the rabbinical association for black Israelite rabbis.

Seems pretty Kosher to me (pardon the pun)

As to me, I think it is pretty wonderful. I would say the same thing if it were Biden, McCain, or Palin, being that it is Obama makes it even more meaningful to me.

September 8, 2008 1:26 PM

teplukhin2you said:

paging William Yard...

September 8, 2008 1:41 PM

jacksondyer said:

"Seems pretty Kosher to me (pardon the pun)"

I read the same article in the Forward and my reaction was: "election year conversion."

The Forward, btw, is supporting Obama.

I don't know why any of this is relevant since no one has accused the Obamas of being antisemites.

If anything it was Sarah Palin that was accused of antisemitism among other things.

September 8, 2008 2:13 PM

Soccer Dad said:

It was ironic to see a column from Jonathan Tobin yesterday asserting: Unlike 2004, when just about everyone running for president except George W. Bush was producing a Jewish relative of some sort, the two nominees, John McCain and Barack Obama, aren

September 9, 2008 5:41 AM

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