Congratulations to Alysa Stanton, First African-American Female Rabbi!

Last Saturday, Alysa Stanton became the world's first African-American female rabbi. We're proud to say that she is part of the JFS of Colorado family! More than 10 years ago, Alysa was trained as a JFS para-chaplain by Donna Lutz, Nursing Home Outreach coordinator, and Rabbi Eliot Baskin, JFS community chaplain.

"Alysa was so caring and loving," says Donna. "She cast a warm light on the whole class and added so much to her para-chaplain group. Congratulations, Rabbi Stanton!"

According to a recent article by the JTA, there are a handful of African-American congregational presidents, but Alysa will be the first African-American rabbi. She will begin her rabbinate in August at Congregation Bayt Shalom in Greenville, NC, a 53-family Conservative synagogue that is also affiliated with the Reform movement.

Rabbi Steven Foster, senior rabbi at Congregation Emanuel in Denver, worked closely with Alysa while she lived in Denver and traveled to Cincinnati for her ordination. He says, "Rabbi Alysa Stanton is an extremely spiritiual person who makes us as a religious community stronger in our faith. As she has said, she is not an African American who happens to be a rabbi, but she is a rabbi who happens to be African-American. Her sense of bringing us closer to our values, our religious commitments, and to God will be apparent in all she does. Whoever has the chance to learn from Alysa will be blessed."

Rabbi Eliot Baskin worked with Alysa in Fort Collins and Evergreen, as well as through the JFS para-chaplain program. He said in a recent Denver Post article that Alysa helped him, a musically challenged rabbi, by singing the traditional prayer, Kol Nidre, in his place on Yom Kippur in Fort Collins. "She had the congregation moved to tears. She sang it with all her heart. I knew then this was a person of faith, dedication and perseverance." He adds, "Alysa personifies loving kindness. She's incredibly warm, exuberant and enthusiastic. She will rejuvenate her new community."

JFS wants to congratulate Rabbi Stanton on this great achievement and wishes her much success!

Photo by Tony Tribble, Special to The Denver Post