Capers Funnye

Capers C. Funnye Jr. (born April 14, 1952) is an African-American Conservative rabbi and the Chief Rabbi of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis. He is the spiritual leader of the Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of Chicago, Illinois, which has approximately 200 members. His congregation is assisted by rabbis Avraham Ben Israel and Joshua V. Salter.

Early Life and Background:

He was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, in the Low Country region. His paternal ancestry includes the Geechee or Gullah people of the Sea Islands, an ethnic group known for maintaining strong African traditions. Variations of his surname are common in Nigeria and West Africa. His family moved from South Carolina to Chicago as part of the Great Migration of African Americans to northern industrial cities. He grew up on Chicago's South Side and was acquainted with his mother's extended family, including Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States, who is his first cousin once removed. His mother, Verdelle (Robinson) Funnye, was a sister of Fraser Robinson Jr., Michelle Obama’s paternal grandfather. The Robinson family also traced their roots to Georgetown and shared Gullah heritage.

Religious Development and Education:

Funnye was raised in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first independent black Christian denomination. At age 17, he was encouraged by his minister to pursue a career in clergy. During his college years at Howard University, he became dissatisfied with Christianity and explored other religions, including Islam. Influenced by civil rights and black nationalist movements, he initially engaged with Messianic Judaism by associating with the House of Israel Congregation in Chicago, led by Rabbi Robert Devine.

He was drawn to the teachings of Levi Ben Levy, a Brooklyn-based rabbi and chief rabbi of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis, an organization rooted in the Commandment Keepers Congregation of the Living God, founded in 1919 by Wentworth Arthur Matthew in Harlem. After studying with Levy for five years, Funnye was ordained in 1985 through the Israelite Rabbinical Academy of Brooklyn, a seminary founded by Matthew that is independent of mainstream Jewish denominations.

In 1985, Funnye underwent a second formal conversion to Judaism, certified by a Conservative rabbinical court. He furthered his studies in Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies and a Master of Science in Human Service Administration from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.

Personal Life:

He married Mary White of Chicago. His family connections include Frank White Jr., a businessman who served on Barack Obama's presidential campaign finance committee.

Rabbinic Career:

In 1985, Funnye was appointed assistant rabbi at Beth Shalom B'nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, which is one of the largest black synagogues in the United States. He became the first African-American member of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and has served on the boards of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and the American Jewish Congress of the Midwest.

In 1996, he was the only black rabbi in the Chicago area. He has engaged in efforts to connect with black Jewish communities internationally, including the Beta Israel of Ethiopia and Igbo Jews of Nigeria.

Congregational Practice:

His congregation was founded in 1918 by Rabbi Horace Hasan in Bombay (Mumbai), India, as the Ethiopian Hebrew Settlement Workers Association. The congregation comprises African Americans, Hispanics, whites, and individuals who have converted to Judaism. Conversions follow traditional Jewish practices, requiring study for a year, ritual circumcision for men, and mikvah immersion for women. The congregation's practices blend elements of Conservative and Modern Orthodox Judaism, with African-American cultural influences such as spiritual singing accompanied by drums.

Funnye's congregation does not affiliate with mainstream Jewish organizations and maintains a non-missionary stance regarding conversion.

Community Involvement and Bridge-Building:

In 1995, Funnye co-founded the National Conference of Black Jews, aiming to foster dialogue among black Jewish and Black Hebrew communities and to build bridges to mainstream white Judaism.

Public Engagement:

On April 2, 2009, he was invited to speak at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York, marking his first engagement at a predominantly white, mainstream synagogue. During this event, he addressed topics related to Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama. The following day, he participated in inaugural activities with President Obama in Washington, D.C.

Leadership:

In October 2015, Funnye was installed as the Chief Rabbi of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis. He was formally inaugurated in August 2016. The board consists of individuals who identify as Black Jews or Israelites.