Newburgh - It was a year ago that Jack Berkowitz heard the name Rabbi Capers Funnye, Jr. Funnye, an African-American, was leading a congregation of Jews in Chicago, IL called Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. His name appeared in national newspapers and magazines, yet Berkowitz figured few had heard of him until his wife’s first cousin (Michelle Obama) became the first lady of the United States of America.
Berkowitz was fascinated by Funnye and encouraged the Jewish Foundation of Greater Orange County to bring him to the area this past weekend to headline its annual fundraising event.
On Sunday, Funnye spoke at the Congregation Agudas Israel in Newburgh, addressing its members, as well as the general community and religious leaders.
Rabbi Capers C. Funnye grew up Methodist, but he converted to Judaism and is now a Rabbi. Funnye now leads an Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, one of the largest Black synagogues in America.
His message Sunday was one of action and unity of all communities. "Faith is meaningless if people don’t take action." He has seen the results first hand on the south side of Chicago where he joined with an interfaith group to strike out poverty, anti-Semitism and racism.
He encouraged those in attendance to continue the work of past leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He stated that people of all faiths need to work together for the common good of all humanity. Numerous religious leaders joined Rabbi Funnye, Jr. in agreement about bringing the religious community together to bring about such change.
Funnye said, "We need each of us, as African-Americans, as Jews, as Christians, as Muslims, as Hindus, to work and continue the task before us."
Berkowitz said he was glad to have had the chance to see him speak, and hear his sermon. "It was like meeting a Dr. King figure," he said.
