Cynthia Culpeper

Cynthia Ann "Cyndie" Culpeper (June 16, 1962 – August 29, 2005) was the first pulpit rabbi to announce being diagnosed with AIDS, which she did in 1996 when she was rabbi of Agudath Israel in Montgomery, Alabama.[1] She was the first full-time female rabbi and the first Conservative female rabbi in Alabama.[1]

Personal life

Culpeper was working as a nurse in San Francisco General Hospital when she accidentally contracted HIV due to a needle stick, and was diagnosed with HIV in 1995.[2][3][4] She had been ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary earlier that year, and had converted from Catholicism at age 21.[3][5] She died of AIDS in 2005.[6]

AIDS

After revealing her diagnosis, her congregation rallied around her, insisting she continue to work, and wearing red AIDS awareness ribbons,[2] but in 1997 she gave up her position and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where she could get "cutting edge" treatment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's AIDS research clinic.[7]

Culpeper spoke about AIDS to Jewish communities throughout America.[3] However, she did not want to be known as "the AIDS rabbi".[8]

Achievements

Culpeper became the first female rabbi to lead religious services in Poland, conducting High Holy Day services at Beit Warszawa in 2000.[3] Culpeper also contributed a chapter to the anthology The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions (2000).[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Cynthia Culpeper Dies, Rabbi Who Battled AIDS". The Jewish Exponent. 2005-09-15. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  2. 1 2 "'I have AIDS,' rabbi from S.F. reveals publicly". Jweekly.com. 1996-02-09. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Community Mourns Loss of Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper, 43". Deep South Jewish Voice. August 29, 2005. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  4. ↑ "Alabama ousts governor, a Christian right advocate". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "gen.culpepper.com". gen.culpepper.com. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  6. ↑ Brook, Larry (2005-08-29). "Rabbi dies of AIDS". JTA. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper dies at 43". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper dies at 43". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Cynthia A. Culpeper. “Positive Pillars.” In The Women's Torah Commentary: New Insights from Women Rabbis on the 54 Weekly Torah Portions. Edited by Elyse Goldstein, pages 63–69. Woodstock, Vermont: Jewish Lights Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-58023-076-8.
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