Michele Obama's Jewish roots

Michelle Obama’s Jewish Roots

Israelians worry that Barack Obama will forsake the Jews and will favor of the Palestinians. Others, both Israli and American worry that he is a secret Muslim. But, there might be a ray of hope---Or depending on the strength of his marriage, the light may be an on-coming train in the tunnel of terror.

You see, Michelle is related to one of the nation’s most prominent black rabbis in America, Rabbi Capers Funnye (pronounced “Fuh-NAY”). He and Michelle Obama are cousins. Funnye’s mother, Verdelle Robinson Funnye, and Michelle Obama’s paternal grandfather, Frasier Robinson, Jr., were brother and sister.

Rabbi Funnye is the chief rabbi of the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in southwest Chicago. He is well known in Jewish circles for acting as a bridge between mainstream Jewry and the much smaller, and largely separate, world of black Jewish congregations, sometimes known as black Hebrews, or Israelites. He has often urged the larger Jewish community to be more accepting of Jews who are not white.

In this presidential campaign, Funnye’s famous relative gives an unexpected twist to the relationship between Barack Obama and the Jewish community. On the one hand, Jewish political organizers, voters and donors — including some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent families — played an essential role in Obama’s rise to power in Chicago.

Rabbi Funnye told the Jewish publication, Forward, “I know that her grandfather and her father and my mom and all of our relatives that are now deceased would be so very, very proud of both of them.” Funnye, 56, has known Michelle Obama (born Michelle Robinson), 44, since she was born. Both grew up on the South Side of Chicago, and Funnye’s mother and Obama’s father enjoyed a close relationship.

The two fell out of touch when they grew older, but they reconnected years later when Obama was working for the University of Chicago and Funnye was leading a local social service organization called The Blue Gargoyle. Funnye also worked with Barack Obama, who, as a state senator, came and spoke at events for the organization. When Barack and Michelle Obama married, Funnye and his family attended the wedding. Funnye said that he and the Obamas have not been in touch since the presidential campaign began.”

Wonder how Michelle's Jewish relatives feel about her marriage to Barack who by blood is 40% Arabic? And by loyalty, looks like he may be a lot Arabic.