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 in Alabama and the first Conservative female rabbi in Alabama.[1]

Early life

Culpeper converted from Roman Catholicism at age 21, and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1995.[2][3]

AIDS

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.[4][2][5] After revealing her diagnosis, her congregation rallied around her, insisting she continue to work, and wearing red AIDS awareness ribbons,[4] 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.[6] Culpeper spoke about AIDS to Jewish communities throughout America.[2] However, she did not want to be known as "the AIDS rabbi".[7] She died of AIDS in 2005.[8] Block #6020 of the AIDS Memorial Quilt has a panel commemorating her.[9]

Achievements

Culpeper was the first full-time female rabbi in Alabama and the first Conservative female rabbi in Alabama.[1] She also became the first female rabbi to lead religious services in Poland when she conducted High Holy Day services at Beit Warszawa in 2000.[2] 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).[10]

See also

References
  1. "Cynthia Culpeper Dies, Rabbi Who Battled AIDS". The Jewish Exponent. 2005-09-15. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  2. "Community Mourns Loss of Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper, 43". Deep South Jewish Voice. August 29, 2005. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  3. "gen.culpepper.com". gen.culpepper.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
  4. "'I have AIDS,' rabbi from S.F. reveals publicly". Jweekly.com. 1996-02-09. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  5. "Alabama ousts governor, a Christian right advocate". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  6. "Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper dies at 43". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. "Rabbi Cynthia Culpeper dies at 43". 2 September 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  8. Brook, Larry (2005-08-29). "Rabbi dies of AIDS". JTA. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  9. "Interactive AIDS Quilt". www.aidsmemorial.org.
  10. 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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