Shavuot - Garden Party   more...
Printed fromChabadPalisades.com
ב"ה
Channels Conversations Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories

I'm a Rabbi and I'm Black

Autoplay Next

I'm a Rabbi and I'm Black

Yossi Kulek, a Chabad on Campus rabbi, shares how the Rebbe's guidance helped him overcome racism, adversity and self-doubt.
Podcast: Subscribe to Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories
Podcasts
Audio: Listen to Audio | Download this MP3
Topics: Racism
Racism
Rabbi Yossi Kulek is director of Chabad on Campus at University of Hartford.
Chana Weisberg is host of the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories podcast and curator of advanced learning experiences on Chabad.org. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.
More from Yossi Kulek
© Copyright, all rights reserved. The content on this page is provided by our content partner, Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's copyright policy.

More in this section

You may also be interested in...
How the Science of Racism Led to the Holocaust
The war against the divine image in man
107 Comments
George Floyd and the Healing of America
They Are Us and We Are One
333 Comments
Is It Racist to Want a Jewish Spouse?
299 Comments
Isn't It Racist To Believe That Jews Are Special?
450 Comments

Join the Discussion

20 Comments
Newest Oldest
Posting Guidelines
Matel Rena Tobin Montreal, Quebec, Canada April 17, 2025

Thank you so much for all your help explaining things!!! Reply

C.R. Maryland February 13, 2025

WOW❣️ Thank you for sharing this heartfelt interview. I am saddened he faced so much rejection and in a Jewish community as a creation of HaShem. Infact, as Jews we are many different skin colors, hair textures as well as hair colors as HaShem "chose" us to be. Our forefathers were in African Nations, Moshe wife Zipporah, Jethros daughter, Hagar an Ethiopian, Keturrah an Ethiopian. We are ABBA'S children..we should have love for all people regardless of the color flesh ABBA chose for us. Moshe sister Mariam, was punished by ABBA (leprosy and removed from the camp for seven days)for being negatively critical of Zipporahs dark skin color. The salt of the earth, a light upon a hill, is who we are for ABBA, the one and only true and living GOD created for HIS purpose, not to be conformist to this worlds evil. We are all human beings/the human race, different ethnicities created from flesh and blood, as ABBA'S chose..and all are Valuable to HIM.
Thank you ABBA. Reply

Gabriela Panamá July 25, 2024

So very very inspiring. Thank you very much for that interview. The Rabbi's life story ilustrates well Hashem's care in every small detail, making what we see as bad an asset in every person leading us to cherish every life as extrordinary Reply

Chani July 24, 2024

Makes me so happy to hear this! In school and at home I’m constantly hearing racist remarks about blacks, and when I point it out everyone just rolls their eyes. “I’m not being racist they say, it’s just the reality of who they are.” Bez”H this message should get the proper attention and respect it deserves in the frum world at large.
Thank you! Reply

DG July 21, 2024

Wow! I feel so humbled by this outstanding man and I find it amazing that despite his birth, he is what he is today! Reply

Anonymous NJ July 21, 2024

Very inspiring piece. Clearly, a "derhoibener mench"!
Perhaps, though, the Rabbi would make peace with the different parts of himself if he did keep a connection with Robert? Maybe this is something he could discuss with his adopted father and a therapist together?
After all, Hashem chose Robert to be his birth father and Robert's bad deeds, while they did hurt his mother, also caterpaulted the Rabbi and his mother to a Torah life. Right?
Had Robert been a pattern-card husband and dad, the Rabbi and his mother might never have found Torah (or his adopted father).
Perhaps, forming a relationship with Robert (and explaining to the sibs the situation from the start) might be a healthier way to live.
Just wondering. Reply

Dovid Olensky North Miami Beach July 20, 2024

I once asked my Rabbi, how could it be that a person was Jewish and black. He said that they were special higher souls. They have two difficulties they had to overcome. Jews and blacks are both hated and discriminated against. Hashem doesn't give a person something that he can't handle. The fact that Hashem chose them meant that they have the strength to deal with it and overcome it. Reply

AnInsight July 19, 2024

It has never mattered what color you are, only that your mind, and heart and soul are "clear."

Stay safe. Be well. Reply

Matel Rena Tobin Montreal, Quebec, Canada July 18, 2024

I learned from Rabbi Mordechai Wenger of Montreal, Canada that there is no such thing as a better person. I also learned from him not to judge a book by its cover. And maybe it was Rabbi Moshe Krasnanski from Chabad TMR that explained to me that not to judge a book by its cover applies to people.

Not everyone has had a perfect education, and not everyone knows everything correctly and properly.

I didn’t watch the whole video but thank you Rabbi Kulek for sharing. Reply

Don Florida July 18, 2024

As a Black person myself I am very Blessed to hear this story. Black persons who want to embrace to and Judaism struggle with how to fit into a community that by and large doesn't look the way you look but knowing that this is where you should be. It's very encouraging to know that Rabbi Yossi is a leader in the community who can empathize with this struggle and give meaningful assistance to those in need. Barukh Hashem! Reply

Liz Martinez New York, NY, USA July 18, 2024

What a beautiful man. Reply

On the sidelines too USA July 18, 2024

Thank you for your honest and sensitive words. Many people are also sidelined- bal teshuvahs, converts ,other ethnicities, etc.
The pride of your children is a testimony to your successful journey Reply

Alexander Polsky Fort Lee July 18, 2024

Great and inspirational! Reply

Aliza Hausman Los Angeles, CA July 18, 2024

Amazing story. As a mixed race convert with children of color who is married to a rabbi, I really appreciated hearing Rabbi Kulek’s story. Reply

Riv Toronto July 17, 2024

This was amazing. Would love to have something like this for preteens or even younger kids, especially in the religious community. I don't believe it's intentional, yet some situations have caused racism to continue on despite our value of loving every Jew. Would appreciate having tools for parents and educators to combat this issue within our communities. Reply

Sara Connecticut July 17, 2024

Amazing BH. Reply

Rita Forbes Clinton July 17, 2024

Good Evening,

Rabbi Kulek, thank you for taking the time to share such a warm and edifying story. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future. Also, I would love to hear you and your wife's chassidus journey; especially how you prepare )and share your diverse cultures on Shabbat.

Be blessed!

Thank you Chana for an awe-inspiring interview!

Baruch HaShem, Reply

Jodi Nicastro Stony Brook July 17, 2024

Chana you and your guests are a dose of positivity every time I listen! Thank you! Reply

George Lucas Atlanta July 17, 2024

Fascinating and inspiring. Thanks. Reply

Chana July 15, 2024

Fascinating and enlightening interview! Rabbi Kulek is bringing the Geula by revealing how we can love every human being. May he and his family go from strength to strength in all their endeavors! Reply