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]

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]

Achievements

Culpeper was the first full-time female rabbi and the first Conservative female rabbi in Alabama.[1] She became the first female rabbi to lead religious services in Poland, conducting 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).[9]

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". 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. 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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