Don't take our word for it. The Jewish Daily Forward, which published a long piece on Rabbi Capers Funnye (at right in picture), one of the nation's most prominent black rabbis and the cousin of Michelle Obama.

"While Barack Obama has struggled to capture Jewish votes, it turns out that one of his wife's cousins is the country's most prominent black rabbi.

Michelle Obama, wife of the Democratic presidential nominee, is a first cousin once removed of Rabbi Capers Funnye, spiritual leader of a mostly black synagogue on Chicago's South Side. Funnye's mother, Verdelle Robinson Funnye, and Michelle Obama's paternal grandfather, Frasier Robinson Jr., were brother and sister.

Funnye (pronounced fuh-NAY) 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 much analyzed 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. But the Illinois senator has struggled to overcome suspicions in some parts of the Jewish community, including skepticism about his stance on Israel, and discredited but persistent rumors that he is secretly a Muslim.

Funnye, who describes himself as an independent, said he has not been involved with the Obama campaign. He noted, however, that he has donated money and that he was cheering Obama on.

"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 told the Forward.

Michelle Obama and the Obama campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

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.

"Her father was like the glue of our family," Funnye said. "He always wanted to keep the family very connected and to stay in touch with each other." Funnye and Obama saw each other several times a year when they were growing up, mostly at family functions and on occasional visits to each other's homes. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, recalled Funnye and his family coming over for visits and said that he and her children were "as close as cousins could be."

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."

Original Link :

http://weblogs.sunsentinel.com/news/opinion/theslant/blog/2008/09/obamas_jewish_roots_run_deep.html