Kesher Talk

Jews in odd places: the South: In 1960, there were 167 Jewish communities in the South, 98 of which had Jewish populations of between 100 and 500 people.

By 1997, that number had dropped to 141, with only 62 communities averaging between 100 and 500 Jews.

But enterprises like the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute for Southern Jewish Life are trying their hardest to keep Southern Jewry alive and well. But for Jewish life in the Deep South to overcome the twin plagues of attrition and assimilation, argues Macy Hart, executive director of the Institute, American Jewish culture must change.

And JTA profiles the last Jew in Demopolis, Alabama.

posted by William @ 6/06/2003 08:26:01 AM