The Jewish South: Religion, Race and Identity Through the Centuries
From Alexandria Louisiana to Galveston Texas, the vibrant history of Jews in the South is a mystery that has yet to be fully explored by historians, until now. Join us for a fascinating conversation with ISJL’s Shira Muroff and author Shari Rabin about Rabin’s latest book, Jews of the South, the first comprehensive narrative history of Jewish life in the American South. Rabin weaves together archival discoveries spanning three centuries, exploring the unique ways Jewish individuals, families, and communities navigated a society built on Native land and enslaved labor while maintaining religious identity and traditions. Rabin examines pivotal moments, including Jewish participation in the Civil War, the 1915 lynching of Leo Frank, and Jewish involvement in both support for and resistance to the civil rights movement. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion on an often-overlooked chapter of American Jewish history. Purchase the book here.
The program is proudly in partnership with the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). The ISJL supports, connects and celebrates Jewish life in the South. Learn more about their programs here.
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Can’t make it live? Register anyway! All participants will receive the recording to free webinars. But join us in real time to engage with the speaker, ask questions, and be part of the conversation!
Shira Muroff is the Director of Programs at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Shira has enjoyed connecting Jewish communities across the South to speakers, musicians, comedians, and resources about local Jewish history in the South.
Shari Rabin is an historian of modern Judaism and American religions. Her first book, Jews on the Frontier: Religion and Mobility in Nineteenth-century America (NYU Press, 2017), won the National Jewish Book Award in American Jewish studies. She is associate professor of Jewish studies, religion, and history at Oberlin College and serves as vice-president of the Southern Jewish Historical Society.
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