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A Small-World Story from the Small Southern Town of El Dorado, Arkansas
Nestled in South Arkansas, El Dorado is a small town with a big history. Recently, this small town reminded us just how small the world is — especially, of course, the Jewish world. At the beginning of...
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Reflections on Remembrance: Memorial Day and More
Memorial Day is approaching, and while I’m usually swept up in the parades, beach trips and community cookouts, this year I’m reflecting more on the “memorial” part of the holiday. So often the real...
View ArticleIn The Small Town South, Honoring Orlando Victims Is An Interfaith Experience
Communities across the nation have been gathering to honor and memorialize the Orlando victims. In Alexandria, Louisiana, community organizers chose the newly constructed Holocaust memorial as an...
View ArticleSouthern Summer Survival Strategies
Here’s the news from Mississippi: It’s hot, y’all. Hot in the way that when I open the door the heat and humidity hits my face and the glasses fog up. Hot in the way that we have to crank the air in...
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How Facebook Can Make Museums More Social (And Why Jewish Organizations...
I’ve been active on Facebook since 2004. Right before I started college, Brandeis University was added to the then-still-exclusive site, and I was able to connect with my future classmates. More than a...
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Natchez, Mississippi: The Place to Be for Jewish History Lovers This Fall
For me, it’s the river that won my heart. In the summer of 2007, I was traveling in a hot van down from Utica, Mississippi, on my first trip to the port city of Natchez. I had just arrived as the...
View ArticleNow That I Have A Kid, How Do I Mark New Years… And Small Moments Each Day?
“Can you believe it’s been a year!?” Ever since my son was about 10 months old, many people have commented on that milestone. They ask me if I could believe it had already been a year, asking me if it...
View ArticleCelebrating Jewish History in One of the Deepest “Deep South” Towns
Last month, 150 members of the Southern Jewish Historical Society gathered for their 41st annual conference. Even for a group familiar with the Deep South, most had to head farther into the heart of...
View ArticleHow to Add Some Competitive Excitement to Your Hanukkah Party
I’ve been joking this year that with Hanukkah starting on Christmas Eve, our holiday doesn’t have a chance to compete with the epic candy cane, hot chocolate, caroling, bright-cheery-Santa holiday...
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Bethany’s Brilliant (Mississippi Delta) Bat Mitzvah
Late this past fall, I received a special invitation in my inbox. Surrounded by bright pink, blue and yellow polka dots, the blue scripted letters read “Let’s Celebrate Bethany’s Brilliant Bat...
View Article#TBT: The Legacy of Southern Jewish Shopping
Walking by the seasonal decorations already set up at stores around Jackson, I was quickly drawn into the glitz and glimmer of the holiday shopping season. With a new baby in the family, I’ve got a few...
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Road Trip Podcast Pick: A Southern Jewish Food Episode You’ll Love
Many of you will be hitting the roads for holiday travel this time of year, and will have ample time to catch up on your podcasts. If you are like me, and have exhausted the archives all your old...
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Celebrating Hanukkah… Even If You Don’t Celebrate Hanukkah
The holiday spirit is here, and I’ll be celebrating Hanukkah this week to its fullest. My family will pause to light the candles of our menorah, fry up some latkes, and attend a few parties to give our...
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How a Jewish Summer Internship Changed My Life
Living in Jackson, Mississippi, but devoid of a Southern accent, I am often asked where I’m from. When I confess that I’m from Connecticut, the next question is usually to ask how I got here. The...
View ArticleFormer Fellow Flashback: Rachel, 2008-2010
This February, for the first time ever, the ISJL is hosting a reunion of all of the alumni of our Education Fellowship Program. Almost 40 young professionals have now completed this immersive two-year...
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Jewish Memories in Meridian, Mississippi
I recently had the pleasure of being a presenter at the 4th annual Backstage Pass Conference, organized by Visit Mississippi, Mississippi Main Street Association , and the Mississippi Arts Commission,...
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Becoming an Expert on Southern Jewish Cemeteries
A recent line of inquiry has led me down a research rabbit hole — a tunnel falling straight into the world of Southern Jewish cemeteries. My usual days of trip planning and education programming have...
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Another Blog Post About Something Jewish
There are certain parts of being a Jewish professional that only other people in “the business” will understand. Buzz words like heritage and continuity have multiple meanings, food at most gatherings...
View ArticleCelebrating Jewish Women This Women’s History Month
I’ll admit when I looked up at my calendar this week I loudly exclaimed “It’s already March! But what about February!?” This is a trend lately, especially since I’m trying to slow down my now...
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My Mississippi Road Trips
Where I grew up in Connecticut, “road trip” typically meant a trip to New York City or to Boston – both being about two hours away, without too much traffic. As a kid I remember preparing for these...
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