The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
Jewish organization serving a thirteen-state southern region. Based in
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, officially the City of Jackson, is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city is also one of two county seats of Hinds County, along with Raymond. The city had a population of 153,701 at t ...
, the ISJL provides programming throughout the
South.
Overview
Mission: The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) supports, connects, and celebrates Jewish life in the South.
Structure: The ISJL has three core service areas - Education, Culture, and Spirituality. The ISJL serves a thirteen-state region that includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
History: began as the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in 1986. The Museum, which now exists as a separate New Orleans-based entity, was formed as a response to an outcry from small-town southern Jews in need of a repository for artifacts, sacred objects, historical documents, and stories. The ISJL remains committed to supporting the museum efforts, and ensuring that the stories and impact of the southern Jewish community will not be forgotten. But the story of Southern Jewish life is not merely a story of shuttering synagogues and diminishing numbers. It's also a story of growing communities, vibrant congregations, and active Jewish communities of all sizes. Thus, in 2000, we became the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, and now focus on connecting communities throughout the region through our Education, Culture, and Spirituality resources. We also work with partners including libraries and public schools to provide dynamic secular literacy programming.
See also
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History of the Jews in the United States
There have been Jewish communities in the United States since colonial times. Early Jewish communities were primarily Sephardi (Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent), composed of immigrants from Brazil and merchants who settled in cities. Unt ...
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History of the Jews in Charleston, South Carolina The history of Jews in Charleston, South Carolina, was related to the 1669 charter of the Carolina Colony (the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina), drawn up by the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury and his secretary John Locke, which granted liberty of c ...
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Jewish education
Jewish education ( he, חינוך, ''Chinuch'') is the transmission of the tenets, principles, and religious laws of Judaism. Known as the "people of the book", Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish cu ...
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Culture of the Southern United States
The culture of the Southern United States, Southern culture, or Southern heritage, is a subculture of the United States. The combination of its unique history and the fact that many Southerners maintain—and even nurture—an identity separate f ...
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History of the Southern United States
References
External links
Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life(official site)
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''The New York Times'', 26 Nov. 2005
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
Jewish community organizations
Jewish educational organizations
Jewish history organizations
Jewish outreach
Educational organizations based in the United States
Jewish organizations based in the United States
Jewish-American history
Jews and Judaism in Mississippi
Non-profit organizations based in Mississippi
Culture of Jackson, Mississippi
Jewish organizations established in 2000
2000 establishments in Mississippi