As I have already discussed at an earlier juncture in this blog, I am a descendant of Eastern European Jews that came to America from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. My ancestors landed in New York and stayed in New York. They were very religious Jews and required the safety and security of their Jewish Lower East Side communities. Assimilation for my ancestors was a slow process. As they became more successful in this new land, they moved from the Lower East Side to Brooklyn and Easton, Pennsylvania. All of my great-great Grandparents were Orthodox Jews, but over the decades future generations got more comfortable with life in America, assimilated and became more lax in their Jewish observances. In Easton, Pennsylvania my great-Grandparents joined a Conservative synagogue, as that was the only game in town. Both my parents grew up Conservative.
In stark contrast to my family, the first Jews to the South were of German descent and Portuguese descent. The Portuguese or Sephardic Jews were crypto-Jews that left behind the laws of Kashrut long ago, as they had to hide their Jewishness. These Jews of Colonial times and after were more assimilated than the Eastern European Jews and less reliant on the larger Jewish community. While they wanted to have a connection to Judaism, creating the first synagogues in Savannah and Charleston, their attitudes toward their religion was far more aligned with the Reform movement. This relaxation of Jewish customs and observances made the move for these Jews to the South all the more possible.
My parents after living in New York for 50+ years decided last year to move to Charleston, SC. Some family members questioned the prudence of this decision. It is the belief by some Northeastern Jews that the South is inherently anti-Semitic and bigoted due to the South’s checkered past of civil rights abuses, slavery, and events like the lynching of Leo Frank. My parents went regardless of these warnings in search of warmer winters and the prospect of never shoveling snow ever again. They are extremely happy in their new surroundings, finding the South and Southerners to be very welcoming. That being said, it was important for my parents to seek out the Jewish community just as the first Jewish Colonial families did in the 1700’s as they landed in Charleston and Savannah. Jews historically throughout the Diaspora have sought out their fellow Jews and my parents are no different. While the Jewish community of Charleston is not exceedingly large there is a synagogue for the Conservative, the Reform, the Modern Orthodox and a Chabad (with a beautiful new Center for Jewish Life). My parents attend the Chabad as it’s minutes from the house and there are great activities such as Yiddish class and a weekly discussion on the Torah portion of the week. My parents are embracing this newfound Southern way of life while maintaining their Jewish identity. In other words they’re enjoying the best of both worlds, y’all!
In stark contrast to my family, the first Jews to the South were of German descent and Portuguese descent. The Portuguese or Sephardic Jews were crypto-Jews that left behind the laws of Kashrut long ago, as they had to hide their Jewishness. These Jews of Colonial times and after were more assimilated than the Eastern European Jews and less reliant on the larger Jewish community. While they wanted to have a connection to Judaism, creating the first synagogues in Savannah and Charleston, their attitudes toward their religion was far more aligned with the Reform movement. This relaxation of Jewish customs and observances made the move for these Jews to the South all the more possible.
My parents after living in New York for 50+ years decided last year to move to Charleston, SC. Some family members questioned the prudence of this decision. It is the belief by some Northeastern Jews that the South is inherently anti-Semitic and bigoted due to the South’s checkered past of civil rights abuses, slavery, and events like the lynching of Leo Frank. My parents went regardless of these warnings in search of warmer winters and the prospect of never shoveling snow ever again. They are extremely happy in their new surroundings, finding the South and Southerners to be very welcoming. That being said, it was important for my parents to seek out the Jewish community just as the first Jewish Colonial families did in the 1700’s as they landed in Charleston and Savannah. Jews historically throughout the Diaspora have sought out their fellow Jews and my parents are no different. While the Jewish community of Charleston is not exceedingly large there is a synagogue for the Conservative, the Reform, the Modern Orthodox and a Chabad (with a beautiful new Center for Jewish Life). My parents attend the Chabad as it’s minutes from the house and there are great activities such as Yiddish class and a weekly discussion on the Torah portion of the week. My parents are embracing this newfound Southern way of life while maintaining their Jewish identity. In other words they’re enjoying the best of both worlds, y’all!