Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) brings Jewish life into communities throughout 13 Southern states, both in person and via remote resources. Located in Mississippi, outside any hub of “the Jewish world,” ISJL supports trans-denominational Jewish life by sending professionals—traveling rabbis, educators, musicians, performers, and scholars—and programs directly into the communities. Jewish families living outside of major metropolitan areas often have to go the extra mile to access Jewish life, so ISJL promotes Judaism and Jewish heritage through innovative programs and shared resources (even shared rabbis) while bringing together communities of all sizes across the South. What started in 2000 as part of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, an archive for the Southern Jewish past, has evolved into its own cultural contribution, emerging to meet the needs of the Southern Jewish present and future. 

ISJL works to provide Judaic services and cultural programs to Jewish communities across the South with its six departments: community engagement, education, history, programming, rabbinic services, and the most recent addition—heritage and interpretation, which will bring people together to experience and engage with Jewish culture through programs like a Jewish Heritage Tour curated road trip. Its Rabbis on the Road program matches clergy with small Southern congregations for short-term visits and residencies. These experts bring teacher training, text study, bimah-ready weekly Divrei Torah, social-justice planning modules, and cultural celebrations with them. When an in-person meeting isn’t possible, ISJL serves its community through Skype tutoring for b’nai mitzvah and conversion students and substantial online resources. Back in Mississippi, ISJL created cohorts of Education and Community Engagement fellows who help with everything from implementing religious school curriculum to developing service projects for local schools. This year more than 80 percent of alumni are still working or volunteering in the Jewish world. Although ISJL has evolved from its museum past, it’s still archiving the stories of growing communities, vibrant congregations, and active Jewish communities as it serves the Southern region.