Brad Pomerance interviews Dr. Shari Rabin about her book, "The Jewish South," exploring the history of the Southern Jewish community in the United States up to and into the Civil War, covering Jewish migration to the Southern U.S., the establishment of Jewish communities in Charleston and Savannah, and the Jewish community’s participation in slavery and the Civil War, touching on U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant's General Order 11 and its lasting implications for the Jewish American community.

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This is a two part episode. Be sure to tune-in to part 2!

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Takeaways:

- Charleston had the largest Jewish population in early America.

- Jewish migration to the South was driven by economic opportunities.

- KKBE, established in 1749, is one of the oldest synagogues in America.

- Savannah's Jewish community was established by a large group in 1733.

- Jews participated in slavery at levels consistent with their population.

- Some Southern Jews were ambivalent about secession during the Civil War.

- Judah Benjamin was a prominent Jewish figure in the Confederacy.

- General Order 11 expelled Jews from certain areas during the Civil War.

- The Jewish community in the South faced unique challenges and opportunities.

- The history of Jews in the South is complex and multifaceted.--

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