Lakeport Legacies: A History of the Jews in the Delta

Lakeport Legacies: A History of the Jews in the Delta

Dr. Stuart Rockoff, Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life

Thursday, September 19
Refreshments @ 5:30 pm 

Program @ 6:00 pm

Space is limited. Please RSVP by phone:
870.265.6031

Join us for Dr. Rockoff's overview of the history of the Jews in the Delta.

     Many people are shocked to find out that Jews have thrived in the “most southern place on earth.” Indeed, while Jews have always been a tiny minority of Arkansas and Mississippi’s population, they have forged communities and preserved their religious traditions for over 160 years. Jews flocked to the Delta as it emerged as the leading cotton producing region in the country in the late nineteenth century. Jewish merchants and their families opened stores in most every Delta market town.They have worked to assimilate into the culture of the Delta, but at the same time, they sought to preserve their religious traditions and formed cohesive social and religious communities that brought this dispersed population together. While recent decades have seen a steep decline in the Delta’s Jewish population. Jews still pray and socialize together, keeping the light of Judaism shining in the Mississippi River Delta in the 21st century.

This is a free event, but please RSVP. Space will be limited.

Lakeport Legacies is a monthly history talk held on the last (usually) Thursday at the Lakeport Plantation. Each month a topic from the Delta region is featured. The event is free and open to the public. Lakeport Legacies meets at Lakeport Plantation -- 601 Hwy 142, Lake Village, Arkansas. 

Another proud presentation of the:

Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life

For more information on the ISJL – www.isjl.org