Institute of Southern Jewish Life

Educational services:the education division supports Jewish supplemental schools, large and small. 65 schools utilized our curriculum in the 2022-2023 school year. Approximately 3,000 students were impacted by this initiative. Our annual conference brings together educators from across the region, and now incorporates programming from our entire organization. In addition to our work in Jewish education, the isjl's secular literature and leadership programming supports children and families in Mississippi.

Culture: celebrating Jewish culture and preserving the unique stories of Jewish Life in the south is at the heart of the isjl's work. We provide accessible Jewish cultural experiences that appeal to diverse audiences. We preserve the stories of Jewish Life in the south and make them available to a wider audience, through resources like our free online encyclopedia of Southern Jewish communities. The online archive with a history of every Jewish community in our region receives almost 100,000 views each year.

Spirituality:we serve the smallest Jewish communities in our region specifically, individuals and congregations without any local full-time clergy. From officiating lifecycle events and services in-person to offering remote counseling, we make Jewish Life accessible. We also engage in interfaith work and bridge-building that makes all of our communities more inclusive and interconnected.