Bagels & Grits allows a glimpse into the traditions and experience of Jewish life in the South. We present an exhibition in two parts. The first

showcases Bill Aron’s photojournalistic exploration of Jewish communities Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The second component takes a closer look at South Carolina, particularly the Upstate. The Upstate has its own unique history, dating back to 1794. Together these weave the story of

specific to the Southern Jewish experience.

PART 1) Bagels & GritsExploring Jewish Life in the Deep SouthExplore Bill Aron’s photojournalistic essay filled with a diverse mixture of local and regional archives to showcase Jewish life in the Deep South. These professional photographs and the stories behind them exploring

(conT.) communities, sacred spaces, workplaces and the changing face of Southern Jewish culture. “I'm very interested in the plurality of Judaism. There's more than one way to be Jewish." –Bill Aron

Bill Aron began his photography career with the book From the Corners of the Earth, a collection of photographs chronicling Jewish communities from around the world. Shalom Y’all: Images of Jewish Life in the American South was published in 2002, from which many of this exhibit’s photographs have been reproduced. His photographs have been exhibited in major museums and galleries throughout the United States, Europe and Israel.

PART 2) A Brief Introduction to South Carolina Jewish LifeThe historic significance of Charleston in American and world-wide Judaism is well documented. Residents may be surprised to learn that the Jewish, presence in the state dates back to 1697. South Carolina Jews fought in the Revolutionary, Civil and World Wars and served as major civic and business leaders. While Charleston Jews primarily were Sephardic- fleeing from Spain and Portugal, the Upstate population traveled mainly from Poland, Russia and Eastern Europe. Many of the Upstate artifacts in the exhibit have never been on public display. This collection allows residents a unique look inside the story of Jewish lifein South Carolina.

SecTion 1) SAcRed SPAceS A space is made sacred by the people who come there. It is a place of connection,

of celebration, of marking life cycles, and above all, a place to feel at home.SecTion 2) communiTy

Because of their small numbers, Jews are connected by family and social networks that extend throughout the region, a phenomenon understood by most as "Jewish

Geography.”SecTion 3) WoRkPlAce

Jews have had a long and proud tradition as southern merchants, but they have also become farmers, artists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, educators, scrap metal

dealers, journalists and much more.SecTion 4) chAnging FAceS

Talk to Southern Jews today and you hear about change. The story of southern Jewish experience is not ending; it's just another chapter.

SecTion 5) ViRTuAl STATionVisit our Virtual Station and experience Yiddish vocabulary, Jewish history, further

reading and oral histories including those of Max and Trudy Heller.

4

3

1

1

2

5

1669

Joh

n Lo

cke

writ

es S

C c

hart

er fo

r rel

igio

us

free

dom

. 16

97 F

irst J

ewis

h se

ttle

r in

Sout

h C

arol

ina

1749

Kah

al K

ados

h Be

th E

lohi

m fo

unde

d in

C

harle

ston

.

1775

Firs

t pro

fess

ing

Jew

to h

old

publ

ic o

ffice

in

SC a

nd n

atio

nally

.

1755

Sal

vado

rs b

ecom

e on

e of

the

larg

est l

and

owne

rs in

the

stat

e w

ith 10

0,00

0 ac

res

in th

e SC

pi

edm

ont,

whi

ch b

ecom

es k

now

n as

Jew

s la

nd.

1749

Firs

t Jew

ish

resi

dent

in G

reen

ville

Cou

nty

1800

-185

0 H

ebre

w s

choo

ls b

egin

to b

e es

tabl

ishe

d th

roug

hout

Sou

th C

arol

ina.

1802

Firs

t Jew

ish

adop

tion

agen

cy a

nd

orph

anag

e in

the

natio

n is

inco

rpor

ated

in

Cha

rlest

on.

1820

SC

is h

ome

to th

e la

rges

t Jew

ish

popu

latio

n in

the

natio

n.

1824

Issa

c H

arby

and

col

legu

es p

etiti

on fo

r Re

form

Jud

aism

. Har

by w

rites

the

Refo

rm

Pray

erbo

ok.

1825

Mor

deca

i Coh

en b

ecom

es o

ne o

f the

w

ealth

iest

men

in S

C.

1833

Firs

t boo

k pu

blis

hed

by J

ewis

h w

oman

in

the

natio

n w

as P

enin

a M

oise

's Fa

ncy'

s Sk

etch

Bo

ok.

1853

Cha

rlest

on n

ativ

e, S

olom

on C

arva

lho

is

hire

d as

pho

togr

aphe

r on

win

ter e

xped

ition

th

roug

h th

e Ro

ckie

s. H

is d

iary

and

imag

es b

ecom

e th

e on

ly re

cord

ed a

ccou

nt o

f the

trek

.

1861

Isaa

c H

irsch

and

Abr

aham

Issa

cs jo

in th

e es

teem

ed B

utle

r Gua

rd fo

r the

Civ

il W

ar.

1862

Gen

eral

Gra

nt is

sues

Gen

eral

Ord

er N

o.11

or

ders

all

Jew

s ex

pelle

d fr

om p

arts

of K

Y,TN

and

M

S.

1863

KK

Beth

Elo

him

vot

es to

bec

ome

the

first

Re

form

Jud

aic

cong

rega

tion

in th

e na

tion.

1869

Hym

an E

ndel

arr

ives

in G

reen

ville

to o

pen

one

of th

e fir

st a

nd m

ost s

ucce

ssfu

l clo

thie

rs.

1887

Rot

hsch

ild s

ecur

es c

ontr

act t

o pr

ovid

e un

iform

s fo

r Gre

envi

lle p

olic

e.

1901

Firs

t Jew

ish

wom

an g

radu

ates

from

MU

SC.

1908

Sol

Kin

goff

open

s M

anha

ttan

Paw

n Sh

op.

1912

Gre

envi

lle's

Ort

hodo

x sy

nago

gue,

Bet

h Is

rael

, hi

res

Rabb

i Zag

lin.

1916

Tem

ple

B'na

i Isr

ael i

s es

tabl

ishe

d in

Sp

arta

nbur

g.

1920

s Ki

ngoff

bro

ther

s bu

ild je

wle

ry e

mpi

re w

ith

28 s

tore

s ac

ross

the

Sout

h.

1921

Kau

fman

bro

ther

s es

tabl

ish

Gre

envi

lle's

first

ju

nkya

rd a

nd a

uto

serv

ice.

1928

Vic

tor D

avis

est

ablis

hes

Dav

is B

atte

ry

Elec

tric

Co.

nex

t to

the

Kauf

man

's ga

rage

.

1929

Gre

envi

lle's

Refo

rm s

ynag

ogue

, Tem

ple

of

Isra

el, i

s de

dica

ted

in a

gra

nd tw

o-da

y ce

rem

ony.

1948

And

erso

n's

syna

gogu

e, T

empl

e B'

Nai

Isra

el

is c

ompl

eted

.

1960

Tes

zler

's es

tabl

ish

Butt

e Kn

ittin

g M

ill in

Sp

artn

abur

g w

hich

bec

omes

the

first

yar

n-to

-dr

ess

prod

uctio

n in

the

wor

ld.

1971

Max

Hel

ler i

s el

ecte

d as

Gre

envi

lle's

may

or.

Visit the South Carolina Room. Our trained researchers can help you to find ancestry and local history while also offering guidance in handling your own heirloom documents. Call 527-9261 or stop by the Hughes Main Library to learn more.

Find your own

A Portion of the People: Three Hundred Years of Southern Jewish Life

Be sure to check out this comprehensive volume that chronicles the complexities of Jewish life in South Carolina, a state that, in the early 1800’s had the largest Jewish population in the country. The book features excerpts from journals and letters, documents such as mortgages and marriage contracts, and recollections distilled from hundreds of oral histories. Check it out or pick up a copy of

your own from the Friends Shop!

1669

Joh

n Lo

cke

writ

es S

C c

hart

er fo

r rel

igio

us

free

dom

. 16

97 F

irst J

ewis

h se

ttle

r in

Sout

h C

arol

ina

1749

Kah

al K

ados

h Be

th E

lohi

m fo

unde

d in

C

harle

ston

.

1775

Firs

t pro

fess

ing

Jew

to h

old

publ

ic o

ffice

in

SC a

nd n

atio

nally

.

1755

Sal

vado

rs b

ecom

e on

e of

the

larg

est l

and

owne

rs in

the

stat

e w

ith 10

0,00

0 ac

res

in th

e SC

pi

edm

ont,

whi

ch b

ecom

es k

now

n as

Jew

s la

nd.

1749

Firs

t Jew

ish

resi

dent

in G

reen

ville

Cou

nty

1800

-185

0 H

ebre

w s

choo

ls b

egin

to b

e es

tabl

ishe

d th

roug

hout

Sou

th C

arol

ina.

1802

Firs

t Jew

ish

adop

tion

agen

cy a

nd

orph

anag

e in

the

natio

n is

inco

rpor

ated

in

Cha

rlest

on.

1820

SC

is h

ome

to th

e la

rges

t Jew

ish

popu

latio

n in

the

natio

n.

1824

Issa

c H

arby

and

col

legu

es p

etiti

on fo

r Re

form

Jud

aism

. Har

by w

rites

the

Refo

rm

Pray

erbo

ok.

1825

Mor

deca

i Coh

en b

ecom

es o

ne o

f the

w

ealth

iest

men

in S

C.

1833

Firs

t boo

k pu

blis

hed

by J

ewis

h w

oman

in

the

natio

n w

as P

enin

a M

oise

's Fa

ncy'

s Sk

etch

Bo

ok.

1853

Cha

rlest

on n

ativ

e, S

olom

on C

arva

lho

is

hire

d as

pho

togr

aphe

r on

win

ter e

xped

ition

th

roug

h th

e Ro

ckie

s. H

is d

iary

and

imag

es b

ecom

e th

e on

ly re

cord

ed a

ccou

nt o

f the

trek

.

1861

Isaa

c H

irsch

and

Abr

aham

Issa

cs jo

in th

e es

teem

ed B

utle

r Gua

rd fo

r the

Civ

il W

ar.

1862

Gen

eral

Gra

nt is

sues

Gen

eral

Ord

er N

o.11

or

ders

all

Jew

s ex

pelle

d fr

om p

arts

of K

Y,TN

and

M

S.

1863

KK

Beth

Elo

him

vot

es to

bec

ome

the

first

Re

form

Jud

aic

cong

rega

tion

in th

e na

tion.

1869

Hym

an E

ndel

arr

ives

in G

reen

ville

to o

pen

one

of th

e fir

st a

nd m

ost s

ucce

ssfu

l clo

thie

rs.

1887

Rot

hsch

ild s

ecur

es c

ontr

act t

o pr

ovid

e un

iform

s fo

r Gre

envi

lle p

olic

e.

1901

Firs

t Jew

ish

wom

an g

radu

ates

from

MU

SC.

1908

Sol

Kin

goff

open

s M

anha

ttan

Paw

n Sh

op.

1912

Gre

envi

lle's

Ort

hodo

x sy

nago

gue,

Bet

h Is

rael

, hi

res

Rabb

i Zag

lin.

1916

Tem

ple

B'na

i Isr

ael i

s es

tabl

ishe

d in

Sp

arta

nbur

g.

1920

s Ki

ngoff

bro

ther

s bu

ild je

wle

ry e

mpi

re w

ith

28 s

tore

s ac

ross

the

Sout

h.

1921

Kau

fman

bro

ther

s es

tabl

ish

Gre

envi

lle's

first

ju

nkya

rd a

nd a

uto

serv

ice.

1928

Vic

tor D

avis

est

ablis

hes

Dav

is B

atte

ry

Elec

tric

Co.

nex

t to

the

Kauf

man

's ga

rage

.

1929

Gre

envi

lle's

Refo

rm s

ynag

ogue

, Tem

ple

of

Isra

el, i

s de

dica

ted

in a

gra

nd tw

o-da

y ce

rem

ony.

1948

And

erso

n's

syna

gogu

e, T

empl

e B'

Nai

Isra

el

is c

ompl

eted

.

1960

Tes

zler

's es

tabl

ish

Butt

e Kn

ittin

g M

ill in

Sp

artn

abur

g w

hich

bec

omes

the

first

yar

n-to

-dr

ess

prod

uctio

n in

the

wor

ld.

1971

Max

Hel

ler i

s el

ecte

d as

Gre

envi

lle's

may

or.

The history of Greenville’s Jewish community is a reflection of the Jewish experience in America as whole. South Carolina Jewish history really begins in 1669, when John Locke wrote the South Carolina charter welcoming Jews to the state with the promise of religious and economic freedom. Sephardic Jews came to Charleston, eventually

made their way to other parts of the state, including the Upstate. According to Rabbi Barnett Elzas, the first Upstate Jewish resident, Eleazar Elizar, arrived in 1794 and became postmaster of what was to become Greenville. There is evidence of antebellum Jewish settlement in surrounding areas, including nine Jewish families living in Spartanburg by 1878 and the Lesser family of Anderson, who came pre-Civil War from Prussia by way of New York.

By 1860, Greenville’s population was just over 1,800, with at least eight individuals with Jewish names. Two Jewish men, Abraham Isaacs and Isaac W. Hirsch, served in Greenville’s Butler’s Guards during the Civil War. Evidence of prominent Jewish citizens include Abraham Isaacs, whose accomplishments including a net worth of $30,000 in the 1860 and a promotion to lieutenant prior to the end of the war.

In the late 19th century, Jews ,escaping from Russia, began to emigrate to the US in large numbers. Some of these Eastern European Jews found their way to Greenville. Soon, families with Americanized surnames such as Kaufman, Bloom, Davis, Lurey, Switzer and Kingoff were moving into the area. The families ran a diverse mixture of business in Greenville, including service for the new automobile, clothing and department stores, jewelers and pawn brokers. More conservative than members of the Reform congregation, these Eastern European immigrants soon felt a need to establish a traditional

synagogue. Charles Zaglin of North Carolina was hired as rabbi for Beth Israel. He went on to establish a successful deli and butcher shop for the Jewish and non-Jewish community.

As a traditional congregation, they required a rabbinical influence to help with certifying food as kosher, performing bris and other rituals including religious holidays. In 1912, Also by the late 19th century, Greenville was transforming into a textile industry center in the South. The thriving business community was welcoming to local Jewish merchants. In 1869, Hyman Endel moved to Greenville. A merchant from Richmond, Virginia, Endel was very active in the local business community. He lived in a huge mansion at 329 North Main, which later became the location of the Ivey’s Department Store. Another Jewish Virginian, Manos Meyers, moved to Greenville in the early twentieth century, along with his brother, Alex. They opened the Meyers Arnold Department store in 1911. These merchants

were among the founding members of the Temple of Israel, a reform congregation. Their first synagogue, which was on Buist Avenue, was formally dedicated in a two day ceremony beginning on April 2, 1929. A convention was held at the Poinsett Hotel to celebrate the event.

For years, Jewish residents were forced to travel out of town and sometimes even out of state to secure a final resting place for their deceased relatives. Many traveled to Columbia, Charleston, Virginia, Maryland and New York to inter their loved ones in a Jewish plot. In the 1930’s the two synagogues worked together to provide a Jewish cemetery for their members. Negotiating with ####, the leaders were able to secure an official Jewish burial ground next to Graceland Cemetery on Whitehorse Road, named the ### cemetery.

Another wave of immigration of Jews into the United States came during World War II. Two of Greenville’s most prominent citizens, Max and Trude Heller, escaped Austria after the German invasion. Heller was sponsored to come to Greenville and was put in touch with Sheppard Saltzman, owner of the Piedmont Shirt Factory, who was very happy to employ the young man. Heller went on to build a successful business and eventually became mayor. Visit our virtual station for Max Heller’s oral history.