In the early 19th century, Jewish immigrants from Europe began to arrive in the Magnolia State, settling initially in towns along the Mississippi River. Concentrating in retail trade, these Jews became visible symbols of economic modernity and market capitalism in Mississippi. Throughout much of their history, Mississippi Jews have worked to lessen the cultural differences between themselves and their neighbors. In recent decades, due to regionwide economic and demographic trends, the Jewish population of Mississippi has declined and become concentrated in the state’s population centers.

Stuart Rockoff received his doctorate in U.S. history from the University of Texas at Austin with a special emphasis on race, immigration, and American Jewish history. He has taught courses in American and ethnic history at such schools as the University of Texas and Millsaps College and has published numerous articles and essays on southern Jewish history. For 11 years, he served as the historian at the Institute of Southern Life. In November 2013 he became the executive director of the Mississippi Humanities Council, one of the 56 state and territorial affiliates of the National Endowment for the Humanities. He lives in Jackson.

SouthTalks is a series of events (including lectures, performances, film screenings, and panel discussions) that explores the interdisciplinary nature of Southern Studies. This series is free and open to the public, and typically takes place in the Tupelo Room of Barnard Observatory unless otherwise noted. Visit https://southernstudies.olemiss.edu for current information about all Center events. During the 2023–24 academic year, the programming theme is “Creativity in the South.”