Temple Turnover
As you have seen, these once flourishing Jewish communities in small towns of the south are dwindling or have dwindled, and as a result, there are numerous synagogues left with no one to worship there or to maintain them. Having fewer than 50 families in a Jewish community makes it hard to maintain the institutions of Jewish life there, such as cemeteries, temples, and Hebrew school programs.
As a result, these temples have been met with a variety of fates, ranging from destruction, museum dedication, and turnover to other faiths. For example, the synagogue in Morgan City, Louisiana is now used as a Mormon church, that in Donaldsonville, Louisiana is now an Ace Hardware store, and that in Natchez, Mississippi has been dedicated as a museum to the Institute of Southern Jewish life so that it can be preserved when there are no Jews left to worship there. Explore below to get an in depth view of what is happening to two small town temples today.
As a result, these temples have been met with a variety of fates, ranging from destruction, museum dedication, and turnover to other faiths. For example, the synagogue in Morgan City, Louisiana is now used as a Mormon church, that in Donaldsonville, Louisiana is now an Ace Hardware store, and that in Natchez, Mississippi has been dedicated as a museum to the Institute of Southern Jewish life so that it can be preserved when there are no Jews left to worship there. Explore below to get an in depth view of what is happening to two small town temples today.