The Civil War marked a rather significant period of time for the Jewish people in Alabama. Over one hundred and thirty Alabama Jews served in the Confederate Army. In 1861, thirteen of them decided to enlist themselves as a group in the Twelfth Alabama Regiment (isjl.org). Eastern European immigrants began to arrive in nearby towns in Alabama starting in the 1870s. It is important to note that when they arrived, they were greeted by a combination of philanthropic generosity and social aloofness. This type of attitude actually persisted far longer in southern communities than in the northern communities. These Eastern European immigrants decided to create their own Orthodox congregations in Mobile, Montgomery and Birmingham, most of which decided to join the conservative movement following World War II (jewishvirtuallibrary.org).
Jewish merchants were located in most towns in Alabama no matter what size they may have been. Synagogues began to spring up all over Alabama, even in the smallest towns. The presence of the Jewish community was becoming more and more powerful. Immigrants often began selling house to house so that they could save enough to money to then buy a cart, and eventually be able to afford to rent their own storefront. This is rather interesting to me especially because of the research we did in class on the novel The Jew Store. The presence of Jewish storeowners in Alabama just continued to grow as they all had a fervor to make themselves know in the business world. Standing up for their rights and representing a minority in such a homogenous culture was extremely important to the Jewish people at the time, and still is today.
Jewish merchants were located in most towns in Alabama no matter what size they may have been. Synagogues began to spring up all over Alabama, even in the smallest towns. The presence of the Jewish community was becoming more and more powerful. Immigrants often began selling house to house so that they could save enough to money to then buy a cart, and eventually be able to afford to rent their own storefront. This is rather interesting to me especially because of the research we did in class on the novel The Jew Store. The presence of Jewish storeowners in Alabama just continued to grow as they all had a fervor to make themselves know in the business world. Standing up for their rights and representing a minority in such a homogenous culture was extremely important to the Jewish people at the time, and still is today.