From Ballyhoo to Bumble: Stories of Southern Jewish Romance (ISJL Virtual Vacation Episode 21)

Love is in the air! Join the ISJL Virtual Vacation for From Ballyhoo to Bumble: Stories of Southern Jewish Romance. For southern Jews, romance has often been a fraught topic. Many southern and American Jews are deeply invested in endogamy (Jews marrying other Jews), which has manifested in a variety of rituals and traditions from social weekends like Ballyhoo in Atlanta to Jewish summer camp to the modern advent of dating apps. Historically and in the present, southern Jews have found romantic partners within and beyond the Jewish community. Along with leading scholars doing important work on the history of Jewish continuity discourse and Jewish summer camp, we use a critical lens to unpack the complications and sometimes dark realities of institutions and attitudes that enforce endogamy. This project was made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the Mississippi Humanities Council.