Stuart Rockoff

Dr. Stuart Rockoff is the Director of the History Department at the ISJL.


Articles by Stuart Rockoff

History EXPLODES in Virginia! (Literally)

The 270-plus community histories in the ISJL’s Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities contain countless stories of Jewish-owned businesses. Often, these ...

The Problem with Florida

Want some insights into a historian’s dilemma? It involves cultural identity. Geography. And NASCAR. (Well – sort of.)The Encyclopedia of ...

Is Gentile “Genteel”? (Or, What Should We Call People Who Aren’t Jewish?)

The other day, we had an extended discussion around the office about the proper term to use to refer to ...

Exploring the “Most Southern Place on Earth”

There is something about the Mississippi Delta. Known as “the most southern place on earth,” the Delta region is a ...

That Time Segregationists Spied on BBYO

The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission was created in 1956 to fight against racial integration. An arm of Mississippi’s state government, ...

Summer Camp is a Southern Jewish Tradition

This past Thursday, my wife and I got up early, packed our car with trunks, suitcases, plastic drawers, and sleeping ...

Arthur Mayer & Demopolis, Alabama

Last week, I had the unique experience of driving to Demopolis, Alabama, (the recent subject of a Forward article about ...

The Disappearing Southern Jew

Every few years, national reporters rediscover the phenomenon of the “disappearing southern Jew.” This week, Seth Berkman of the Forward ...

Eating on the Road

Whenever I get ready to go on a long research trip, I put together a detailed itinerary, listing each library, ...

Change from the Balcony

Today’s post features more Jewish history from Kentucky, the most recent state completed in our Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities.  When ...