Internships
Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
Jackson, Misssissippi
Historical Research and Writing
Terms: Undergraduate student with a background or interest in Southern and/or American Jewish History. Research experience desirable, but not essential. Interns need a means of private transportation. The intern will work with the director of its History Department, which is dedicated to documenting, preserving, and interpreting the history of Jews living in the South.
Goals: Main task will be to collect, organize, and archive information in ISJL history files. Interns will take road trips to southern communities to collect historical documents and information. Interns will also work to put archive information on the Institute website. Other duties may include transcribing and indexing oral histories, grant research and preparation, assisting with development of interpretive projects, and assisting with planning and promotion of cultural events.
Outcome: Interns will make a significant contribution toward the department’s goal of collecting information about every Southern Jewish community. Interns will also produce an in-depth research paper on one particular community that will be published in the Institute’s newsletter Circa.
Background: The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life began in 1986 as the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, which was dedicated to preserving the history of Jewish life in the South, especially its small cities and towns. The Museum currently has two sites, in Utica and Natchez, Mississippi. In 1999, the Museum expanded its mission to become the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, and now works to preserve and document the practice, culture, and legacy of Judaism in the South through its new Education and Rabbinic departments.
*Internship paid directly by Institute ? $1700 stipend; housing subsidized
Web Address: http://www.isjl.org
If interested, please contact Phyllis Leffler (pleffler@virginia.edu)