Join Kosher X as we explore the quaint beauty and history of America's "Old South".  Enjoy real Southern hospitality while exploring historic Civil & Revolutionary War sites and 300 years of Southern Jewish history. Experience lecture series from prominent historians as we visit vibrant Savannah, stately Charleston and quaint Beaufort.  

 

The Jewish South: Today, most people don't think of Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., as major centers of the American-Jewish population. In earlier times, however, these cities were home to some of America's largest and most vibrant Jewish communities. A friendly rivalry has existed between Savannah and Charleston as to which is the older Jewish community. Savannah can date its origins as an organized Jewish settlement to 1733, its congregation to 1735. However, periodic losses of population led to lapses and revivals. Charleston can date its first Jew of record to 1695 and by 1800 Charleston (and its surrounding areas) had the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States, numbering about 2000.  Today both communities are still strong and proud of their local history and heritage and all they have contributed.  Join Kosher X as we explore this fascinating history as our guides and lecturers bring to life the region’s rich Jewish history and heritage! 

  

Charleston, South Carolina: Discover a place where the past is still present...where gas-lit lamps flicker in warm southern breezes and cobblestone streets pave the way to intriguing boutiques and history. Step into the genteel lifestyle of 18th and 19th century Charleston society. Sense the enchantment of secret gardens, hidden alleys, and picturesque cobblestone streets. Explore pirate history, civil war forts, ancient graveyards and some of America's oldest public buildings. Stroll through 330 years of fascinating history and rich culture. 

 

South Carolina’s Jewish Heritage: Most of Carolina's first Jewish settlers traced their roots to Spain or Portugal. Expelled during the Inquisition at the end of the 15th century, the Sephardim dispersed around the globe and established themselves in capitals and port cities in northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the West Indies. In 1749, Charleston's Jewish community chartered Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim – one of the first five Jewish congregations in America. Like her sister synagogues in New York, Newport, Savannah, and Philadelphia, Beth Elohim was Sephardi in ritual and practice. Charleston's congregation remained so for two generations after the Revolutionary War, though by then the majority of South Carolina Jews were Ashkenazi, hailing from central or Eastern Europe.  By 1800 there were about 2,000 Jews in South Carolina (overwhelmingly Sephardic and settled in Charleston), which was more than in any other U.S. state at that time, and more than any other town, city, or place in North America.  Charleston remained the unofficial capital of North American Jewry until about 1830, when the increasing number of Ashkenazi German Jews emigrating to America largely settled in New Orleans, Richmond, Savannah, Baltimore, and the north-east, eventually surpassing the mostly Sephardic Jewish community in Charleston.  Charleston Jews played prominent roles throughout the history of the community including both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.  Today Charleston boasts a strong Jewish community and like Savannah proud of their city’s history and heritage and the contributions they have made to it. 

 

Savannah, Georgia: Savannah enjoys a unique blend of history, Southern charm and unrivaled hospitality that makes it a jewel nestled along the South Atlantic coast. Called the "Hostess City of the South", Conde Nast Traveler named Savannah as one of the top 10 U.S. cities to visit. Savannah offers an enchanting stroll back in time and an invitation to uncover its hidden charms. Bits and pieces of Savannah's rich, colorful history adorn virtually every corner of the downtown area. The stately mansions and moss-draped oaks give the city a unique flavor found nowhere else in the world. 

  

Savannah’s Jewish Heritage:  On July 11, 1733, a community of 42 Jews disembarked from the William and Sarah to become a part of the new colony of Savannah.  Having left London, England five months earlier, the brave band of mostly Portuguese Jews and two German Jewish families sought freedom and opportunity in the New World.  The first communal act upon landing in Savannah was the initiation of divine services. Worship was facilitated by the fact that more than a "Minyan" was immediately available, and a Torah Scroll was carried by the settlers to their new home in Georgia; soon after Congregation Mickve Israel was founded by these original settlers.  In 1790 the congregation was granted a Charter from the state of Georgia, confirming the legal status of the third oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. Savannah Jews have been prominent in all aspects of the commercial, cultural and political life of the community. Mickve Israel remains today an active spiritual Jewish community.  The Torah Scroll brought to Savannah in 1733, and other cherished possessions of the congregation, including letters from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and several other presidents, are on display in Mickve Israel's Archives/Museum. The Gothic synagogue, which stands on Monterey Square, was dedicated in 1878. Today Savannah boasts a strong Jewish community and proud of their heritage as one of the oldest in the America’s. 

 

Beaufort, South Carolina: Graced with giant oaks, fragrant gardens, stately mansions and outdoor cafes, Beaufort resembles a fairy tale. Beaufort is a gateway to a rich Low Country mix of culture and ecology where sea turtles’ nest, statues attest to bravery past and present, and Gullah is spoken. The Spanish exploration in 1514 was the first occurrence of Europeans to this area. Since then, it has known Spanish conquistadors, French Huguenots, English privateers, treacherous pirates and bloody wars. Today, many beautiful reminders of the past remain; with its graceful plantation and "town" homes, beautifully restored. 

  

Beaufort’s Jewish Heritage: Jews have resided in Beaufort since as far back as the 1760s. In the latter half of the 19th century, as the town’s population grew, Jews from the vicinity gathered to worship in various locations.  By 1905, members of the Jewish community decided that their numbers justified construction of a synagogue and on a synagogue was built and on June 14, 1908, was dedicated. Beth Israel Congregation has been worshipping together in the same white clapboard building on Scotts Street ever since.   

 

Itinerary

 

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival & Introduction to Charleston, SC
 

Arrive in Charleston, SC, where you will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to the historic Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) Synagogue. Begin your journey with a guided tour and orientation as our expert introduces you to Charleston’s vibrant Jewish history and unique Southern charm.

In the afternoon, continue on a panoramic coach tour through Charleston’s cobblestone streets, historic districts, secret gardens, and stately homes. Discover iconic landmarks, antebellum architecture, and Revolutionary and Civil War heritage.

Evening at leisure or enjoy a relaxed stroll along King Street and the Charleston City Market.

Day 2 (Monday): Jewish Heritage & Southern Culture in Charleston

Begin the day with a visit to the Coming Street Cemetery, the oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in the South. Learn about the Jewish families who shaped Charleston during colonial and antebellum times.

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Continue to the Nathaniel Russell House, where a docent from the Historic Charleston Foundation will walk us through this elegant 19th-century mansion and the lives of its former residents—both free and enslaved.

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In the afternoon, explore the College of Charleston, home to the Pearlstine/Lipov Center for Southern Jewish Culture. Professors and curators will share rare documents and insights from the Jewish Heritage Collection at Addlestone Library.

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Evening activity: USS Yorktown Ghost Tour – Board the famed WWII aircraft carrier for a thrilling nighttime tour blending history, heroism, and haunting legends. A unique and memorable Charleston experience.

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Day 3 (Tuesday): Day Trip to Savannah, GA & Beaufort, SC

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Early morning departure by luxury coach to Savannah, Georgia, for a day filled with rich Jewish and Southern heritage.

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Highlights include:

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- Old Savannah Trolley Tour – A narrated citywide tour through Savannah’s historic squares and cobblestone lanes

- Guided visit to Congregation Mickve Israel – The third-oldest Jewish congregation in America, featuring the oldest Torah scrolls in the U.S. and priceless artifacts

- Delicious Kosher lunch and dinner in Savannah

- Scenic stroll along Savannah’s River Street, where historic cotton warehouses now house shops, galleries, and waterfront views

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In the late afternoon, travel to Beaufort, SC for a brief walking tour and visit to Beth Israel Synagogue (built 1908), followed by free time to browse local boutiques before returning to Charleston in the evening.

 

Day 4 (Wednesday): Lowcountry Legacy & The Sound of Charleston

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Start the day with a visit to Hobcaw Barony, a 17,500-acre estate once owned by Jewish financier Bernard Baruch. Learn about Belle Baruch’s vision for ecological preservation and enjoy a kosher picnic lunch on the scenic grounds.

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Next, explore Boone Hall Plantation, one of the country’s oldest working farms. Walk the breathtaking Avenue of Oaks, and tour preserved slave dwellings while learning about the Gullah culture and the site’s complex past.

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Evening activity: “The Sound of Charleston” Concert – Enjoy a stirring live performance featuring spirituals, gospel, Civil War anthems, jazz, and selections from Gershwin. This musical journey through Charleston’s history is an unforgettable cultural highlight.

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Day 5 (Thursday): Charleston Farewell & Departure

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Our final morning begins with a visit to Brith Sholom Beth Israel Synagogue, Charleston’s active Orthodox shul, for a closing reflection and group wrap-up.

Afterward, transfer to Charleston International Airport for departure flights.