Paying Jews to Move to Alabama
By: Import User
Updated: September 29, 2008
When members of Temple Emanu-El in Dolthan, Ala. arrive for services, it's clear: they are mostly older and there are not very many of them. Only 50 families make up the community.
So Larry Blumberg, a wealthy member of the temple decided his community needed more Jews. "We felt like it needed to be something that had enough sizzle that would get attention and it really has," he said.
Blumberg put up $1 million to help relocate 20 young families with children to Dothan, a town of 60 thousand nestled in the southeast corner of Alabama. Response to ads in Jewish newspapers has been over the top.
"(They have come from) China, Ecuador, Cuba, South America ... all over Israel," Blumberg said.
Rob Goldsmith runs the relocation project. It targets families in the United States who will have to sign a multi-year deal and could get up to $50 thousand each.
"It's a five year agreement. Like a sports star, you will have to behave, you will be a good contributing member to the community and to our congregation," Goldsmith said.
Dothan is a town known for its murals. There is one on just about everything but the water tower. Dothan also prides itself in being different from the stereotype of a "Deep South" city. The Jewish families there say it practices not just religious tolerance, but religious acceptance.
"Being a Jew living in Dothan for 20 years, I have never experienced any anti-semitism, not one time."
"We don't want it to die," said Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith. She says the cash incentive is a matter of survival.
The community is hoping to move four families a year to Dothan over the next five years. The first two are expected to be living there by this Hanukkah.
So Larry Blumberg, a wealthy member of the temple decided his community needed more Jews. "We felt like it needed to be something that had enough sizzle that would get attention and it really has," he said.
Blumberg put up $1 million to help relocate 20 young families with children to Dothan, a town of 60 thousand nestled in the southeast corner of Alabama. Response to ads in Jewish newspapers has been over the top.
"(They have come from) China, Ecuador, Cuba, South America ... all over Israel," Blumberg said.
Rob Goldsmith runs the relocation project. It targets families in the United States who will have to sign a multi-year deal and could get up to $50 thousand each.
"It's a five year agreement. Like a sports star, you will have to behave, you will be a good contributing member to the community and to our congregation," Goldsmith said.
Dothan is a town known for its murals. There is one on just about everything but the water tower. Dothan also prides itself in being different from the stereotype of a "Deep South" city. The Jewish families there say it practices not just religious tolerance, but religious acceptance.
"Being a Jew living in Dothan for 20 years, I have never experienced any anti-semitism, not one time."
"We don't want it to die," said Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith. She says the cash incentive is a matter of survival.
The community is hoping to move four families a year to Dothan over the next five years. The first two are expected to be living there by this Hanukkah.
