The South is predominantly Christian, yet a small Jewish community in Lexington, Mississippi has flourished and sustained its unique identity. This saga is the heartwarming history of the residents, the trials and tribulations that they faced, their ability to connect with the surrounding Christian communities, and the remarkable story of Berman himself. After the original publication of this book, Lexington honored him by creating a Robert Lewis Berman day. In times of uncertainty, this book brings a message of hope. "Bob Berman concludes his tribute with a well thought out and impassioned but feasible plan to keep the traditions of Temple Beth El alive. Should Bob's dream become a reality, it will be a significant contribution to Mississippi, to the South, and to the nation." -W. Charles Sallis, Emeritus Professor of History at Millsaps College, from the foreword Lexington, a small rural town in the heart of the Mississippi Bible belt, is the home of a thriving Jewish community. Set within a predominantly Christian region, Lexington may seem an unlikely place for a Jewish population to live, let alone prosper. Yet, the welcome and hospitable environment offered by this town has provided an exceptional place for a great number of Jews to settle, multiply, and thrive for more than a century. Filled with true, heartwarming stories about the lives of the individuals living in this unique Jewish town, this community biography paints a compelling portrait of the remarkable accomplishments, failures, triumphs, and tragedies of the devout and dynamic society. Detailed descriptions of the synagogue-Temple Beth El-and its storied stained-glass windows accompany photographs and profiles of the families and individuals whose community activism furthered the prosperity of the town. Pillars of the community profiled in this book include Jacob Sontheimer, the town's first permanent Jewish resident; the Cohen and Flowers families and their department store successes; and the philanthropic endeavors of the Waterman Herrman brothers, among many others. With his intimate and conversational style, Robert Lewis Berman demonstrates how through their leadership, the Jews of Lexington have made significant contributions to the town, the state, and their religion as a whole. Robert Lewis Berman served as the president of Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, president of the 350-member Rotary Club of Jackson, and district governor of Rotary International. He earned his B.A. from the University of Mississippi and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. As a former resident of Lexington, Mississippi, Berman felt compelled to share his experiences living there. In response, the town honored him by proclaiming a "Robert Lewis Berman Day." "Bob Berman captures the compelling spirit of a small Mississippi town-Lexington-where for more than 150 years its distinct Jewish community has made a significant impact on its neighbors, its state and its country." -Jewish Scene "A true story of finding humanity in the most unusual of places." -Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans "A classic in its own right . . . For all of us interested in American Jewish history, Robert Berman has performed a mitzvah." -Robert N. Rosen, author of The Jewish Confederates, from the foreword In this fascinating read, Robert Lewis Berman extensively researches and records the history of a Jewish community located in an unlikely city, Lexington, Mississippi. Since the first Jewish settlers arrived in the late 1800s, the resilient society has peacefully prospered. Their synagogue, Temple Beth El, still stands among a sea of Christian churches. Each chapter contains a profile of a community member and their inspiring story of life in Lexington. Berman's recollections of growing up as a Jew in the predominantly Christian South are also sprinkled throughout the book. He generously shares his story, the saga of Lexington, and his hopes for Temple Beth El with warmth and sincerity. This work overturns common beliefs that the Bible Belt South is anti-Semitic and provides a message of hope and peace during times of conflict. A former president of the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, Robert Lewis Berman continues to serve as a member of that congregation and of Temple Beth El in Lexington, Mississippi. He has also served as president of the 350-member Rotary Club of Jackson and as the district governor of Rotary International.  After earning his B.B.A. from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, he went on to serve as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Tenth Infantry Division as a platoon leader and company executive officer of a rifle company. Upon honorable discharge, he was accepted to Harvard's business school where he obtained his M.B.A.  In addition to his successful writing career, Berman is the president of Berman Enterprises, a real estate developer located in Rockville, Maryland. He entered the real estate business after serving nine years