Confronting the struggles of small-town congregations across the state, JHSSC’s fall meeting will explore resources and strategies available to “endangered” Jewish communities. The gathering will be held in Sumter and Camden on October 20-21, 2018.

The meetings will begin in Sumter with a visit to the new Jewish History Center housed in Temple Sinai and a keynote by David Sarnat, president of the Jewish Community Legacy Project, who helped the congregation create a viable plan for survival. Panel discussions will feature members of congregations from Camden, Walterboro, Orangeburg, Anderson, and Kingstree, all towns that have experienced declining Jewish populations. We also will hear from individuals who worked on the plan for Temple Sinai—one might say “it took a village” to keep the synagogue going.

A block of rooms has been reserved for meeting attendees at Sumter’s new Hyatt Place on Friday, October 19th and Saturday, October 20th. To book a room at the group rate of $124/night, please visit the hotel website, www.sumterdowntown.place.hyatt.com, or call 803.774.8100 and use the code G-JHSC. For more information and to register for the meeting, go to www.jhssc.org.