The Jew Store, by Stella Suberman (1998)
This book is part-memoir, part-fiction. The author her family’s life in a small rural Tennessee town where they were the only Jews. She changed the name of the town and the names of some of the townspeople to protect their identities. Since much of the story occurred either before she was born, or before she was old enough to have a clear memory, had a clear memory, much is of the book is based on her imagination as to what actually happened. The family lived in Tennessee from 1920 until 1933. The author was barely 11 when her family moved away.
That said, this family memoir is probably not unlike the story of many Jews living in the rural south. As she notes, many small southern towns had “Jew” stores – dry-goods stores run and operated by the town’s only Jews.
Aaron and Rebe Bronson had both immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe/Russia. Aaron was a self-described natural born salesman. He set off for Nashville, Tennessee, where he had hoped to make his fortune. He soon discovered that there were already many Jewish-run stores there; and was convinced to move to the small town of Concordia. He and his young family arrived in Concordia in 1920 and were taken in by Miss Brookie, an eccentric agnostic who believed in being kind to others.
While Miss Brookie was understanding, none of the other townspeople had ever seen Jews before and were convinced they were a different species. On the eve of the new store opening, Miss Brookie tells him that it will go well, provided the Klan approves. The book goes into detail of the tensions between the towns people and the Bronson’s fears of anti-Semitism. The book also describes the tensions between the white and Black population, often in terms that are very disarming.
Aaron named his store “Bronson’s Low-Priced Store”. Once the store is open, however, most of the town comes to respect the Bronson’s. Reba, however, fears for her children and wants them to grow up in a Jewish environment. When the Depression came, Aaron fought to keep the town going, thereby winning the respect of most of the town.
I found this to be a charming story filled with humor.
Read: January 23, 2021
4 Stars
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