New exhibit explores lives of Jews in Dixie

Award-winning photographer Bill Aron, chronicler of Jewish communities around the world, and writer Vicki Reikes Fox, a native of Mississippi, have dedicated the past 14 years to capturing the convergence of two distinct but surprisingly interwoven communities—one Southern, one Jewish.

The result of their creative collaboration is "Shalom Y’all: Images of Jewish Life in the American South." Organized by the Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, and based on an original project by the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in Jackson, Miss., this exhibition of nearly 40 black-and-white photographs is the first comprehensive look at the contemporary Southern Jewish experience. It will be on view in the Skirball’s Ruby Gallery from Thurs., Dec. 12-Sun., Feb. 9.

Aron and Fox will discuss what they learned traveling together on back roads through five states to gather stories and photographs documenting Southern Jewish communities at a public panel discussion, "Smile Y’all: Documenting Jewish Communities in the South," at 7:30 p.m. Wed., Dec. 18.

Aron’s photographs, accompanied by stories compiled by Fox, introduce Southern Jews, descendants of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish settlers who arrived in the South, some as early as the 1700s, seeking freedom, opportunity and adventure.

Ruby Gallery shows are free to the public. The Skirball Cultural Center is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The entire museum may be visited free of charge throughout this month. It is at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.

For general information, please call (310) 440-4500 or visit www. skirball.org.