This page got a much needed facelift, but it is still the page that answers the question: How does one live as a Jew in a small town, large city, college campus, or any other place where the Jewish population is small? How does one worship, find fellowship and education, keep kosher, and observe holidays? This subject became one of burning interest to me when I relocated from a small city in Upstate, New York to a city in western Georgia. Even after four years in that small town in western Georgia, I am still learning how to survive and thrive as a member of a tiny and, not quite invisible minority. This is my story and my opinions. What works for me, may not work for you, but maybe you can learn something from my stories of how I try to survive and thrive.

Surviving and thriving means: Not compromising my principles, even if the rest of the world does not understand them. Observing religious holidays. Worshiping in a manner that I find fulfilling. Maintaining an active and fruitful relationship with a schul(synagogue). Following dietary laws.

I realize that Jews are hardly monolithic. Not everyone is equally observant and some traditions are meaningful to some Jews and not at all meaningful to others. I consider myself a practicing and observant Jew, but I have a few unusual beliefs. Though I am sympathetic to Orthodox Judaism, I am NOT Orthodox. I am also involved in an interfaith relationship that I hope will become an interfaith marriage.

If any of you reading this page are attempting to practice Judaism as one of a tiny minority, I would love to read your hints for survival. Please email them to me, and if I like what I see, and even if I don't, I will make them a part of this site.

The artwork on this page is entirely mine. Good Jewish clipart is an oxymoron, and I wanted to stay away from the dancing Torah scrolls and endless parade of golden Jewish stars and chais. As a result, whatever my fingers and imagination can crank out is what is here. I tried to give this page an authentic and homey feel. I don't know if I succeeded. I also hand coded this page using Wordpad and nothing else.

Eileen H. Kramer -- 11/4/02