Conclusion

German-Jewish immigrants became prominent members of the Alexandria, Virginia community through the establishment of small businesses, their participation in the Civil War, and the creation of their own place of worship in the city. They adopted the “southern way of life,” and with that the South’s notions of race and slavery to better conform to the social mores of white, native-born society.  They also reformed their religion to better fit the more dominant Protestant culture of the U.S. South. Small business ownership allowed them to find economic stability and establish homes within the city. Through their willingness to embrace parts of southern culture and blend them with their own, German-Jews found a home in Alexandria.

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