A Home in Shalom’ville The History of Asheville’s Jewish Community is a new perspective on Asheville history. How did such a small percentage of citizens make contributions well beyond the proportion of their numbers? Six buildings and a track named for prominent Jewish citizens stand on the campus of UNC Asheville because their namesakes felt a responsibility to make their home a better place for everyone. What was Zebulon Vance’s role in elevating Jews from a persecuted people to objects of tolerance or did he? Why did the community come together to oust William Dudley Pelly from town in the 1930’s? Who was the man Thomas Wolfe described as having golden “nuggins” of teeth and a Yiddish accent in his novel Look Homeward, Angel? These answers and many more stories are contained in A Home in Shalom’ville.

Colorful and full of great photographs and historical documents from several archives, Sharon Fahrer wrote this book not only to document the story of a minority of Asheville citizens, but also to honor the 75th anniversary of Asheville’s Jewish Community Center (JCC) that was founded just before World War II during one of the darkest periods of Jewish history. It’s openness to the entire community served as a vehicle for people of various beliefs to meet each other as neighbors.

In 2016 A Home in Shalom’ville won the Bob Terrell book award from the Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society.

“A detailed and poignant take on how people of the Jewish faith were integral to shaping many facets of Western North Carolina’s modern history” — Jon Elliston, WNC Magazine.

All proceeds from the sale of this book benefit the many programs the JCC offers to the entire community. It can be purchased directly from the JCC www.jcc-asheville.org    828 253-0701 or found at the Asheville Art Museum, Malaprops bookstore, or the Asheville Chamber Visitors’ Center (36 Montford Avenue).