Traveling across 13 Southern states 50 weeks a year, native St. Louisan Rabbi Marshal Klaven has, perhaps, the most unusual “congregation” in the United States.

“I (visit) as many as 100 congregations, none of which has a full-time rabbi,” says Klaven, 31, who graduated from Parkway North High School and grew up attending Congregation B’nai El.

As part of the Institute of Southern Jewish Life based in Jackson, Miss., Klaven serves about 4,000 Jews living in the rural South, from far-flung regions of Kentucky and Georgia to the Florida panhandle. A small contingent of Jews living in Crossville, Tenn. never had a rabbi visit until Klaven showed up to lead a Simchat Torah service a year ago. “I was led to expect 15 people but there were 75 waiting,” he recalls.

Congregant Nort Goodman remembers the night well. “It was such a special evening,” he says with emotion still evident in his voice. “He came with two Torahs and we passed them around so everyone could have their photo taken holding a Torah. After a beautiful dinner, the rabbi led us as we all danced around the table. Even our oldest member, who is 91, joined in the celebration. Everyone was just enthralled.”

Goodman says though Rabbi Klaven can visit only twice a year, he is considered the Crossville rabbi. “Everybody just loves him,” Goodman continues. “We also had a baby naming for one of the grandchildren of our members while he was here and the next morning he led a discussion group concerning the Jewish belief in the devil.”

Rabbi Klaven’s second visit to Crossville was during Passover. That trip lasted less than a day because he was conducting a service for eight different congregations in eight days.

Normally the Crossville members meet twice a month in someone’s home but on the High Holidays they move to a Presbyterian church. When Rabbi Klaven comes to town they need a bigger space and use a Lutheran church.

The Jewish community in Natchez, Miss. had once been one of the wealthiest in the U.S. in the mid-1800s. Today, about 10 Jews live there. Not long ago, they sought Rabbi Klaven’s help getting a soloist (a position usually filled by a Christian in the rural South) for a Shabbat service.

The rabbi told them he would bring a pianist, a jazz singer and two other friends who could sing. Unbeknownst to Rabbi Klaven, the Natchez Jewish contingent advertised the service as a “Jewish Concert.” Along with the 10 Jews, 70 non-Jews showed up. “They stayed for the entire service and were extremely respectful,” Klaven says.

The respect he witnessed by the Gentiles in Natchez is something he has experienced time and time again, despite concerns among friends that he would encounter anti-Semitism in the South. He says the Southerners he meets don’t care that he directs what they call a “Jewish church,” but rather they appreciate the fact that he has an ethical and moral foundation, and helps others to find their way.

Similarly, a person’s affiliation with Judaism does not matter to Rabbi Klaven. “I respect if they are Jewish but never practiced the faith or if they are Reform, Orthodox or anywhere in between,” he says. “If there is one person or 100, I will be there.”

Often, the rabbi relies on the Internet to reach his constituents. Hebrew lessons, pre-marital counseling and conversion instruction are delivered via Skype, a computer program allowing participants to see and talk to each other.

“He conducted Hebrew lessons for my son and myself so we could have a b’nai mitzvah together,” says Jesse Cooper of Auburn, Ala. “We ‘met’ one night a week for a year.

“I thought we would learn the same Torah portion, but Rabbi Klaven made us each learn our own. It was a lot of work, but he made it fun. He is such a happy person and he loves everyone. You cannot be around him without being in a good mood.”

Rabbi Klaven’s likeability is a common theme among those to whom he ministers, but it cannot overcome the fact that the Jewish population in the rural South continues to decline. Congregations with their own synagogues but no young, new members cease to exist at the rate of a couple a year, according to Klaven. Usually the proceeds from the sale of the building are used to fund the perpetual care of their cemetery.

He has prepared a “deconsecration” service to honor the building where a congregation once worshiped. “Just as you would honor the passing of an individual, it is important to commemorate the life of a congregation,” he says. “I use historical information provided by the members and the history department at the Institute of Southern Jewish Life to answer what the congregation stood for to provide a sense of closure.”

Remaining religious items are found a new home where they serve as a reminder of the community.

If just a few Jews remain after a building has been deconsecrated, Rabbi Klaven continues to visit. “You do not need a ‘place’ to have a ‘people,'” he says. “In my opinion those who focus on people rather than a place actually have a stronger Jewish community.”

Rabbi Klaven has also instituted a “Rabbis on the Road” program that encourages other rabbis to visit small Southern Jewish congregations on their own. To date, 12 rabbis and several cantors have made the trip.

“The gift a rabbi receives in mind and spirit when they see how these small communities are determined to keep our religion alive cannot be articulated,” he says.

He hopes the model of his “circuit-riding” rabbinical approach will serve as a guide elsewhere where the need exists to bring Judaism to isolated areas. “We have done a wonderful job reaching out and partnering with overseas Jewish communities,” he says. “We need to do more for American Jews who live separated from major metropolitan areas. These Jews have a personal sense of responsibility that Judaism rests on their shoulders, and we should help them.”

Michele Schipper, Chief Operating Officer at the Institute of Southern Jewish Life, raves about Rabbi Klaven when asked about the job he is doing. “He’s tremendous,” she says. “He’s embraced this job to the fullest and while he cannot serve everyone within all (the Southern states) we cover, he has increased the number (of congregants) served and the number of times he visits each congregation. People just love him.”

Klaven became interested in his position after serving as a rabbinical Chaplin in the Air Force. “I really enjoyed reaching out to soldiers removed from a Jewish support group. I found a lot of joy in providing a service that demonstrated they were not forgotten and that they were supported.”

After the Air Force he heard that the Institute of Southern Jewish Life was seeking a rabbi. Typically, the position of “traveling rabbi” lasts about three years, but Rabbi Klaven has elected to stay for four years, until 2014.

“I have benefitted immeasurably and been blessed from the entire time I have been in my position,” he says. “I will always carry the memories of the people I have met and how they are keeping Judaism alive wherever my rabbinical path takes me.”

To learn more about Rabbi Klaven and the Institute for Southern Jewish Life, visit: http://isjl.org/