[Chetry:] Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. As Jews across the country head to synagogues tonight for the start of Rosh Hashanah, chances are none of them are getting $50,000 to be there. But that's exactly what they would get or could get in small town Alabama. Our John Zarrella reports.
[John Zarrella, Cnn Correspondent:] When members of Temple Emmanuel in Dothan, Alabama, arrive for services, it's clear. They're mostly older and there aren't very many of them. 50 families. So Larry Bloomberg, a wealthy member of the temple decided his community needed more Jews.
[Larry Blumberg, Chairman, Blumberg Family Relocation Fund:] We felt like it needed to be something that had enough sizzle that it would get attention, and it really has.
[Zarrella:] Bloomberg put up $1 million to help relocate 20 young families with children to Dothan. A town of 60,000 nestled in the southeast corner of Alabama. Response to ad in Jewish newspapers has been over the top.
[Rob Goldsmith, Exec. Dir., Jewish Community Services:] China, Ecuador, Cuba, South America. All over Israel.
[Zarrella:] Rob Goldsmith runs the relocation project. They are targeting families in the United States who will have to sign a multi- year deal, and could get up to $50,000 each.
[Goldsmith:] It's a five-year agreement like a sports star, that you will behave, that you'll be a good, contributing member to the community and to our congregation.
[Zarrella:] Dothan known for its murals. There's one on just about everything but the water tower, also prides itself in being different from a stereotype of a deep south city.
[Mayor Pat Thomas, Dothan, Alabama:] There is ignorance is everywhere. Here as well, but you have a great community here. You have a community that's very open to other faiths, and I think that's a great strength here.
[Zarrella:] A city that practices, the Jewish families here say, not just religious tolerance but religious acceptance.
[Daryl Shapiro, Temple Member:] Being a Jew, living in Dothan for 20 years, I have never experienced any anti-Semitism. Not one talk.
[Zarrella:] The Jews here say they have no problem using dollars as an incentive. It's a matter of survival, says Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith.
[Unidentified Female:] We don't want it to die.
[Zarrella:] And an opportunity to stop the exodus of young Jews from small southern cities.
[Chetry:] That was John Zarrella reporting. So far, no serious offers. There's been some interest.
[Roberts:] We'll see.
[Chetry:] Well, thanks so much for joining us this morning on AMERICAN MORNING. Hope to see you back here tomorrow.
[Roberts:] The news continues on CNN with "NEWSROOM" and Heidi Collins.