Reflection of Jewish Culture in various Landmarks in NYC

Reflection of Jewish Culture in various Landmarks in NYC
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America has for many centuries been a popular destination for individuals from different parts of the globe because of various reasons. The US has an abundance of quality resources concerning matters such as health care and education. It also has plenty of employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled individuals. America has also over the years provided a safe haven for people fleeing political and civil tensions and hostilities in their home countries and those genuinely seeking asylum because their lives are risk. Additionally, America is also deemed attractive and hence a popular destination because of the liberal laws and provisions in its constitution that guarantee different rights and freedoms to its citizens. One notable ethnic group that migrated into the US a few centuries and has managed to establish itself in the region despite some challenges and predicaments is the Jews. The Jews were highly despised, discriminated and victimized all over Europe and they were continuously being forced to relinquish their culture, tradition and religion. Majority of the Jews who came into the US settled predominantly in New York City because they were accorded relative freedom and individuals could be whoever they chose to be. Over the years and since their migration into New York City, the Jews have been phenomenal in the transformation of the region. Nonetheless, the Jews in New York also managed to assimilate while retaining bits and pieces of their traditions and these are effectively reflected in some of the landmarks in the region. The research paper purposes to examine how the Jews have ensured that their culture and heritage forever remains intact in the various landmarks in New York City.
Background of Jewish existence in America and particularly in New York City
The majority of Jews who migrated into the US came from Europe and South America where they were subjected to inhumane treatment that was characterized by rampant discrimination and victimization. They were not only treated as second class citizens in these regions but also as outsiders who up to no good in society. As such, it is believed that a group of 23 Jews first entered America in 1654 through Manhattan to escape the atrocities in their countries of origin. The 23 Jews fled from Brazil where the Portuguese colonial masters had given them an ultimatum that required them to either convert or die. The second wave of Jewish migration into New York City was witnessed around the middle of the 19th century. During that period, the majority of the Jews came from Central Europe and predominantly spoke in German. The third and largest wave of Jewish migration into New York City and America in general was seen during the tail end of the 19th century and early 20th century. Wheatley reiterates that position and shares that “The Jewish population in New York City went from about 80,000 in 1880 to 1.6 million in 1920. By 1910, more than 1 million Jews made up 25 percent of New York's population and made it the world's largest Jewish city”. A large percentage of the group that made up the third wave came from Eastern Europe and particularly from regions such as Lithuania and Russia where stringent anti-Jewish laws had been passed.[Wheatley, Jeffrey. "Power, Protests, And The Public Schools: Jewish And African American Struggles In New York City By Melissa F. Weiner". New York History, vol 95, no. 2, 2014, pp. 306]
Since their initial migration into America and New York in particular, Jews have struggled to live and be accepted as equals in society. As was the case in the regions they migrated from, Jews in America were also shunned because they held strongly to their customs, heritage and religious beliefs. Jews hold unique names and read the Old Testament in Hebrew as opposed to English. They also celebrated Sabbath on Saturdays and not Sundays. Jews dietary needs were also strange. For instance, they prohibit the consumption of bacon and mixing milk with meat. There were also plenty of misinformed perceptions and stereotypes about Jews from the readings of the Bible. Jews were also associated with illegal dealings and considered to be untrustworthy. As a result of these stereotypes, Jews were treated with utmost suspicion and in some cases forced to live in isolation and abject poverty.[Wheatley, Jeffrey, pp. 308]
However, despite the tribulations they faced in America, Jews were more at peace compared to other regions they had lived before. The Jews who settled in New York were offered relative freedom and they could be anything they wanted to be. According to Loewenberg, “You could be an individual who was completely unaffiliated with the community or a secular Jew that is not religious at all, but still affiliated with Jewish cultural activities, organizations, and philanthropy”. Nonetheless, the Jews in New York City managed to assimilate and blend into the American culture while maintaining their traditions. Particularly, majority of the Jews coming from different corners of the world chose to settle at a convenient spot near the New York docks known as the Lower East Side where they not only created a world of their own but the place also became synonymous with Jewish life in America. Overall, Jews managed to ensure that their culture remained intact through the different landmarks they built and established in the transformation of the city.[Loewenberg, F. M. "Poverty In Eighteenth-Century New York City: A Jewish Pauper Demands Kosher Meals". New York History, vol 95, no. 3, 2014, pp. 435 ]
The Lower East Side (LES)
It is impossible looking into the existence of Jews in America and New York in particular without touching on the Lower East Side. Conventionally deemed to be an immigrant neighborhood, the LES is found in the Southeastern region of Manhattan and is the first location that many Jews settled in when they arrived at the New York docks.[Chanes, Jerome A. "Jewish New York: The Remarkable Story Of A City And A People By Deborah Dash Moore". American Jewish History, vol 103, no. 3, 2019, pp. 386]
Figure 1: /lower-east-side-neighborhood-guide-p2-2287003
According to figure 1 above, Jews who came to New York settled in tenements. Chanes shares that “A tenement is a type of building shared by multiple dwellings, typically with flats or apartments on each floor and with shared entrance stairway access”. As such, the LES was in some quarters identified as a slum region that was characterized by poor living conditions. The streets were generally crowded with men and women continuously shoving one another. Jews who migrated into New York lived in tall and narrow buildings called tenements and it was common to find about 8 members living on the same roof. The surroundings were dirty with spilled garbage all over. Figure 2 below provides a vivid account of the conditions during the early periods of Jewish settlement in New York City and in the LES.[Chanes, Jerome A, pp. 387] [Kress, Michael. "Museums, Neighborhoods, Restaurants, And Events That Celebrate Jewish Heritage". Nymetroparents.Com, 2016, /article/where-to-go-for-jewish-culture-and-history-nyc.]
Despite the poor living arrangements that characterized the LES, Jews had no option but to settle in the area since the cost of living and housing in particular was cheaper compared to other areas in the US. Furthermore, Jews are widely renowned for their business acumen and as such, it wasn’t long before they started establishing and developing industries in the region. Jews were particularly instrumental in growing the garment industry in the LES that unfortunately were characterized by poor working conditions and rampant exploitation.
Over the years, there have been drastic developments and improvements in the LES. Nonetheless, there are still several establishments in the areas that speak volume about Jewish heritage. There is an Orthodox Jewish Community that operates a yeshiva which is basically an educational institution that is centered in enlightening on traditional religious texts. There is also a place that offers a mikvah, a Judaic ritual bath that signifies purity. Similarly, there are also several shops found within the LES that provide a variety of Jewish items, objects and delicacies used for rituals and celebrations. The Katz ‘s Deli as shown in the figure below is one notable example.[Kress, Michael n.p]
Additionally, in line with the strong religious customs, there are plenty of synagogues in the LES. Abramovitch reiterates that position and shares that “The neighborhood still has many historic synagogues, such as the Bialystoker Synagogue,  Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, Kehila Kedosha Janina (the only Greek synagogue in the Western Hemisphere), the Angel Orensanz Center (the fourth oldest synagogue building in the United States), and various smaller synagogues along East Broadway. Another landmark, the First Roumanian-American congregation (the Rivington Street synagogue) partially collapsed in 2006, and was subsequently demolished”. The figure below shows the Central synagogue that is popular among Jews within and outside the region because of the rich Jewish ambiance portrayed in its ambiance.[Abramovitch, Ilana. "New York Glory: Religions In The City (Review)". American Jewish History, vol 90, no. 4, 2002, pp. 458]
Figure: Central Synagogue, New York City.
Overall, the existence of different Jewish places of worship and eateries as shared above in the LES, it is evident that the region will forever remain synonymous with the Jewish culture. It also shows that despite many Jews assimilating into the American way of life, many of them have kept bits and pieces of their heritage in New York City that will be passed along the generations.
The Jewish Museum
Jews have since time immemorial been highly skilled in terms ...