Walking tour of Jewish Washington Heights

Nestled between Harlem to the south and Inwood to the north, Washington Heights is a distinctive Jewish enclave within the landscape of New York’s larger Jewish community. Of the 125,000 German Jewish refugees that arrived in America in the 1930’s and 40’s, the “Heights” attracted over 20,000, mostly from Southern Germany. It soon became populated with synagogues, Jewish social and cultural clubs and successful businesses serving as a “starter” community for its myriad of residents. By the 1950’s and 60’s it saw the arrival of new immigrants from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Greece, the Dominican Republic, and African Americans moving in from Harlem. This area welcomed them all and transformed into a classic multi-ethnic NYC neighborhood. The 1980’s brought more dramatic changes as many of the younger generation began moving out to the suburbs and to Riverdale for the better life that their parents initially hoped to find In the Heights.

Join us for a walking tour to explore this unique Jewish community that continues to thrive to this day. Along the way we will see: K’hal Adath Jeshurun (the Breuer’s Shul); The campus of Yeshiva University (which moved up here from its original Lower East Side home in 1928); the Chabad Shul; Congregation Hebrew Tabernacle; Fort Tryon Jewish Center and Mount Sinai Jewish Center. We will also view noted NY landmarks and talk about legendary Jewish figures who have passed through this special neighborhood.

Giving this tour is Barry Judelman, our Harlem specialist who is originally from South Africa and has lived in New York since the 1980’s. He received a Masters degree in American Jewish History at Brandeis University and runs his own touring company in addition to being a Conservancy guide.