A Night Out on the Jewish Rialto, an event on Thursday, August 11th, honors the lively community of Yiddish theater on the Lower East Side. This event is the brainchild of our wonderful summer interns — Alyssa Constad, Leah Horowitz, David Schlenker, and Julia Gerasimenko. Their mission was to create an inspirational and entertaining  program that would hark back to the spirit and atmosphere of  the Jewish Rialto. We would love for you to participate in the historic spirit of the event, especially through our suggested glamorous theater-wear dress code! Here intern Julia Gerasimenko shares the history of the Rialto.

The Jewish Rialto was the Yiddish theater district that ran along Second Avenue from Houston Street all the way north to 14^th street. This strip was home to theaters and restaurants, both of which were equally important to the scene. We came across information about this neighborhood while we were researching vaudeville acts on the Lower East Side. We started with the idea to recreate an evening of entertainment that would have been typical for our original congregants, but with a modern spin.

A Night Out will feature live music performed by Eletfa, a Hungarian music group comprised of  gypsy violins. These violins were typical of the parlors where both actors and patrons would nosh and schmooze before and after the theater. The parlors and restaurants would typically serve blintzes, cherry varenyki (dumplings), and other finger food. Sometimes patrons would even bring food over to the performances. We will serve knishes from Yonah Schimmel’s, snacks from Noah’s Ark Deli and Russ & Daughters, and beer from Brooklyn Brewery!

Thanks to one of our favorite blogs, the Bowery Boogie, and the NYPL for the image! Click for the link. Also see here: http://knickerbockervillage.blogspot.com/2010/01/roosevelt-theater-on-houston-street.html

At the theater, crowds were loud and performances were often interactive, whether or not they were intended to be. The language of choice was Yiddish. The types of acts varied from operetta, musical comedy, satiric or nostalgic revues; melodrama; expressionist and modernist plays; and of course vaudeville. We will entertain you with selections from the films of Eddie Cantor, a famous vaudeville star who is rumored to have lived on Eldridge Street. We encourage you to re-watch classic favorites to get inspired, such as Funny Girl!

In the Museum’s own  ‘Academic Angles’ journal, we read that the dance halls and the theaters were the two biggest competitors for attention with the synagogue (“Goldene Medine, Treyfene Medine: Judaism Survives Migration to America”, David Soyer). While it may seem slightly ironic that we are hosting this event in the main sanctuary of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, we pay tribute to the varied cultural activities of our neighborhood.

Between 1890 and 1940 there were over 200 Yiddish theaters or touring troupes in the US. Today there is a small but vital Yiddish theater community working to make its presence known in New York City. The Jewish Rialto specifically, a precious piece of Lower East Side culture, has faded just like the “Sidewalk of the Stars”, a 35-ft long sidewalk with worn down granite plaques  with the names of 58 great Rialto performers carved into them. This Sidewalk is in front of the now defunct Second Ave Delicatessen (on Second Avenue and E 9th St) and was installed in 1985.

Sidewalk of the Stars on the Jewish Rialto

More must be done to celebrate this great period and place in American Jewish culture. So we hope you can join us in celebrating the Jewish Rialto!

Tickets are $15 ($10 if you follow us on Facebook or Twitter). Please RSVP by emailing hgriff@eldridgestreet.org. 8PM – 11PM.

“I live in a tent on a rooftop.”

“Oh,” is all I could say. “Is that legal?”’

My Parisian friend interning here in New York City for the summer couldn’t say. He rents in NoLita for $500/month. It is a low price for the neighborhood, but a steep price for a tent.

My penchant for historical analysis led me to investigate the origins of rooftop encampment.  With some research I found that his status as a foreigner living on a roof follows a long history of immigrants on the Lower East side escaping summer heat by utilizing the real estate outside and above their apartments.

These immigrants mostly lived in overcrowded tenements, where a lack of ventilation and air conditioning led not only to uncomfortable living situations, but also spawned disease. The 1901 Report of Tenement Housing noted, “In the summer, the small bedrooms are so hot and stifling that a large part of the tenement-house population sleep on the roofs, the sidewalks, and the fire-escapes.” (1) In a 1900 court case between the New York State Tenement Housing Commission and a tenant known only as Mr. Moskowitz, there is a citation that about one-third of tenement residents sleep on the roof to escape the heat of their apartments. (2) Additionally, community activists such as Lillian Wald, founder of the Henry Street Settlement, literally went from rooftop to rooftop providing tenement residents with medical assistance, citing rooftops as a safe-haven from rampant disease. (3)

"Reading at sunset on the roof at Seward Park. This man is studying for his regents examinations while the boys and girls are deep in fairy tales." Thanks to the New York Public Library for the image and click for the source!

A lack of parks and playgrounds limited opportunities to find refuge from the sweltering apartments. In 1896, the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor through the Department of Dwellings called for the installation of more playgrounds on rooftops. (4) Hot spots in our neighborhood, such as the Seward Park Library and the Educational Alliance, built playgrounds and gardens on their rooftops in response to the decree. These spots provided summertime activities for children and families to cool off from the steamy, sticky heat filling the overpopulated streets while participating in healthy, community building activities. Congregants of the Eldridge Street Synagogue often looked to the synagogue, and particularly its cooler lower level, as a sanctuary from the heat.

My Parisian friend and his counterparts of 100 year ago both figured out how to make the best of the sweltering New York City summers. Although conditions are never ideal, rooftops at the turn of the century and in the present-day enable people to make use of the limited space available in a crowded city such as New York. When life gives you a tent in the Big Apple, pitch it on the roof.

1. Tenement Housing Commision, 1901, pp. 540
2. New York State Housing Commision,1900, pp. 416
3. Jewish Women’s Archive, 2011
4. Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, 1896, pp. 110

Thank you to intern David Schlenker for his excellent research and writing on summer rooftop practices!

Happy summer solstice everyone! Since today marks the beginning of the long, hot, sticky months on the Lower East Side, we at the Museum thought a little research about what life was like back in the turn-of-the-century summers would be appropriate. How did local residents beat the heat before air conditioned subways, ceiling fans, or even refrigerators? We have collected some of the best stay-cool tips from our neighbors past – stay tuned each week for a new summer tip fresh from the ice box.

"A summer scene in the streets of New York -- the ice-cream man." Thanks to the New York Public Library for the image! Click on the image for more details.

This week we decided to look into everyone’s favorite summer treat, ice cream!

While the original ice cream cone was invented in St. Louis in 1904, a local Italian immigrant New Yorker named Italo Marchiony invented a new model of ice cream cone. We discovered that his teacup shaped mold was actually patented a year earlier, in 1903. From an account written by his daughter, we found that he started his cool confections career as an ices vendor on Wall Street in the 1890s. He peddled his sweet treats in small liquor glasses, but the expense of maintaining the cups and replacing the broken ones motivated our friend Marchiony to invent an edible, and thereby disposable, ice cream container. This container design was successful enough for Marchiony to open up a series of pushcarts selling his new treats all over lower Manhattan – possibly one in our neighborhood! This local merchant turned innovator recreated how New Yorkers enjoyed their traditional summer snack.

Here in our neighborhood, people of all ages would enjoy a refreshing “pennylick”. This name referred to the price of a scoop of ice cream and the small liquer glasses used before Marciony’s innovation. We could not find any information, but were curious about whether the price changed with the advent of the edible cup.

I began my internship with the Museum at Eldridge Street on June 1st, just a short while before the Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival. I gleaned inspiration for the following meal from the mixture of cultures I witnessed at the festival. I began to explore the Chinese neighborhood in search of authentic, homemade Chinese groceries to prepare for my first Monday night dinner. After searching far and wide for Hanna’s, the Director of Family History and Cultural Programs, favorite homemade tofu store, I stumbled across a woman on Grand Street with nothing in her modest store but a table, a cash register, one large boiler, and two buckets of tofu. Holding grocery bags containing the homemade tofu and fresh vegetables (which totaled $5.50, any college student’s dream), I returned to my apartment. With little else in my cupboards, I pulled together a simple stir fry recipe. This Jewish boy’s love of food combined with the Chinese influence of the neighborhood came together to create one scrumptious meal!

This image is from our friends at www.TheLoDownNY.com! Check out their article about the Tung Woo Co. by clicking on this image.

Maple and Soy-Glazed Tofu & Veggies

For the glaze
· 1.5 cup chicken broth
· 4 tablespoons maple syrup
· 3 tablespoon soy sauce
· 1 tablespoon lemon juice
· 1 thin slice of lemon (if available)
· 3-4 garlic clove, smashed
· salt & pepper
· hot crushed red pepper
· dry basil
· 1 tbs. chunky peanut butter

For the tofu
· 1 (14-ounce) package extra-firm tofu, drained and patted dry
· 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

For the veggies:
· Stir fry various veggies, such as sugar snap peas, broccoli, eggplant, cauliflower, etc. in a little bit of EVOO and water. Add salt, pepper, and 2 cloves of garlic.

2. Meanwhile, in a skillet, combine the broth, syrup, cider, soy sauce, lemon juice, and garlic. Boil for 5 minutes, then whisk in the cornstarch and cook, whisking constantly, until the glaze thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Set aside.
3. Slice the tofu into 1/2-inch-thick slabs. Then use a knife or a cookie cutter to create cubes or playful shapes. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tofu and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes a side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

And did I mention that the tofu at the Tong Woo Co. on Grand Street is by far the best I have ever had? The owner is also extremely friendly. Do not hesitate to strike up a conversation with this fascinating woman. Enjoy the recipe!

–David Schlenker

I have heard many times that smell is the best sense at triggering memories. Sunday’s 11^th annual Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival was filled with all types of sensory reminders of times and places that are uniquely brought together and represented on the Lower East Side, specifically on Eldridge Street. The clic-clac of the mahjong tiles being tossed, the tickle of the fresh froth of an egg cream, and the deliciously greasy smell of egg rolls wafting through the street definitely brought memories back for some visitors and hopefully formed new ones for others!  I just started my internship here at the Museum two weeks ago and this was my first Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival. The day was a great welcome to the Eldridge Street community.

The festival was hugely successful at facilitating cultural exchange and a good time. We had the biggest turnout in the history of the festival: more than 9000 people joined us for a marvelous afternoon of activities, story telling, and performances. Please check out our Facebook page for photographs of all the fun!

The Frank London’s All Star Brass Klezmer Band started the festival off with an energetic and joyous march around the block before the crowds had filled the street. From the first emotive blast of the trumpet, I was filled with an odd sense of nostalgia for a time I never experienced. Something about the location of the synagogue took me to a different time, along with the entertainment, food, and activities that were provided at the festival. Many other people were compelled to share stories of egg creams past, most likely prompted by the classic taste of Fox’s U-bet chocolate syrup, key component of the classic Lower East Side beverage. Several visitors even discovered new information about their ancestry with the aid of a genealogy specialist.

The traditional tea ceremony was held with the backdrop of the new rose window from the balcony of the sanctuary, which was certainly not the lone intriguing cultural juxtaposition of the festival. The Chinese paper fan making was a cool favorite, providing relief from the humid afternoon. Edible treats abounded as well, with challah making inside the synagogue and dumpling/kreplach demonstrations on the street.

We loved reading people’s tweets about the festival as well! Please continue to post your photos and stories from the day on Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook.

My name is Sonny, and I have been interning at The Museum at Eldridge Street for five months now. As the education intern at the museum, one of my jobs is researching new and interesting facts to include in our tours and school programs. I’ve always been fascinated by history, especially the unusual parts that people are less likely to discuss! One thing I love about the Museum at Eldridge Street are the clues that teach us about the ways that the first congregants balanced their cultural and religious identities with the new American way of life they were now living – many of which are built right into the synagogue itself. Something that sparked my interest when I first visited the museum in 2008 was the snuff box in the Bes Medrash – it seemed totally out of place, as well as perfectly natural, and in my opinion is one of the parts of the synagogue that gives it’s first congregants a more human face. Recently, Miriam Bader asked me to do some research on the history of snuff to share with our docents, and I was very intrigued by what I found out!

What is “Snuff?”

Smokeless tobacco has been manufactured and sold across the globe for centuries, but was most popular in the United States during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The two main categories are dry and moist snuff. Dry snuff is pulverized tobacco, which a user would take a pinch of and sniff into their nose. Dry snuff was typically thought of as a European habit, hence it is also referred to as “European snuff.” In the United States the more typical form of smokeless tobacco has always been moist snuff. Commonly referred to as “dip,” moist snuff is a version of Snus, a Swedish smokeless tobacco which was brought to America by Swedish immigrants in the 19th century. Moist snuff is often confused with chewing tobacco, but their uses are slightly different: rather than chewing snuff, a person would take a pinch of the loose tobacco and place it between their lower lip and their gums. Sucking on the tobacco causes an excess of saliva to develop, making it necessary to spit into a container (or on the ground!), as swallowing can cause nausea or irritation to the esophagus. Long time users, however, can often swallow without any side effect, which is colloquially referred to as “gutting” it. It became popular because it was able to be used indoors, especially during long work days, when an employee might not get a cigarette break or might be required to use both hands to work.

At Eldridge Street

Since smoking was a common habit among Americans during the early days of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, it is not surprising that many of the male members of the congregation would use snuff during long services when they could not smoke cigarettes. Accordingly, the snuff box in the bimah in the Bes Medrash, which is one of the most unusual features of the architecture at Eldridge Street, does not seem so out of place when you consider the widespread nature of the habit at the time of the synagogue’s construction. During the synagogue’s hey-day, the congregation used a portion of their funds every year to purchase new spittoons, and had strict rules regarding spitting on the floor, as noted in the detailed minute books. These facts leave us with the assumption that many of the congregants used dip during services rather than European snuff, as dry snuff does not require the user to spit. Additionally, moist snuff was more popular in the U.S. at the time and therefore it was likely much easier to purchase. However, it is possible that the congregation might have provided dry snuff in the snuff box in the Bes Medrash. Either way, smokeless tobacco was a popular indulgence of the time that many of the congregants took part in, even during religious services.