Author Archive
From Ladino to Bukhori: Jewish Languages Around the World
This post was written by Museum intern Sophie Brous. If someone asked you to make a list of Jewish languages, what languages would come to mind? Many people would think of Hebrew first, which certainly makes sense–Hebrew is the national language of Israel and historically considered the language of the Jewish people. Some might also […]
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July 12: The Yahrzeit of a “Fiery Jewish Girl”
This blog post was written by Museum intern Dalia Rubinstein. On July 12, 37 years ago, the world lost a Lower East Sider whose chutzpah changed life for many immigrants of her time. Clara Lemlich, although not a household name today, was one of the “farbrente Yidishe meydlekh” [“fiery Jewish girls”] who made a strong […]
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Bagels, Brisket, and Brined Cucumbers: The Jewish American Culinary Experience of the Lower East Side
This blog post was written by Museum intern Lauren Peterson. Upon immigrating to the United States and settling into the Lower East side, Jews had arrived in the land of opportunity. As their relatives may have described it, New York was a city in which the roads were “lined with gold”. They saw the Lower […]
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Teacher Spotlight: Art and History with Anna Melo
When most of our students visit the Museum at Eldridge Street it is for a one-time program; they visit our space and connect with our educators for an hour or two. There isn’t often the opportunity to work with classes for an extended period of time. Fortunately, that is where the CASA (Cultural Afterschool Adventures) […]
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Felipe Rangel celebrates the “social phenomenon” of handmade masks
The Museum’s annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams, and Empanadas street festival is fast approaching! And to get ready, we’ve been checking in with some of the beloved artisans that make our festival so vibrant, diverse, and meaningful. For years, Felipe Rangel has been sharing his colorful vejigantes with festival goers. Today we’re glad to present […]
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Rachel Asarnow’s Papercut Art is a Visual Feast
This interview was conducted by Jake Rosenberg. Jake is a playwright, folklorist, producer, and founder of American Lore Theater. Discover more about him at www.metarosenberg.com. Rachel Asarnow leads me up the stairs. “It’s beautiful, but isolated here.” I had come to visit her in her workshop in Maplewood, New Jersey, covered in trees and beautiful greenery on a […]
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A Turning Point on the Lower East Side: The Immigration Act of 1924
This post was written by Dina Posner, an intern at the Museum at Eldridge Street. Dina is a recent graduate of the Masters degree program in Historic Preservation at Pratt Institute. Though immigration is a continuously contested topic in the United States and around the world, it also has a long, established, and detailed history – […]
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An American Jew Reclaims Her Russian-Chinese Heritage
This piece was written by Irene Clurman. A version of it originally appeared on Jewish&. Read the original version at My Jewish Learning. Many American Jewish families treasure a pair of Shabbat candlesticks, a prayer shawl, or a dog-eared Hebrew prayer book from the old country. But when I was growing up, the most precious […]
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“It becomes like a meditation”: The art and skill of Chinese tea with Ken Lo
The Chinese Tea Ceremony is one of the most meaningful and popular components of the Museum’s annual Egg Rolls, Egg Creams and Empanadas festival. Held in the serene women’s balcony, the ceremony teaches participants the fine points of serving, enjoying, and honoring tea in the Chinese tradition. It’s a complex history, and the ceremony’s leader, […]
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Moving On Up! A Look at How We Ended Up at 12 Eldridge Street
This post was written by Dina Posner, an intern at the Museum at Eldridge Street. Dina is a candidate for a Masters degree in Historic Preservation at Pratt Institute. Last month we posted a blog which focused on New York’s oldest Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel, founded in 1654 in Lower Manhattan. Given its age, and the […]
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