YIW goes back to the ‘hood

Over 60 people from the Young Israel of Woodmere took a guided walking tour of the historic Lower East Side of Manhattan on Sunday.

On the bus ride into the city, Rabbi Evan Hoffman prepared the group for their sightseeing by lecturing on the demographics, ideological diversity, cultural life, and religious institutions of the Jewish immigrant experience in downtown New York. Barry Feldman, a noted urban historian working for the Lower East Side Conservancy, served as the tour guide.  

The group visited the Bialystoker Shul, Congregation Beth Hachasidim DePolen, Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem, Stanton Street Synagogue, and the Greek Jewish Fair at Kehila Kedosha Janina. Along the way, they passed by the Henry Street Settlement House, Amalgamated Houses, the Forward Building, Boyaner Kloyz, Seward Park, the Educational Alliance, and Beth Medrash Hagadol.

A highlight of the day was meeting and receiving a blessing from Rabbi Dovid Feinstein. 

The trip was organized by Eli Dworetsky and Joey Schiff.