This has been a good week in NYC. Mainly because it’s only two weeks until Laura and most of the kids (except Cassie who chose to sun in Florida) come to visit. I can’t wait to see everyone and show them around. In the two and a half months I’ve been here, I’ve become somewhat familiar with the area, at least my part of the Upper West Side (UWS). I have routines now, church, friends, favorite laundry, deli, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. I even have my favorite running trails. In fact, on my run today I was serenaded by an old man singing the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood song (only in NY). Now that my basic needs are figured out, this has culminated in allowing me more time to learn about the fascinating culture of the area. The UWS is a significant Jewish neighborhood, populated with both German Jews who moved in at the turn of last century, and Jewish refugees escaping Hitler’s Europe in the 1930s. Today the area between 85th Street and 100th Street is home to the largest community of young Modern Orthodox singles outside of Israel. However, the Upper West Side also features a substantial number of non-Orthodox Jews. A number of major synagogues are located in the neighborhood, including the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States, Shearith Israel; New York’s second-oldest and the third-oldest Ashkenazi synagogue, B’nai Jeshurun;Rodeph Sholom; the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue; among others (thanks Wikipedia). So the dominant culture of the UWS is Jewish…which I think is wonderful. There is also a significant population of Hasidic Jews, especially in my area (80’s – 100’s – between Central Park West and Riverside Dr). You can feel their presence in every area of life. For instance, there is a Southern food restaurant called Jacob’s Pickles (great food by the way). On the menu, right under “Biscuits and fixins”, “Deviled eggs” and Fried pickles” is “Matzo Ball Soup”. There is a Jewish ambulance network to make sure religious regulations are followed whenever service is required. In the predominantly Jewish apartments, on the Sabbath all of the buttons on the elevator are pushed so they can maintain their faith and not have to use the stairs. But the two areas that fascinate me the most (at least this week) are how empty the streets and restaurants are on Friday nights (Sabbath starts at sundown Friday through Sundown Saturday and the Jewish community are in their homes observing the Sabbath). The second area are the beautiful, cool hats the Orthodox and Hasidic wear to Synagogue on Saturdays. My favorite is the Shtreimel. These are made out of fine fur and can cost up to $5,000. They are typically given to men on their wedding day by their future father-in-law. I’ll post a picture of one on FB. The origin of the Shtreimel is fascinating. A traditional story has it that an anti-Semitic political figure once issued a decree that male Jews must be identified on Shabbat by “wearing a tail” on their heads. Although the decree was an attempt to mock the Jews, the Hasidic rabbis considered the matter seriously, in keeping with the universally accepted Jewish law stating “the Law of the Land in which Jews live is to be upheld so long as it does not obstruct Jewish observance.” They arrived at a plan that complied with and even exceeded the decree by arranging to make hats such as worn by royalty, encircled by a ring of tails, thereby transforming an object of intended ridicule into a crown. Further, they instituted that the number of tails follow Jewish numerology, symbolizing the wearer’s sacred intentions. (again, thanks Wikipedia). Sorry for the length of this post but as you can tell, I am really interested in learning all about my new Jewish neighbors. I love this city! Until next time….”Shalom”.