Attracting Orthodox Jews to Philly?

**John Goodman** · 02-11-2012, 04:36 PM

ok this may be a really stupid thread and go ahead and ignore it if you want...

I think it is interesting how Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn are willing to live in high crime areas and work to fix them up and make them livable communities for themselves. Crown Heights at one point (maybe not anymore) was just as dangerous as any part of North Philly.

Since Orthodox Jews can't drive on the Shabbat they are naturally inclined to live in walkable urban communities. I believe that there is no real Orthodox community in the city though there is one on the main line.

So my idea is to donate one of our many old empty churches or synagogues in North Philly (there are so many) to an Orthodox Jewish congregation. NYC is super expensive and they may want to expand to Philly. This is a growing city where they can support themselves easily and devote more time to religious studies than they may be able to in NYC.

We can see a great old church/synagogue be rehabilitated and used for religious services again. Also they would revitalize a neighborhood and bring much needed economic vitality to North Philly.

What site do I have in mind?

The beautiful old synagogue at Broad and York ( broad and york phila - Google Maps ). That neighborhood is perfect. Real estate is cheap, there are many big houses to support big Orthodox families, BSL is right there, Temple is directly south giving the area a bit more safety than an area deeper in North Philly and it is historically a Jewish neighborhood. There are so many vacant houses around there that Orthodox families can fill up the area between Susquehanna and Lehigh without displacing anyone. It would make for an interesting mix for a neighborhood.

What does everyone think? I realize that this is an outside the box idea that would probably never actually happen but it's is a nice fantasy.

**BarryG** · 02-11-2012, 05:07 PM

The Orthodox community is already growing in Center City. There is an Orthodox shul at 20th & Chestnut, Mekor Habracha, that is doing pretty well with young orthodox jews and families. Not the Hasidim like in Brooklyn, but traditional and modern Orthodox. There are a number of Kosher restaurants in the immediate area which attests to this. The Chevra is also opening an outreach/community center at 20th & Ludlow and they have imported a rabbi from Israel, the center is not open yet but they have classes every Wednesday.

Also, there is a small group of Jews from Brooklyn that is trying to revive the old synagogue at 4th & Snyder. I read an article about it, I thought in the Jewish Exponent, but I can't find it now. This sounds more like what you are suggesting and it would also be good for that stretch of Snyder, which was very Jewish in the early part of the 20th century. I'll try to find the article, if you are really interested in this idea, you should hook up with them.

I hope you are not suggesting we import the hasidim from Crown Heights, those people do not work and are a burden. The young orthodox however are productive and I'm glad to see the communities spraining up.

BTW there is also a decently sized orthodox community in Elkins Park, the shul is Young Israel.

**Bob_Head** · 02-11-2012, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by John Goodman

Since Orthodox Jews can't drive on the Shabbat they are naturally inclined to live in walkable urban communities. I believe that there is no real Orthodox community in the city though there is one on the main line.

Are you kidding me? There are several large, healthy Orthodox communities in the city. And not just segregated in the far Northeast. The University City, Oxford Circle/Rhawnhurst and Overbrook Park/Wynnwood Eruvs all boarder or incorporate some areas that many would consider high crime. The Center City Eruv encompasses some notoriously high crime corners.

You need to get out more.

**John Goodman** · 02-11-2012, 05:10 PM

lol ok relax. I get out all the time and didn't notice. In Brooklyn they are a big force, haven't noticed something like that in Philly.

**BarryG** · 02-11-2012, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

Are you kidding me? There are several large, healthy Orthodox communities in the city. And not just segregated in the far Northeast. The University City, Oxford Circle/Rhawnhurst and Overbrook Park/Wynnwood Eruvs all boarder or incorporate some areas that many would consider high crime. The Center City Eruv encompasses some notoriously high crime corners.

You need to get out more.

Yea I forgot about the Northeast too... lots of Russian jews up there, Kosher grocery stores and restaurants.

**John Goodman** · 02-11-2012, 05:17 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

The Orthodox community is already growing in Center City. There is an Orthodox shul at 20th & Chestnut, Mekor Habracha, that is doing pretty well with young orthodox jews and families. Not the Hasidim like in Brooklyn, but traditional and modern Orthodox. There are a number of Kosher restaurants in the immediate area which attests to this. The Chevra is also opening an outreach/community center at 20th & Ludlow and they have imported a rabbi from Israel, the center is not open yet but they have classes every Wednesday.

Also, there is a small group of Jews from Brooklyn that is trying to revive the old synagogue at 4th & Snyder. I read an article about it, I thought in the Jewish Exponent, but I can't find it now. This sounds more like what you are suggesting and it would also be good for that stretch of Snyder, which was very Jewish in the early part of the 20th century. I'll try to find the article, if you are really interested in this idea, you should hook up with them.

I hope you are not suggesting we import the hasidim from Crown Heights, those people do not work and are a burden. The young orthodox however are productive and I'm glad to see the communities spraining up.

BTW there is also a decently sized orthodox community in Elkins Park, the shul is Young Israel.

Interesting about the 4th and Snyder synagogue, I'll have to get down there and check it out.

As for the hasidim, I thought they mostly were landlords, small business owners or made the women work. Didn't realize they were welfare recipients like the ones in Israel.

**John Goodman** · 02-11-2012, 05:22 PM

Found the article you are talking about...

South Philly Synagogue Opens Doors to Cutting-Edge Contemporary Art | The Jewish Exponent

good stuff

**BarryG** · 02-11-2012, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by John Goodman

Interesting about the 4th and Snyder synagogue, I'll have to get down there and check it out.

As for the hasidim, I thought they mostly were landlords, small business owners or made the women work. Didn't realize they were welfare recipients like the ones in Israel.

They're not all on welfare but enough are, roughly half probably have public assistance of some kind. Also known to be tax cheats and hide income they do have. They don't integrate with the community. In Crown Heights they tried to get a bike lane removed because, they said, it was indecent for the men to see girls in shorts bicycling. Of course they were really trying to keep their enclave homogeneous. Same **** like in Point Breeze. Brooklyn can keep them.

**Bob_Head** · 02-11-2012, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

They're not all on welfare but enough are, roughly half probably have public assistance of some kind. Also known to be tax cheats and hide income they do have. They don't integrate with the community. In Crown Heights they tried to get a bike lane removed because, they said, it was indecent for the men to see girls in shorts bicycling. Of course they were really trying to keep their enclave homogeneous. Same **** like in Point Breeze. Brooklyn can keep them.

Hey, at least they're not stoning the cyclists.

**BarryG** · 02-11-2012, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

Hey, at least they're not stoning the cyclists.

Here's a game... SPHINC or Lubavitch?

"Demographic changes are swiftly changing the culture of our neighborhood...."

"Young, upwardly mobile professionals may seem to be pleasant tenants who bring in reliable income, but they also introduce a very different way of life: new nightclubs and bars, sun tanning on rooftops, bike lanes..."

"I suggest taking appropriate actions to help preserve the special the unique nature of our neighborhood...."

COLLive.com - Take Back Our Neighborhood

**Bob_Head** · 02-11-2012, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by John Goodman

lol ok relax. I get out all the time and didn't notice. In Brooklyn they are a big force, haven't noticed something like that in Philly.

That was meant with love. The Orthodox community in Philadelphia isn't as concentrated as it is in Brooklyn, so it's not as obvious. Still, if you're so inclined, it's worth seeking out. My neighborhood still has a significant Orthodox presence, and they really add to the experience.

**Bob_Head** · 02-11-2012, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Here's a game... SPHINC or Lubavitch?

"Demographic changes are swiftly changing the culture of our neighborhood...."

"Young, upwardly mobile professionals may seem to be pleasant tenants who bring in reliable income, but they also introduce a very different way of life: new nightclubs and bars, sun tanning on rooftops, bike lanes..."

"I suggest taking appropriate actions to help preserve the special the unique nature of our neighborhood...."

COLLive.com - Take Back Our Neighborhood

Without looking, I'm guessing SPHINC. Probably wrong, though.

**scotchrocks** · 02-11-2012, 05:46 PM

There was a feature-length piece on this very situation in The New Yorker a few months ago. Very interesting set of circumstances, and more proof of just how effed up fundamentalist Judeo-Christian "values" are. As the previous poster commented, "Brooklyn can keep 'em."

**John Goodman** · 02-11-2012, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Here's a game... SPHINC or Lubavitch?

"Demographic changes are swiftly changing the culture of our neighborhood...."

"Young, upwardly mobile professionals may seem to be pleasant tenants who bring in reliable income, but they also introduce a very different way of life: new nightclubs and bars, sun tanning on rooftops, bike lanes..."

"I suggest taking appropriate actions to help preserve the special the unique nature of our neighborhood...."

COLLive.com - Take Back Our Neighborhood

I wonder how many of them are just saying screw it and renting to the hipsters anyway for the extra money.

**Bob_Head** · 02-11-2012, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Bob_Head

Without looking, I'm guessing SPHINC. Probably wrong, though.

Yep. Wrong again. Hey, at least they aren't trying to destroy the neighborhood by opening a Rita's.

Oooops! Wrong thread.

**annie** · 02-11-2012, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by John Goodman

I wonder how many of them are just saying screw it and renting to the hipsters anyway for the extra money.

A lot.

**mixiboi** · 02-11-2012, 06:15 PM

Speaking of, here's two stories on this:

Israel's Lady Problem

Sexy Israeli Photo Shoot Mocks Ultra-Orthodox Women Haters

They make Ricky look normal...and that's scary.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 02-11-2012, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Yea I forgot about the Northeast too... lots of Russian jews up there, Kosher grocery stores and restaurants.

The Russian Jews have probably already moved out past Huntingdon Valley at this point. But there is a solid Orthodox community on the western edge of Rhawnhurst, bordering Fox Chase and Burholme. They've been there a rather long time too. They don't seem to cause many problems to anyone.

**It'sJessMe** · 02-11-2012, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Also, there is a small group of Jews from Brooklyn that is trying to revive the old synagogue at 4th & Snyder. I read an article about it, I thought in the Jewish Exponent, but I can't find it now. This sounds more like what you are suggesting and it would also be good for that stretch of Snyder, which was very Jewish in the early part of the 20th century. I'll try to find the article, if you are really interested in this idea, you should hook up with them.

I don't think it's just (or at all) a group from Brooklyn. I know one of the organizers, Philly through and through.

When the Eruv went up a few years ago we were hoping it would increase the modern Orthodox population in Center City proper; I don't know if it has, but the two Orthodox synagogues in Center City (B'nai Abraham at 6th and Lombard and Mikveh Israel at 4th and Arch) are both doing well. And there have been an increasing # of kosher restaurants in the city - Burger.org, Mama's Vegetarian, and the rabbi from Makhor HaBracha is working hard to get hashcacha for several vegan restaurants (Xu Sing at 15th and Sansom has it, as well as a couple of others near there). And Roz' bakery at 5th and Lombard went kosher a couple of years ago.

**fiveomar** · 02-13-2012, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

They're not all on welfare but enough are, roughly half probably have public assistance of some kind. Also known to be tax cheats and hide income they do have. They don't integrate with the community. In Crown Heights they tried to get a bike lane removed because, they said, it was indecent for the men to see girls in shorts bicycling. Of course they were really trying to keep their enclave homogeneous. Same **** like in Point Breeze. Brooklyn can keep them.

Agreed. Growing up in NYC, I observed all this firsthand. Not to mention the political special interests.