
The Ghosts & Dark Histories of Greenwich Village Walking Tour
As one of the oldest parts of the city, the Greenwich Village area is scarred by places where ghosts haunt and illicit activities became legendary. By flickering lamplight, discover the benevolent spirit of a heartbroken playwright, the site of an almost unspeakable tragedy, and the buildings that were formerly bordellos and political cafes. Along the way, you’ll hear about a “hidden” cemetery, ghosts from the past and present, and other stories from the shadows—all with a special Jewish connection. Join Brad for a spine-tingling walk from the East Village to the West, where the past refuses to rest.

A Walking Tour of Hassidic Williamsburg
Step into streets where centuries-old shtetl traditions meet the bustle of modern life in Brooklyn. See modest row houses, Yiddish storefronts and newspapers, as well as scores of strimels (distinctive fur hats), sheitels (wigs), and shtiblekh (prayer rooms) in one of the world’s largest Hassidic communities. Join educator and urban historian Bradley Shaw for an immersive experience in this fascinating neighborhood, including significant synagogues like Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom, the oldest Orthodox Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, and Beth Elohim, an 1875 Gothic Synagogue built by Reform Jews and now housing a Hasidic yeshiva. You will also visit Lee Avenue, the main shopping area, Bais Rachel, a NYC High School turned girl’s yeshiva, and hear other stories of the fabric of Hasidic Williamsburg, with a little bit of Hipster Williamsburg mixed in.

Spielberg! Zoom Talk
Like the “Fellini-esque” Fellini and the “Hitchcockian” Hitchcock before him, Steven Spielberg is an artist whose work is so ubiquitous and instantly identifiable that his name has inspired its very own adjective: “Spielbergian.” One of the most commercially successful directors of all time, Spielberg is the creator of such beloved modern classics as Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., and the Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park series. In this FilmShul production, we examine the life and career of the grand storyteller, with a particular focus on his upbringing as an Orthodox Jew and his later Jewish re-awakening, which yielded such vital works as Schindler’s List and Munich. His interests have also inspired the creation of the Shoah and Righteous Persons Foundations.

Jewish Brighton Beach Walking Tour: From Luxury Resort to Little Odessa
Brighton Beach was always famous as a simple residential neighborhood attracting people with its wide sandy beaches, ocean breeze and tons of attractions on neighboring Coney Island. But did you know that it started as an upper middle class resort with several luxury hotels, largest bathing Pavilion, race track and famous outdoor concert venues. In early 1920s resorts were replaced with the residential neighborhoods and a lot of Jewish immigrants, mostly young families, moved here escaping overcrowded LES and some other areas of the city. They built a number of synagogues and opened many Jewish business. After short period of prosperity the Great Depression hit, and Brighton Beach changed significantly filled with tens of thousands of jobless homeless Jewish families who overcrowded once luxurious spacious apartments. In the following years there were additional waves of Jewish immigrants from Europe escaping the Nazis, Holocaust survivors after the WWII. The influx of Soviet Jewish refugees in 1970s changed the face of Brighton Beach completely, filled it with young people, exotic food and culture, made it “Little Odessa (Ukraine) by the Sea.” In our tour we’ll visit some of the still functioning old synagogues, see the once luxury Art Deco houses where Jewish immigrants of 1920s lived, walk the famous Brighton Beach Ave while talking about Russian-speaking Jewish emigration, and see the spot where the original Brighton Beach resort hotels once stood.
Your guide for this tour is Svetlana Kershtein, a professional tour guide who has worked on three continents and holds a Masters Degree in History, specializing in the history of the ancient world. Born in the Soviet Union, she emigrated to Israel where she worked as a licensed tour guide for 11 years. Svetlana’s passion for Jewish history, art, music, and cuisine is reflected in her popular tours for the Conservancy. She is fluent in three languages (English, Hebrew, and Russian).

The Jewish Story of The Metropolitan Museum of Art Walking Tour
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the greatest museums in the world, and this tour reveals its treasures through a distinctly Jewish lens. Together, we’ll trace the Jewish story across time and place—encountering biblical artifacts, rare Hebrew manuscripts, exquisite pieces of Judaica, and works by Jewish artists whose legacies shaped art history. Along the way through galleries spanning ancient Egypt and Rome, the grandeur of America’s Gilded Age, the spirituality of Europe’s Middle Ages, and the creativity of 20th-century Paris, we’ll also uncover the role of Jewish patrons and the MET’s own Jewish history. Join us Chol HaMoed to reflect on the breadth and depth of the Jewish diaspora across centuries and continents.

Colonial Jewish New Amsterdam Walking Tour on Columbus Day
New York City has long been home to the largest Jewish community in the United States, but did you know it was the first? This tour traces the remarkable journey of the very first American Jewish community: a small group of Jewish refugees from Brazil who arrived in New Amsterdam in the 1654, established the first synagogue, and fought for the rights and freedoms of future generations.
We’ll begin at the mouth of New York Harbor, where we’ll explore the broader story of Jewish life in the Caribbean before following the refugees’ path to New Amsterdam. At the monument honoring these first arrivals, we’ll uncover the struggles they endured to remain in the Dutch colony. From there, we’ll walk the old streets of New Amsterdam, tracing the lives of these early pioneers and their impact on the city’s and country’s development. Along the way, we’ll stop at the site of New York’s first synagogue, Shearith Israel, and learn about its enduring legacy. Our journey concludes at the oldest Jewish cemetery in the United States—now tucked within the bustling heart of Chinatown.

Knishes and Candy: A Lower East Side Walking Food Tour
From flaky, golden old-world classic knishes to chewy old-school candies, this tasty walking tour will introduce you to the delicious traditions of New York City’s most iconic immigrant neighborhood. As you wander the bustling streets of the Lower East Side, you’ll pop into legendary bakeries, candy shops, and hidden gems, sampling treats that have delighted locals for generations and discover modern twists that keep the neighborhood a vibrant foodie paradise today. Come hungry, leave happy (and maybe a little nostalgic).

Oy! The Horror! Zoom Talk
Beginning with the landmark 1920 German silent film The Golem, based on the ancient Hebrew legend, Jewish horror films have proven to be one of cinema’s most fascinating sub-genres. From the shocks of such chillers as The Unborn, The Possession, and The Vigil to the horrific yucks of The Fearless Vampire Killers and An American Werewolf in London, no tombstone will be left unturned! We’ll also run down the stories behind a couple of the major “Christian” horror films that were made by Jewish filmmakers (The Exorcist, anyone?). Join the Conservancy for a FilmShul program that takes an occasionally terrifying but often light-hearted look at the history, growth, and status of Jewish horror cinema.

Those Were The Days Zoom
From Barry Levinson’s Diner, Tin Men, and Avalon, to Woody Allen’s Radio Days and Bullets Over Broadway, and on to beloved classics like My Favorite Year, The Chosen, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and even the animated gem An American Tail, this FilmShul production celebrates a rich collection of nostalgic Jewish films that lovingly revisit the “good old days.” These cinematic stories are deeply rooted in the timeless tradition of Jewish storytellers—Sholom Aleichem, Chaim Potok, Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Cathleen Schine, and others—who weave memory, humor, and heart into their work. Extending beyond film, we’ll also explore sentimental television favorites known for their warmth and wit, such as Brooklyn Bridge, The Goldbergs, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Synagogues of the Lower East Side Walking Tour
One hundred years ago, when over a million impoverished Jewish immigrants crowded the streets and tenements of the Lower East Side, it seemed like every street had at least one synagogue. Journey with urban historian and LES native Bradley Shaw to the heart of the neighborhood, where you will see the Bialystoker Synagogue and hear stories of shuls and stieblachs.

Son of Super Funny Jewish Men Zoom
Who knew there were so many funny, funny Jewish men? Join us for a time-spanning examination of those cunning comics and lovable losers who will go to any length to satisfy us with a smile. This time ‘round, we look at the lives and careers of such funny men as Albert Brooks, The Three Stooges, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jerry Lewis, Eugene Levy, Woody Allen, and TV legend Norman Lear, among others. Be there or be square. Join the Conservancy for a FilmShul production!

Jewish Brighton Beach Walking Tour: From Luxury Resort to Little Odessa
Brighton Beach was always famous as a simple residential neighborhood attracting people with its wide sandy beaches, ocean breeze and tons of attractions on neighboring Coney Island. But did you know that it started as an upper middle class resort with several luxury hotels, largest bathing Pavilion, race track and famous outdoor concert venues. In early 1920s resorts were replaced with the residential neighborhoods and a lot of Jewish immigrants, mostly young families, moved here escaping overcrowded LES and some other areas of the city. They built a number of synagogues and opened many Jewish business. After short period of prosperity the Great Depression hit, and Brighton Beach changed significantly filled with tens of thousands of jobless homeless Jewish families who overcrowded once luxurious spacious apartments. In the following years there were additional waves of Jewish immigrants from Europe escaping the Nazis, Holocaust survivors after the WWII. The influx of Soviet Jewish refugees in 1970s changed the face of Brighton Beach completely, filled it with young people, exotic food and culture, made it “Little Odessa (Ukraine) by the Sea.” In our tour we’ll visit some of the still functioning old synagogues, see the once luxury Art Deco houses where Jewish immigrants of 1920s lived, walk the famous Brighton Beach Ave while talking about Russian-speaking Jewish emigration, and see the spot where the original Brighton Beach resort hotels once stood.
Your guide for this tour is Svetlana Kershtein, a professional tour guide who has worked on three continents and holds a Masters Degree in History, specializing in the history of the ancient world. Born in the Soviet Union, she emigrated to Israel where she worked as a licensed tour guide for 11 years. Svetlana’s passion for Jewish history, art, music, and cuisine is reflected in her popular tours for the Conservancy. She is fluent in three languages (English, Hebrew, and Russian).

Jewish Gangsters of the Lower East Side Walking Tour
Arnold Rothstein, Meir Lansky, and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel were just a few of the notorious Jewish mobsters who got their start in gangs and gambling on the Lower East Side before extending their bootlegging and other criminal activities to Atlantic City, Miami, Cuba, and Las Vegas. Explore questions of morality, power, & assimilation while touring the old haunts of Murder Inc., the Mafia, and the G-Men on their trail.
Your guide, Urban Historian and educator Bradley Shaw, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He shares with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history. He has been a docent, walking tour guide and manager at the Museum at Eldridge Street for more than six years, in addition to doing walking tours for the LESJC, Context Travel and his own company NY History Tours.

Virtual Tour of Savannah’s Historic Mickve Israel Synagogue
Shalom y'all! Join us for an exclusive virtual tour of America's third oldest Jewish Congregation and the only neo-Gothic synagogue in the United States. In 1733, a group of mostly Spanish & Portuguese Sephardic Jewish immigrants arrived in Georgia from England, where they had found refuge from the horrors of the Inquisition. Bringing with them a Torah scroll from London's Bevis Marks, the group settled in Savannah and founded Mickve Israel, the state's first synagogue, in July 1735. Construction of the sanctuary began in 1876 and was completed in 1878. New York architect Henry G. Harrison pure neo-Gothic design reflected the fashionable architecture of the Victorian era. Congregation Mickve Israel was named one of the “15 Most Beautiful Synagogues in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler and rated among the “15 BEST Things to Do in Savannah” by Trip Advisor.
Your guide for this tour will be Rabbi Robert Haas, a native of McAllen, Texas, who became the 14th spiritual leader of Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah, Georgia, in 2012. After receiving his B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin, he began his first career as an elementary school teacher before matriculating at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and Los Angeles, where he earned his Master’s Degree and Rabbinical Ordination. After graduation, he served as an associate rabbi in Dallas and in Houston, Texas. He then spent a year volunteering in Africa with American Jewish World Service before moving to Savannah. Rabbi Haas is a sought-after comedian, lecturer, preacher, and interfaith leader, regularly speaking and performing for organizations, radio shows, colleges, theaters, houses of worship, and institutions.

A Catskill Carnival Virtual Tour: My Borscht Belt Life Lived, Lost, and Loved
Join a 3rd generation insider with no illusions for a behind-the-scenes look at the Borscht Belt’s Golden Era. It wasn’t all sunshine and glamor. This tour peels back the glitzy showbiz tales and shows the gritty, heartfelt reality of growing up in this once-thriving region. Learn how life was tough, turbulent, and alternately warm and hard. Hear how the Catskills flourished and faltered, how it felt to watch the life you knew and your livelihood fall apart, as well as how to pick it all up again in new ways. It’s actually a different kind of love story. How one hotel brat went from ambivalence to appreciation to passion over a lifetime. “We were carnies – carnival people – only we didn’t move the tents. That’s the Borscht Belt in a nutshell, and we were the chief nuts.”
Born into the carnival life of a Borscht Belt Catskills hotel family, your guide, Bart A. Charlow, has never let the ordinary constrain him. From professional photography to painting, he has always set his creativity free, now entering into the realm of authorship. His first book, "A Catskill Carnival", is a memoir of his early years captures the the hustle, the heart, and humor of the real Borscht Belt. "Pickle Barrel Tales", his second book is a companion to Carnival, featuring over 50 wry vignettes from several "mountain rats" about the Borscht Belt, illustrated with humorous sketches. He has been a favored speaker on TV, radio, and in print media for decades. Among honors he holds is the Jefferson Award for his community leadership and service.

A Walking Tour of Hassidic Williamsburg
Chasidic Williamsburg is a neighborhood steeped in history and tradition and is home to one of the largest concentrations of Haredi Jews in the world. As you walk through the streets, you'll notice the distinctive attire of the Chasidic men and woman as well as the businesses which complement the still growing population. Join educator and urban historian Bradley Shaw as you explore this fascinating neighborhood, including significant synagogues like Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom, the oldest Orthodox Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, and Beth Elohim, an 1875 Gothic Synagogue built by Reform Jews and now housing a Chasidic Yeshiva. You will also visit Lee Avenue, the main shopping area, Bais Rachel, a NYC High School turned girl’s Yeshiva and hear other stories of the fabric of Chasidic Williamsburg, with a little bit of Hipster Williamsburg mixed in.
Your guide, Urban Historian and educator Bradley Shaw, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He shares with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history. He has been a docent, walking tour guide and manager at the Museum at Eldridge Street for more than six years, in addition to doing walking tours for the LESJC, Context Travel and his own company NY History Tours.

LES Jewish Socialists, Communists, and Anarchists: A Walking Tour
From 1880 to 1924, almost 3 million Jews left the Pale of Settlement in Eastern Europe for a better life where the streets were paved with gold, the land of opportunity; the United States. Most settled on the Lower East Side of Manhattan where the opportunity was abundant, but their salaries and living conditions were subpar at best. The great majority were not happy, but too overwhelmed by their new homeland to complain. But some, like Lower East Side residents Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, Morris Hillquit, Abraham Cahan and Meyer London, knew there should be a better life and were willing to do just about ANYTHING to get there. This walking tour will focus on these “radicals” - anarchists, communists and socialists all - who tried to change the structure of the American Way to improve the lives of these immigrants and improve their standard of living - whether through our democratic process or through lawless acts of violence. Some of the places we will visit: The Daily Forward Building, The first home of Emma Goldman in NYC, Locations of radical cafes, The location of the Yom Kippur riots of 1898, The still active DSA - Democratic Socialists of America, The Educational Alliance - whose benefactors were anything but radical, and The Henry Street Settlement.
Your guide, Urban Historian and educator Bradley Shaw, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He shares with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history. He has been a docent, walking tour guide and manager at the Museum at Eldridge Street for more than six years, in addition to doing walking tours for the LESJC, Context Travel and his own company NY History Tours.

Extraordinary Women of the Lower East Side Walking Tour
When you think about the important people who helped shape the Lower East Side, do mostly men come to mind such as Forward editor Abraham Cahan, reformer Jacob Riis, AFL president Samuel Gompers, entertainers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and even gangsters Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky?
What about the women? They had just as much influence (both good and bad) as their more famous male counterparts and were just as important in shaping political attitudes, fighting for rights, and giving the neighborhood a better feeling about their place in the world.
Join historian and urban archeologist Brad Shaw for a stroll around the Lower East Side as he introduces you to some of these women, both famous and infamous, who were ingrained in the attitudes and social reforms of this immigrant neighborhood.
Some of the women you will meet:
The editor of an important Yiddish newspaper
Labor leaders who were instrumental in upgrading working conditions
Social reformers who fought for better care and living conditions
One of the most famous criminals of the 19th century
The most famous political activist of all time

Extraordinary Women of the Lower East Side
When you think about the important people who helped shape the Lower East Side, do mostly men come to mind such as Forward editor Abraham Cahan, reformer Jacob Riis, AFL president Samuel Gompers, entertainers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and even gangsters Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky?
What about the women? They had just as much influence (both good and bad) as their more famous male counterparts and were just as important in shaping political attitudes, fighting for rights, and giving the neighborhood a better feeling about their place in the world.
Join historian and urban archeologist Brad Shaw for a stroll around the Lower East Side as he introduces you to some of these women, both famous and infamous, who were ingrained in the attitudes and social reforms of this immigrant neighborhood.
Some of the women you will meet:
The editor of an important Yiddish newspaper
Labor leaders who were instrumental in upgrading working conditions
Social reformers who fought for better care and living conditions
One of the most famous criminals of the 19th century
The most famous political activist of all time

Tour of Sacred Words: Revealing The Oldest Jewish Book at The JTS
Join us for an exclusive tour of Sacred Words, an exhibit that reveals the Afghan Liturgical Quire, the oldest Jewish codex. Meet the intrepid researcher, Herschel Hepler, who spent seven years tracing the book back to its discovery in a cave near the Bamiyan Buddha statues. Herschel will be joined by Sara Aharon, author of From Kabul to Queens: The Jews of Afghanistan and Their Move to the United States.

Tour of America’s First Jewish Congregation: Shearith Israel
Take a guided tour of America’s oldest Jewish congregation, Shearith Israel: New York's Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue. Led by Sexton Zachary Edinger, this walk through history offers a rare glimpse into the remarkable legacy of America's first Jewish community.

Sephardic Jews in America: A Walking Tour & Special Visit to The CJH
In 1654, 23 Jews escaping the newly instituted Portuguese Inquisition in Brazil, landed in New Amsterdam (New York City) and were almost immediately expelled by Peter Stuyvesant. They persevered and there has been a Jewish and notably a Sephardic presence in this country for over 370 years, or 120 before the founding of the United States.
Join us on a captivating walking tour that unveils the rich and often untold history of the Sephardic Jewish community in New York City. Some of the sites visited will include colonial era cemeteries, famous homes and religious sites - all with stories of history, heritage and culture.
The walking tour concludes with a visit to the Center for Jewish History on East 16th Street, where guests will receive an exclusive, behind-the-science tour of treasures from both the American Jewish Historical Society and American Sephardi Federation, offering a fascinating glimpse into the rich cultural legacy of the Sephardic Jews in America.
A Zoom Tour of Hassidic Williamsburg
Williamsburg is a neighborhood steeped in history and tradition and is home to one of the largest concentrations of Haredi Jews in the world. As you walk through the streets, you'll notice the distinctive attire of the Hasidic men and woman as well as the businesses which complement the still growing population.
Join educator and urban historian Bradley Shaw as you virtually explore this fascinating neighborhood, including significant synagogues like Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom, the oldest Orthodox Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, and Beth Elohim, an 1875 Gothic Synagogue built by Reform Jews and now housing a Chasidic Yeshiva. You will also visit Lee Avenue, the main shopping area, Bais Rachel, a NYC High School turned girl’s Yeshiva and hear other stories of the fabric of Chasidic Williamsburg, with a little bit of Hipster Williamsburg mixed in.

A Walking Tour of Hassidic Williamsburg
Williamsburg is a neighborhood steeped in history and tradition and is home to one of the largest concentrations of Haredi Jews in the world. As you walk through the streets, you'll notice the distinctive attire of the Hasidic men and woman as well as the businesses which complement the still growing population.
Join educator and urban historian Bradley Shaw as you explore this fascinating neighborhood, including significant synagogues like Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom, the oldest Orthodox Jewish congregation in Brooklyn, and Beth Elohim, an 1875 Gothic Synagogue built by Reform Jews and now housing a Chasidic Yeshiva. You will also visit Lee Avenue, the main shopping area, Bais Rachel, a NYC High School turned girl’s Yeshiva and hear other stories of the fabric of Chasidic Williamsburg, with a little bit of Hipster Williamsburg mixed in.

Jewish Gangsters of the Lower East Side Walking Tour
Learn where leaders of the Jewish Underworld began their nefarious activities, and discuss questions of morality, power, & assimilation. Arnold Rothstein, Meir Lansky and Bugsy Siegel were all notorious gangsters whose criminal activities extended to Atlantic City, Miami, Cuba and Las Vegas, but their stories began on the Lower East Side of New York. We will examine where these leaders of the Jewish underworld began their nefarious activities. Along the way we will analyze questions of morality, power and assimilation. Use your imagination to evoke what once existed, as we view sites that were associated with these Jewish Gangsters.
Your guide, Urban Historian and educator Bradley Shaw, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He shares with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history.

Jewish Harlem Walking Tour
When you speak of Harlem, the most famous African-American community in the world comes to mind. But did you know Harlem was once the third largest Jewish neighborhood in the world from 1870 -1930, after New York's Lower East Side and Warsaw, Poland?
Your guide, Urban Historian and educator Bradley Shaw, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He shares with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history.

Faith, Food, and Infamy: The Complete Lower East Side Zoom Tour
The Lower East Side of Manhattan has one of the most diverse and amazing histories in the world. Starting out as an affluent suburb of NYC, it became the quintessential tenement filled home of new immigrants from the German enclave of Kleindeutschland to the largest Jewish Ghetto in the world. The changes continued with the neighborhood welcoming the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities and then housing an expanding Chinatown. It is now hosting trendy clubs and young professionals while still embracing some of its grittier past.
Brad Shaw was born on the Lower East Side as were his parents and has been an active visitor for all of his life. Experience the stories and see the sites of the neighborhood and its changing past and present from the perspective of a one time resident and lifelong observer. Some of the things you will see and hear about:
>Historic places of worship
>Historic ethnic eateries of the past and present
>Hangouts and stories of Jewish Gangsters
>The neighborhood of Kleindeutchland
>Historic institutions which helped and influenced the inhabitants
Virtual Tour of the Historic Lazama Synagogue in the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) of Marrakech
The Lazama Synagogue, located in the mellah of Marrakech, was founded in 1492 by Sephardic Jews fleeing King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella's Edict of Expulsion. See the beautiful historic synagogue these refugees of the Inquisition built and learn about the Andalusian culture they brought to Morocco. Join your guide from the Mimouna Association, an NGO founded by Moroccan Muslims to preserve and promote the Judeo-Moroccan heritage, for an exclusive exploration of the synagogue and one of the largest Jewish communities in the Kingdom today.

Extraordinary Women of the Lower East Side Walking Tour
When you think about the important people who helped shape the Lower East Side, do mostly men come to mind such as Forward editor Abraham Cahan, reformer Jacob Riis, AFL president Samuel Gompers, entertainers George Gershwin and Irving Berlin and even gangsters Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky?
What about the women? They had just as much influence (both good and bad) as their more famous male counterparts and were just as important in shaping political attitudes, fighting for rights, and giving the neighborhood a better feeling about their place in the world.
Join historian and urban archeologist Brad Shaw for a stroll around the Lower East Side as he introduces you to some of these women, both famous and infamous, who were ingrained in the attitudes and social reforms of this immigrant neighborhood.
Some of the women you will meet:
The editor of an important Yiddish newspaper
Labor leaders who were instrumental in upgrading working conditions
Social reformers who fought for better care and living conditions
One of the most famous criminals of the 19th century
The most famous political activist of all time

Musical Poetry of Three 19th c. Jewish Women: Emma Lazarus, Grace Aguilar, and Penina Moïse
This presentation will examine obscure work of the most famous Jewish women from the nineteenth century: Grace Aguilar (1816-1847), Penina Moïse (1797-1880), and Emma Lazarus (1849-1887). As Sephardic writers, they often wrote of exile, particularly of their Spanish and Portuguese heritage, of Jewishness in broader society, and of their pride in establishing a new homeland. Furthermore, their writing was profoundly impacted by their relationship to music. This presentation will reveal their musical projects to gain a better understanding of 19th century American and English Sephardic culture.
Your guide, Leonard Stein, is a literary scholar, musician, and writer. He received his PhD at the University of Toronto Centre for Comparative Literature and Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. An ASF Broome & Allen Fellow (2021), he is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Bar-Ilan University, and lectures at Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He researches Sephardic literature, crypto-Jewish identity, poetry, music history, and the intersections between music and literature.

Rich History of Jewish Communities of the Caucasus: Georgian Jews
The Caucasus—an ethnically, linguistically and religiously diverse region at the crossroads of Asia and Europe—has been a millennia-old home to two distinct Jewish communities. Join us as we discover the deep-rooted histories and vibrant cultures of Georgian Jews.
Born in Uzbekistan, Ruben Shimonov is an educator, community builder, and artistic leader passionate about Jewish diversity and intercultural understanding. As a Bukharian Jew who belongs to the ancient Persian-speaking Jewish community of Central Asia, Ruben harnesses his own multilayered identity in his educational, creative and social entrepreneurial work. He is the National Director of Sephardi House and Education at the American Sephardi Federation. ASF's Sephardi House initiative works to enrich Jewish campus life and young leadership with the vibrancy, wisdom and diversity of the Greater Sephardic world. As a visual artist, Ruben uses his multilingual Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian calligraphy to build Muslim-Jewish interfaith bridges and spark conversations about multiculturalism. His art has been featured in international publications and exhibits, including at the U.S. Embassy Residence in Uzbekistan. Ruben has been listed among The Jewish Week’s “36 Under 36” young leaders and changemakers. He is an alumnus of the COJECO Blueprint, Nahum Goldmann, Schusterman ROI, and UJA-Federation of New York Ruskay Institute Fellowships for his work in Jewish social innovation and education. Ruben has lectured extensively on the histories and cultures of Sephardic and Mizrahi communities. Among his speaking engagements, Ruben has given talks at New York University, the University of Southern California, Jewish Federations of North America, and Hillel International, as well as conferences in Greece, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Jewish Brighton Beach Walking Tour: From Luxury Resort to Little Odessa
Brighton Beach was always famous as a simple residential neighborhood attracting people with its wide sandy beaches, ocean breeze and tons of attractions on neighboring Coney Island. But did you know that it started as an upper middle class resort with several luxury hotels, largest bathing Pavillion, race track and famous outdoor concert venues. In early 1920s resorts were replaced with the residential neighborhoods and a lot of Jewish immigrants, mostly young families, moved here escaping overcrowded LES and some other areas of the city. They built a number of synagogues and opened many Jewish business. After short period of prosperity the Great Depression hit, and Brighton Beach changed significantly filled with tens of thousands of jobless homeless Jewish families who overcrowded once luxurious spacious apartments. In the following years there were additional waves of Jewish immigrants from Europe escaping the Nazis ,holocaust survivors after the WWII. The influx of Soviet Jews in 1970s changed the face of Brighton Beach completely, filled it with young people, exotic food and culture, made it “Little Odessa by the Sea”. In our tour we’ll visit some of the old functioning synagogues, see the once luxury Art Deco houses where Jewish immigrants of 1920s lived, walk the famous Brighton Beach Ave talking about Russian Jewish immigration, see the spot where the original Brighton Beach resort hotels once stood. At the end we’ll visit the Holocaust memorial park the only public Holocaust memorial park in the city.

Knishes and Candy: Lower East Side Walking Food Tour
Start your time on the Lower East Side with a sweet treat (rugelach anyone?) at Moishe’s Kosher Bakery. Then walk down historic East Broadway discussing along the way the Mikvah, The Henry Street Settlement, Lillian Wald, The Forward, Shteiblach Row, Straus Square, The Educational Alliance, The Seward Park Branch of the New York Public Library, and Seward Park, the country’s first municipal park. Next food stop will be Michaeli Bakery, known for their babka and bourekas. See the Jarmulowsky Bank Building then continue down Essex Street, where we will stop at The Pickle Guys. See an assortment of pickled fruits and vegetables brining in the barrels. Hear the history of the Essex Market. Our next stops will be Economy Candy, selling sweet sugary confections from floor to ceiling since 1937, followd by a walk down Houston Street until reaching Russ & Daughters, which has been selling herring and other traditional Jewish appetizing foods since 1914. Our final stop will be atThe Original Yonal Schimmel Knishery (Knish Bakery), which has been selling both savory and sweet knishes since 1910.
Please note: food is purchased individually along the way and not included in the cost of the ticket.
Rich History of Jewish Communities of the Caucasus: Kavkazi/Mountain Jews
The Lower East Side of Manhattan has one of the most diverse and amazing histories in the world. Starting out as an affluent suburb of NYC, it became the quintessential tenement filled home of new immigrants from the German enclave of Kleindeutschland to the largest Jewish Ghetto in the world. The changes continued with the neighborhood welcoming the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities and then housing an expanding Chinatown. It is now hosting trendy clubs and young professionals while still embracing some of its grittier past.
Brad Shaw was born on the Lower East Side as were his parents and has been an active visitor for all of his life. Experience the stories and see the sites of the neighborhood and its changing past and present from the perspective of a one time resident and lifelong observer. Some of the things you will see and hear about:
>Historic places of worship
>Historic ethnic eateries of the past and present
>Hangouts and stories of Jewish Gangsters
>The neighborhood of Kleindeutchland
>Historic institutions which helped and influenced the inhabitants

Bialystoker Landsmanshaftn and the Historic LES Walking Tour
Most of the Eastern European Jewish immigrants who lived at the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century on the LES settled in communities of people who came from the same village, town, region or country. Many of the 500 shuls of the LES were built around landsleit, which were groups of people from the same land, who created mutual-aid societies to help and support each other during this hard transition of immigrating from their countries to America. These groups registered as official landsmanshaftns. We’ll visit the beautiful old Bialystocker synagogue and we’ll see the building that was the famous Bialystoker Home for the Aged, both once part of Bialystoker landsmanshaftn. We’ll walk past the shtiebel row of E Broadway with a few surviving little one room synagogues and landsmanshaftns, stroll once overcrowded streets of the historic LES that were filled with pushcarts, food stores, cafes, garment shops, newspaper publishing houses, theaters and libraries.

Нижний Ист-Сайд (Lower East Side) - История самого известного района НЬю Йорка ставшего первым домом еврейских иммигрантов из Восточной Европы.
Нижний Ист Сайд - район в нижней восточной части Манхеттена. С 30х годов 19 в он стал магнитом притягивающем иммигрантов со всего света в Нью Йорк. Здесь сотни тысяч иммигрантов делали первые шаги для достижения Американской мечты. Этот когда то тихий жилой квартал Манхеттена с 2х-3х этажными частными домами превратился в перенаселенное иммигрантское гетто с многоквартирными зданиями, узкими улицами-рынками забитыми торговыми тележками. Иммигранты из Ирландии, Германии, Южной Италии и многочисленных стран Восточной Европы и Балкан сменяли друг друга в иммигрантских тесных квартирах. Евреи Восточной Европы заселили этот район с 80х годов 19 в., и за 40 лет сюда переселилось большинство из 2.5 миллионов еврейских иммигрантов прибывших в Америку. Хотя все группы
иммигрантов оставили свой след, именно еврейская иммиграция сформировала неповторимую особую индивидуальность этого района. Несмотря на то, что сегодня еврейская община Нижнего Ист сайд намного меньше по размеру, чем в годы своего расцвета, она продолжает сохранять свое наследие. Сюда переезжают молодые еврейские ортодоксальные семьи,
привлеченные мощной инфраструктурой религиозных, образовательных и культурных учреждений. Присоединяйтесь к нашему виртуальному туру по старым улочкам Нижнего Ист Сайдa, чтобы прикоснутся к своему наследию, проследить семейные истории, "посетить" знаменитые синагоги, и другие исторические здания, узнать как еврейские иммигранты жили, работали, учились и проводили свободное время. Наш гид в этом занимательном путешествии - Светлана Керштейн, профессиональный гид, работавшая на трех континентах и имеющая степень магистра истории, специализирующаяся на истории древнего мира. Родившись в России, она эмигрировала в Израиль, где 11 лет проработала лицензированным гидом и турагентом. Интерес Светланы к еврейской истории, искусству, музыке и кухне находит отражение в ее популярных турах. Она свободно владеет тремя языками (русским, ивритом и английским).

Rumania, Rumania, Rumania! A Tour of Romanian Jewish History
Embark on a journey through the rich history of Romanian Jews from the comfort of your own home! Discover the vibrant culture, traditions, and stories that have shaped the Romanian Jewish community over the years. This virtual tour will take you through significant landmarks and events, providing a fascinating insight into the past. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Romanian Jewish history!
Join Adrian Iosifescu, author of the "History of the Romanian Jews" Podcast, for a special presentation.
Pictured: LP from 1965 of Israeli singer Yaffa Yarkoni singing Yiddish songs, including Rumania, Rumania!

An Insider’s View on a Southern Israeli Town from its Founding to October 7th
The Lower East Side of Manhattan has one of the most diverse and amazing histories in the world. Starting out as an affluent suburb of NYC, it became the quintessential tenement filled home of new immigrants from the German enclave of Kleindeutschland to the largest Jewish Ghetto in the world. The changes continued with the neighborhood welcoming the Puerto Rican and Hispanic communities and then housing an expanding Chinatown. It is now hosting trendy clubs and young professionals while still embracing some of its grittier past.
Brad Shaw was born on the Lower East Side as were his parents and has been an active visitor for all of his life. Experience the stories and see the sites of the neighborhood and its changing past and present from the perspective of a one time resident and lifelong observer. Some of the things you will see and hear about:
>Historic places of worship
>Historic ethnic eateries of the past and present
>Hangouts and stories of Jewish Gangsters
>The neighborhood of Kleindeutchland
>Historic institutions which helped and influenced the inhabitants