CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR MOST RECENT WEBSITE
JEWISH SITES & HISTORY IN PHOENIX AND SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA


Discover Jewish History in Some of America's Greatest Cities!


Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebooks, as of 2020, only are available directly from the author/publisher. To purchase a Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook, Email: BostonWalks

NOW AVAILABLE - (1) Phoenix Scottsdale Jewish Friendship Trail GuideBook
with 7 Tours of Sites of Phoenix Scottsdale Jewry!
Was $19.95 USD Now $8.00 USD + $3 Media Mail
Order your copy now directly from publisher.
(2) BostonWalks Jewish Friendship Trail GuideBook
with 6 Tours of Sites of Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge Jewry!
Was $19.95 USD Now $8.00 USD + $3 Media Mail
Order your copy now directly from publisher.
(3) BostonWalks The Ten Commandments GuideBook
with creative suggestions for approaching our Ten Commandments!
Was $19.95 USD Now $8.00 USD + $3 Media Mail

Order your reduced price copy now directly from publisher.
Email: BostonWalks






Click Here to View the Table of Contents of Boston Walks The Jewish Friendship Trail



CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW


CLICK HERE TO ORDER NOW


Brooklyn Chai Live


Do you know how many Americans die yearly in car crashes?...
...How many?


BostonWalks

Integrating the urban, modern Jewish American city experience with its historical sites and themes in such locales as Boston, MA, Portland, ME, East Bay and Providence, RI, and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, NYC.



img FileneimgBest of BostonimgNYC UWSimgBrandeis imgLove Your NeighborimgWatertown, New Town, & Muddy RiverimgWalk Near WaterimgRefute Hate imgWalk West/North Ends imgWe're One imgPray HereimgMeditationimgClubsimgBrooklineimgSensual WalksimgMore LoveimgReportingimgJewish BooksimgTENimgSouth End imgWhat's a political mensch? imgMore "What's a political mensch?"


Sing Sense to America


Remember the 21st century 1st decade presidential elections by singing some salivatingly satirical and serious song lyrics.
To do so, try these on your tongue:





BostonWalks The Jewish Friendship Trail presents
A Walking Tour Trail to Sites of Jewish Experience
In New York City's Upper West Side



West 88th Street, looking eastward toward West End Avenue and Bnai Jeshurun



Celebrating 361 Years of Jews in America




Now available!


The Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook


6 Self-Guided Walking/Bicycling Jewish Boston History Tours

Covers Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge

Softcover 198 pages with maps & b/w photos

Click here
Book Order Form
to order now!



Now available!



The Ten Commandments Guidebook


Ways to Self-Struggle with Classic Morals

In Song, Poetry, and Prose

Covers 10 Commandments Plus One Other!

Softcover 153 pages with practical suggestions pages!

Click here
Book Order Form
to order now!


Boston Walks presents


The Jewish Friendship Trail

in

New York City



The Upper West Side of Manhattan





Copyright with a friendly smile by Michael Alan Ross, 2007-2018.
All Rights Reserved.
Email: Jewish Friendship Trail



Bnai Jeshurun (BJ) on W88th Street


Walking the upper west side (uws) of Manhattan allows one to experience its Jewish life. UWS Jewish life revolves around almost 30 synagogues and minyanim as well as Jewish schools and retailers. The panopoly of celebration, study, prayer, eating, dancing, and socializing is vibrant. It includes all Jews, from the secular/cultural to the religious. BostonWalks' trail of the Jewish upper west side of Manhattan begins just south of the upper west side on the Clinton (fka Hell's Kitchen)/Theatre District line and meanders northward to Morningside Heights. It's a walk which can last a full day, stopping for a kosher lunch about halfway. Here, then, are the principal sites to visit:


Ezrath Israel - The Actors Synagogue



This liberal shul, very close to the great theaters of New York, not only serves its religious functions but also has become a synagogue for the arts. On any day of the week, visitors will discover there ongoing dance, yoga, and fine arts classes. It's located on W47th Street, near 8th Avenue. A great place to begin by reflecting on continuing Jewish involvement in New York theater arts.


We're heading north on 9th Ave which quickly becomes Columbus Avenue. Just past Lincoln Center (which also reflects considerable Jewish involvement), we'll discover 4 synagogues, the first two adjacent to each other on the west side of Amsterdam Avenue.


West End Synagogue, Lincoln Square Synagogue, Congregation Habonim,
and Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

West End Synagogue


West End Synagogue is a warm, friendly, reconstructionist shul whose congregants are down-to-earth and family oriented.


Lincoln Sq Synagogue


Lincoln Square Synagogue is modern orthodox and attracts a fairly large singles population as well as young families.


Congregation Habonim


Congregation Habonim is an egalitarian conservative synagogue on W66th St, a half block east of Columbus Avenue.


Stephen Wise Free Synagogue


Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is a reform synagogue on W68th St, almost exactly 2 blocks due north of Congregation Habonim. The Free Synagogue particularly prides itself on principles of freedom of speech on its pulpit, unreserved seating, and social service.



While in the Lincoln Center neighborhood, we'll also mention 2 other vibrant Jewish organisations here: Drisha on W65th St and Makor in its Steinhardt Building on W67th St. Drisha, particularly, is dedicated to opening doors for orthodox Jewish women to engage in Jewish textual studies. Makor provides a venue for Jewish singles to participate in Jewish culture.

We now venture onward into the lower W70s.


Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Hineni,
and Kehillath Reyim Ahuvim

Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue


Shearith Israel is a warm, welcoming, fascinating Sephardic synagogue combining classical rituals with modern thinking rabbinic leadership. Rabbi Angel provides insightful, enlightened shiurim. Shearith Israel is located on Central Park West at W70th St.


Hineni


Hineni represents traditional orthodoxy principally to Jewish singles of all ages. Rebbitzin Jungreis is a captivating espositor of weekly shiurim. Hineni is located on West End Avenue one block south of W72nd St.



Kehillath Reyim Ahuvim

is sort of a traditional, store-front shul, on the 2nd floor of a retail building on W72nd St between Broadway amd West End Avenue. Its services are an amalgamation of egalitarian conservative, renewal, and modern orthodox.



We're walking further up the W70s now.


West Side Institutional Synagogue and the Carlebach Shul (Congregation Kehilath Jacob)


West Side Institutional Synagogue sometimes combines modern orthodox study with more traditional orthodox ritual. For example, I enjoyed a Shabbat shiur taught by Rabbi Einhorn, a mincha service, and a seudah shlishi enlivened by the participation of Rabbi Elbaum's strimel-wearing congregants. The West Side Institutional Synagogue is located on W76th St.



The Carlebach Shul (aka Congrgation Kehilath Jacob) is a small effervescent house of joyful worship and comradery. Particularly, Rabbi Citron and Rev Zwe Padeh gently will encourage your Jewish explorations. The Carlebach Shul is located on W79th St.



JCC of the West Side

is a community center reflecting many aspects of Jewish culture. From lectures, to classes, to concerts, to Israeli dance, the JCC provides a 7-day week of Jewish intensity. The JCC is located at the corner of W76th St. and Amsterdam Avenue.



Finally, we're approaching the heart of the activities of upper west side Jewry as we enter into the W80s and W90s. Let's first mention two schools, one public and one private before describing the shuls.


Brandeis and Heschel Schools


Louis Dembitz Brandeis High School

Brandeis School. Louis Dembitz Brandeis is noted for serving as the first Jewish associate justice of our US Supreme Court and for his devotion to the founding of Israel. He lived most of his adult life in Boston, MA. Click here to discover Justice Brandeis' Boston residences.

Edward Albert Filene, one of two Filene brothers who grew their department store into one of the founding businesses of Federated Department Stores, today part of the Macy's conglomerate, also lived in Boston near the Brandeis residences. Click here to discover E. A. Filene's residence. The Brandeis School is located on W85th St.


Heschel School

Heschel School. Abraham Heschel, a philosophy professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, particularly was instrumental in describing the conservative movement's appreciation and awe of God and Shabbat. His sense of acting upon our golden rule was most poignantly expressed by his walking arm-in-arm with the Reverend Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights era. The upper west side has honored both Brandeis and Heschel with schools named after each man. The Heschel School is located on W89th Street.



The centerpiece among the synagogues for the non-orthodox is BJ.



Bnai Jeshurun BJ



The ruach at this shul rocks the rafters. My favorite experience here is the early kabbalat Shabbat service. Go to get revved up for Shabbat. Go with an open mind. Go with an enthusiastic voice. Go early if you expect to get a seat. BJ is located on W88 St.



There are 6 minyanim which we'll note in these particular upper west side blocks:
  • Kehillat Hadar (egalitarian traditional) which meets on W96th St.
  • Darkhei Noam (modern orthodox) which meets on W89th St.
  • West Side Kollel aka Beth Israel Center (orthodox) which meets on West End Ave between W91st & W92nd Sts.
  • Kehilat Orach Eliezer (KOE) (modern orthodox) which meets on W103rd St at Amsterdam Ave.
  • Kol Zimrah (egalitarian creative reform/conservative) which meets on W106th St.
  • Kehillat Romemu (egalitarian innovative renewal) which meets on W114th St.



Ohav Shalom, Young Israel of the West Side, The Jewish Center and Manhattan Jewish Experience, Society for the Advancement of Judaism (SAJ), Aish HaTorah, and Rodeph Shalom


Ohav Sholom

Ohav Shalom is a very heimish, modern orthodox shul. Its compactness easily lends to rousing traditional davening with a warm knowledgeable comraderie. Ohav Shalom is located on W85th Street.


Young Israel of the West Side

Young Israel of the West Side has a beautifully renewed main sanctuary. Young Israel is located on W91st Street.


The Jewish Center and Manhattan Jewish Experience

The Jewish Center has an expansive theater-like main shul, with a low mehitza gender separator. Upstairs in the same building Manhattan Jewish Experience encourages growing Jewish ritual in a considerably less formal setting. The Jewish Center and Manhattan Jewish Experience Building is located on W86th Street.


SAJ

is a reconstructionist synagogue with sometimes innovative and wide-ranging Shabbat programming. It's led by Rabbi Michael Strassfeld of Jewish Catalog renown. SAJ is located on W86th St.


Aish HaTorah

provides continuing traditional (orthodox) informal education classes primarily for working Jewish singles. It also occasionally sponsors socials. Aish HaTorah is located on W83rd Street.


Rodeph Shalom

is a large synagogue, representative of reform Judaism. It has active and interesting programming. Rodeph Shalom is located on W83rd Street.





Shaare Zedek, Ohab Zedek, and Chabad of the West Side


Shaare Zedek

Shaare Zedek is a friendly, egalitarian conservative synagogue on West 93rd Street. Its the only conservative shul on the west side which has Shabbat mincha and seudah shlishi.


Ohab Zedek

Ohab Zedek is large. While women are almost invisible during davening, opportunities for learning welcome both genders. Ohab Zedek is located on W95th Street.


Chabad of the West Side also includes wonderfully welcoming folks. Friendliness combined with good food and illuminating shiurim make this shul worth a visit. Chabad of the West Side is located on W92nd Street.




Ansche Chesed, The Jewish Theological Seminary, Ramath Orah, and the Kraft Hillel Center at Columbia University


Ansche Chesed

Ansche Chesed is a conservative shul which, in addition to regular services, provides a super Jewish social/cultural hall. Reba Perez of Empire Dance periodically teaches ballroom dance lessons there. A conference on conservative Judaism and halacha and minhagim was held there recently. Ansche Chesed is located on W100th Street.


The Jewish Theological Seminary

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is the fermentation cellar for the expressions of conservative Judaism. It's where Torah and Talmud are taught religiously. It's where talmidim are encouraged to argue and question and even re-interpret posuchim. Its commitment to dynamic covenantal Jewishness almost is singular among Jewish religious institutions. JTS is located on W122nd Street.


Ramath Orah

Ramath Orah permits mixed seating for lectures and discussions. I listened to an excellent exhange of ideas between Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and Michael Steinhardt there. Ramath Orah is located on W110th Street.

The Kraft Hillel Center at Columbia University

Robert Kraft grew up at the same synagogue as myself, Kehillath Israel, of Brookline Massachusetts. I take special pride in his success as owner of the New England Patriots and the philanthropy which he contributes such as this Jewish center at Columbia University.



Just past JTS, are two small but fascinating synagogues: Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation and the Old Broadway Synagogue. Each is traditional and colorful in its own way. Commandment Keepers is located on W123rd St and Old Broadway (aka Chevra Talmud Torah Anshei Marovi) is located one block east of Broadway at W125th St.

Now, lets mention some of the retailers which we can notice on our path up the west side:


Ozu Restaurant and Supersol Market, are two of my favorite retailers of the Upper West Side.



Ozu Kosher Dairy Restaurant

Ozu is located on Amsterdam Avenue between 86th and 85th Streets.

Supersol Kosher Market

Supersol is located on Amsterdam Avenue, near 92nd Street.




Hope you'll likewise enjoy visiting these sites of Jewish experience in NYC's Upper West Side.



For Jewish sites of Boston, MA
see the following websites:






Have you clicked on these, on-line selections from Michael Alan Ross' new,
The Ten Commandments Guidebook?






The Jewish Friendship Trail in Boston's West and North Ends includes the homes of
Brandeis and Filene

It also includes North End synagogues and Hebrew schools, West and North Ends immigrant settlement houses, and other reminders of Jewish life.

The Jewish Friendship Trail in Cambridge includes Central European sites in Inman and Central Squares and sites of Jewish life in and around Harvard University.



To discover BostonWalks' walking tours on your own, click here to purchase BostonWalks The Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook!



Now available!

Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebooks, as of 2020, only are available directly from the author/publisher. To purchase a Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook, email JewishFriendshipTrail@yahoo.com


The Jewish Friendship Trail Guidebook

6 Self-Guided Walking/Bicycling Jewish Boston History Tours

Covers Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge

Softcover 198 pages with maps & b/w photos

Click here
Book Order Form
to order now!


Now available!


The Ten Commandments Guidebook

Ways to Self-Struggle with Classic Morals

In Song, Poetry, and Prose

Covers 10 Commandments Plus One Other!

Softcover 153 pages with practical suggestions pages!

Click here
Book Order Form
to order now!







"West End House"
a Boston settlement house
circa 2004
Begun by 35 Jewish boys in 1903!

Click here to connect with more of
Boston's Best!






Yea, Team! The Boston Red Sox and The New England Patriots!


From the Charles River, a red, white, and blue political agenda flows!




Boston's memorial tablet to E.A. Filene


Copyright Michael Alan Ross, 2007-2018. All Rights Reserved.

Email: Jewish Friendship Trail



Chazak Ve-ematz
“be strong and resolute”

(Moses’ words to Joshua in Deut. 31:7)







img FileneimgBest of BostonimgNYC UWSimgBrandeis imgLove Your NeighborimgWatertown, New Town, & Muddy RiverimgWalk Near WaterimgRefute Hate imgWalk West/North Ends imgWe're One imgPray HereimgMeditationimgClubsimgBrooklineimgSensual WalksimgMore LoveimgReportingimgJewish BooksimgTENimgSouth End imgWhat's a political mensch? imgMore "What's a political mensch?"



Click here to connect with

Capitalist Commands



a very satirical song!




Boston Walks

The Jewish
Friendship Trail

img FileneimgBest of BostonimgNYC UWSimgBrandeis imgLove Your NeighborimgWatertown, New Town, & Muddy RiverimgWalk Near WaterimgRefute HateimgWalk West/North EndsimgWe're OneimgPray HereimgMeditationimgClubsimgBrooklineimgSensual WalksimgMore LoveimgReportingimgJewish BooksimgTENimgSouth End imgWhat's a political mensch? imgMore "What's a political mensch?"



Capitalist Commands
Satirical Song From

The Ten Commandments Guidebook


How do you imagine the relationship between freedom and responsibility within a democracy?

Check out this poetic interpretation:


In Defense of Liberty and Democracy, Freedom and Responsibility


considering the parasha of the week, Yitro.




Should orthodox women have the same opportunities to participate in learning, davening, and minhagim as men?


Click here for an original, creative, poetic elaboration of such a question,

Sheaylot




Isn't it time to Attract Middle Class Families Back into Our Cities?

Here's 10 Ways to bring middle-class families back into cities like NYC:


10 Ways to Bring Middle Class Families Back into New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and other Cities


considering the best of the suburban paradigm for our large cities.




Are you curious about what are some of the ethical reasons for single-payer universal health care insurance?


10 Moral Reasons for One Payer Universal Health Care Insurance for America


in light of Hillel's If I'm only for myself, what am I?




To be satisfied with life

perhaps, one might consider this raspberry!




Click here for an original, creative, re-interpretation for progressive Jews of Maimonides classic Jewish prayer of affirmation of Jewish faith, "Ani Maamin,"

THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES FOR PROGRESSIVE JEWS

by Michael Alan Ross



Do you know how many Americans die yearly in car crashes?...
...How many?



When was the last time you really laughed?



We're featuring good Jewish jokes!
Check out this month's featured humor
by clicking here!

We know that there are other belly laughs our there.
Email us at bostonwalks@hotmail.com with your contribution!




Isn't time to make unhealthy hospitals history?

Here's 10 ways to make our hospitals healthier!






Table of Contents of Boston Walks The Jewish Friendship Trail