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

Discover a progressive Jewish interpretation of Maimonides' 13 principles here!

Celebrating 361 Years of Jews in America

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

"West End House" circa 2004 - Begun by 35 Jewish boys in 1903!

The Korrick Family and The Diamond Family created and ran the two largest department stores in downtown Phoenix, Arizona during the era of the mid-1890s to the mid-1960s. Only one of their downtown store buildings still exists albeit with a false façade and not functioning as a department store. Both families not only were active as store magnates but also were active in Phoenix' Jewish and cultural life. Let's learn more about the Korricks and the Diamonds and search for memories of their roles here. Within the 1st 2 blocks of Washington Street, East of Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, from the mid-1890s to the mid-1960s, stood the palaces of the Jewish merchant princes of Phoenix, AZ. Foremost among these princes were those of the Korrick Family and the Diamond Family. Following behind were the princes of the Goldwater Family. Behind them were other Jewish Families, some with even smaller palaces, and some with very specialized alcoves. These 7 decades were the ones in which the regular folk came to downtown Phoenix to shop. Early on, the Korricks and the Diamonds viewed their patronage as the regular folk, men and women, who might desire the accoutrements of every and special day life but could more readily afford a Morgan rather than a Stallion. To provide for their mass audience, the Korricks and the Diamonds built the biggest affordable commercial palaces and marketed with common themes from holy to ordinary days. From fitted to ready to wear. From usual to unusual. From dresses to pantsuits. From dungarees to mens' suits. From household goods to party favors. At holidays, their store windows, made passersby stop and stare. Important to both the Korricks and the Diamonds was their own heritage. They were committed Jews. In their personal lives, they celebrated Jewishly. They were among the small group of Jews who founded Phoenix' 1st permanent synagogue, Beth Israel Temple, and stuck with the congregation when it made its move to 10th Avenue and Flower Street during the late 1940s/early 1950s. Also important to both the Korricks and the Diamonds was culture, in particular, music and art. They were among the founders of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and early members of various Phoenix museums. To some degree, both the Korrick and Diamond women participated in both the business and social aspects of The New York Store and The Boston Store. When and from where did these Korricks and Diamonds appear? Both the Korrick and Diamond families immigrated into the United States from Eastern Europe. In 1895, Sam Korrick arrived and opened The New York Store in Phoenix. He was joined by his brother Charles in 1900 and later by a brother Abe. In 1915, the Korricks moved their store from the present-day site of Symphony Hall to 1st and Washington Streets. After Sam died in 1914, Ed Korrick, Charles' son, joined the company. Charles' wife, Ed's mom, Blanche Korrick, later in 1946 would be one of the founders of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. In 1897, Nathan and Isaac Diamond, who had immigrated into the United States earlier, moved their El Paso, Texas' New York Store to Phoenix, AZ and renamed it The Boston Store because one of their former employees, Sam Korrick, in 1895 already had opened a copy of their El Paso store and called it The New York Store in Phoenix. Nathan's sons, Harold and Bert, and Isaac's sons, Herbert and Ralph, took over management of The Boston Store in the 1920s. Harold's wife, Helen Diamond, was active in aspects of Phoenix community life. In 1947, The Boston Store renamed itself Diamond's. Today, the only remaining building of these department store palaces is shrouded in a false façade. But if we look closely, with the help of photos, we still can imagine what the store looked like back in its day. Let's stop for a moment, then, and reflect on The New York Store and The Boston Store.

JOIN US ON ONE OF OUR DISCOVERY TOURS OF PHOENIX SCOTTSDALE, AZ!

We've re-located what remains of the small but dynamic downtown Jewish community of Phoenix, AZ. The few surviving sites make for a fascinating individual or group tour which, upon your request, we're pleased to arrange for you. Click here on Phoenix Scottsdale Jewish Friendship Trail for further information or contact us, Jewish Friendship Trail, via email

Additional Links to Jewish Phoenix and Scottsdale

• Mayor Phil Gordon, the 3rd Jewish mayor of Phoenix, AZ (2004-2012), voted the Best Mayor in North America of 2008
  

• Rabbi Albert Plotkin, the long serving rabbi of Beth Israel Temple (1950s-1990s), labeled by some as the Rabbi of the City of Phoenix
  

• Steven Spielberg, the Phoenix teenager who became one of America's and the world's best film makers
  

Links to Boston and New England

• Walk or bike ride with BostonWalks and explore the neighborhoods adjacent to the Charles River
  

• BostonWalks' The Jewish Friendship Trail - Boston's West and North Ends
  

• BostonWalks' The Jewish Friendship Trail - Boston's South End
  

• BostonWalks' The Jewish Friendship Trail - Brookline
  

• BostonWalks' The Jewish Friendship Trail - Cambridge
  

• Ten Reasons for Seatbelts on Schoolbuses
  

• Remember Jerusalem Place in Boston's North End with a Poetic Lilt
  

• Jewish Boston Women of the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries History Trail
  

  
  

On-line selections from Michael Alan Ross' new, The Ten Commandments Guidebook The original humorous satirical song lyrics, Please Keep Us Wealthy, considering the 8th Commandment, Don't steal! The original song, Try to Smile and Love Your Neighbor, considering what Mr. Ross labels the 11th Commandment, Love your neighbor as yourself! The original historical poem, Zionists, considering the 10th Commandment, Don't Covet! The original Walter Mittyish style daydream, Dance before God, considering the 2nd Commandment, Have one God only! The humorous, satirical, political song lyrics, Capitalist Commands, considering the 10th Commandment, Don't covet! The original exhortatory poem, From Atonement to Good Deeds, considering the 7th Commandment, No adultery. The original mystical, kabbalah vision-type, poem, Commit, considering the 1st Commandment, Recognize God/Goodness! The original, poetic blessing, for oneness, In Awe, considering the 1st Commandment, Appreciate God/Goodness!

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!

"West End House" circa 2004
Begun by 35 Jewish boys in 1903!

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

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

Copyright Michael Alan Ross, 2014-2015. All Rights Reserved.

Email: Jewish Friendship Trail

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.

Chazak Ve-ematz “be strong and resolute” (Moses’ words to Joshua in Deut. 31:7)

FileneBest of BostonNYC UWSBrandeis Love Your NeighborWatertown, New Town, & Muddy RiverWalk Near WaterRefute Hate Walk West/North Ends We're One Pray HereMeditationClubsBrooklineSensual WalksMore LoveReportingJewish BooksTENSouth End What's a political mensch? More "What's a political mensch?"

Boston Walks The Jewish Friendship Trail

Click here for 10 reasons for more bike trails!

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

Click here to connect with Capitalist Commands a very satirical song!

Boston Walks The Jewish Friendship Trail