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Tag: Shearith Israel

Exploring Jewish Heritage, Beyond the Village and Back

Since 2006, May has marked Jewish American Heritage Month, 31 days to explore and celebrate the impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture on the nation’s history and character. Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo are communities rich with sites that showcase and commemorate 350 years of Jewish history in our city. That hyperlocal […]

    The Second Cemetery of Congregation Shearith Israel

    Over 35 cemeteries are located throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, though most have since been covered over and are no longer apparent. Each tells an important story about the history of our neighborhoods. One that fortunately still survives, and is among the most unique in the neighborhood, is the Second Cemetery of […]

    The Cemeteries of the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue Shearith Israel

    On March 31, 1492, Spain ordered that all Jews living within the kingdom either convert to Christianity or be expelled. Portugal did the same less than five years later. Some of those Spanish Jews converted and remained in Spain, either secretly practicing their faith or genuinely converting (even some of those, however, continued to face […]

    Many Layers of History at 6th Avenue and 11th Street

    Once again, another date has come that lines up with an intersection in the Village, but as the calendar starts to climb, our focus also starts to move westwards.  In honor of today’s date, we are taking a look at some of the buildings and history on and around the intersection of 6th Avenue and […]

    Tales from the Crypt: Greenwich Village as seen through its burial sites

    Burial spaces serve a wide variety of purposes: religious, political, socioeconomic.  For example, a graveyard might demarcate the boundary of a church or private property, while the kind of interment that was undertaken (burial, cremation, mausoleum) might give insight into the roles and statuses the deceased maintained in their lifetime.  It also gives us insight […]