Does anyone live in Manhattan?

HEY

Mon, May 08 2006, 2:52 pm

Hi, first time that I'm posting, I have been reading on here for a couple of months.
Just wondering if anyone lives in Manhattan, I live on the upper east side. There are really no people my age (21) with kids and I was wondering if you guys new of anyone else my age around here.

amother

Tue, May 09 2006, 1:44 pm

Nope. no one except about 1.5 million other ppl. LOL

the UES is not exactly a hotbed of frum Yiddishkeit--in fact, it has a rep of being decidedly Episcopalian ( or is it Presbyterian?). which is not to say there are NO frum Jews there--just that they are not thick on the ground the way they are in places like BP.

Even the UWS, which has always been more Jewish than the UES (look at it this way: Jackie Kennedy lived on Fifth Ave; Barbara Streisand on CPW), has more of an MO flavor than a yeshivish or charedi flavor.

↑ batya_d ↓

Tue, May 09 2006, 1:55 pm

amother wrote:

Nope. no one except about 1.5 million other ppl. LOL

We often go to shuls on the UES even though we live on the UWS, because DH likes to hear the big chazzonim at the fancy schmancy shuls there. There are plenty of orthodox shuls on the UES, the problem is that the congregants, although they attend an orthodox shul, are not necessarily frum-- they just like davening ortho. or their husbands do, perhaps because it's how they grew up, or mayeb they just like the social scenes/lavish kiddushes.

It's also somewhat of a problem on the UWS-- while there are lots of jewish people here, the neighborhood has a terrible reputation for being a hotbed of off-the-derech or minimally frum people, with lots of older singles, and couples who are lax on T"H, haircovering, etc.

There is a small population of truly frum, heimishe/yeshivish/chassidish people, and they flock to the shtiebelach along West End Avenue in the 80s and 90s, rather than the big shuls, with are generally more modern than orthodox.

chen

Tue, May 09 2006, 2:20 pm

batya_d wrote:

the problem is that the congregants, although they attend an orthodox shul, are not necessarily frum-- they just like davening ortho. or their husbands do, perhaps because it's how they grew up, or mayeb they just like the social scenes/lavish kiddushes.

Really? that happens in NY too? I thought it was just in the rest of the country, in places where the original Jewish settlers were Orthodox and over several generations the community got less observant. the shuls retained their orthodox connections, so you can have a nominally orthodox shul , using an orthodox siddur, at which the rabbi and chazzan (maybe) walk to shul and everyone else drives and parks a block away.

who would have thought such a thing would be in NY?

↑ batya_d ↓

Tue, May 09 2006, 3:09 pm

Quote:

Really? that happens in NY too? I thought it was just in the rest of the country, in places where the original Jewish settlers were Orthodox and over several generations the community got less observant. the shuls retained their orthodox connections, so you can have a nominally orthodox shul , using an orthodox siddur, at which the rabbi and chazzan (maybe) walk to shul and everyone else drives and parks a block away.
who would have thought such a thing would be in NY?

Absolutely! I'm talking about Manhattan though, can't speak for Brooklyn or other areas. Because it's the city, people generally walk or take the bus, so there aren't as many maris ayin issues with parking the car, etc. But there are a good number of shuls like this on the Upper East Side that I've been to, where the Rabbi, Chazzan, and some congregants are frum, but most are just there for the socialization, or because it's known to be a place where the rich and fabulous congregate. And they don't try to hide it, most will freely admit that they are not shomer shabbos. Ah, Manhattan.

Last edited by batya_d on Tue, May 09 2006, 10:52 pm; edited 1 time in total

Friedman

Tue, May 09 2006, 7:31 pm

I live on the Upper West Side. I am not sure if you're looking for an Upper West Sider, because t I definately fit that profile that I do not always cover my hair. I just started becoming more observant when I met my husband three years ago and am still in the process of finding myself. Interestingly, I think I am a bit more observant than my husband is at this point. I try to wear skirts, cover my hair to some degree. I am strict about kashrut, nida, and shabbat, if that means anything. If you want to talk you can PM me Very Happy

merpk

Wed, May 24 2006, 1:08 am

Hi.

We're in Manhattan, UWS. DH davens at various shtiebels in the West '90s/100s, already mentioned by batya upthread. If I go to shul it's the Chabad, until recently they had a wonderful Shabbos morning program for young children, am always hopeful they'll start it up again.

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jewgal84

Wed, May 24 2006, 3:38 pm

The UES has a Chabad house located on 77th between 1st and York.

It has a Shul, Preschool and a Mikveh. Upcoming: Friendship circle and Talmud Torah.

There is also a yummy dairy deli-restaurant on 76th and York and great shopping on 59th and lexington.

I don't live there, but I work there everyday.

For more info: Contact, Rabbi and Mrs. Kransianski at 212 717 4613

mushmom

Sun, May 28 2006, 10:52 pm

Hi HEY
I live in Manhattan! Not quite the UES but just a bit lower- the East 50's.
I have two kids Ka"h and am always on the lookout for company. At the park I take them to, I'm usually the only mom in a sea of nannies.
Please PM me- would love to get together!