Learn The History Of The Borscht Belt/Catskills At Bergen County Event

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — It was a place where families could make new friends, hear up-and-coming comedians, eat Kosher meals, and engage in recreational activities.

The vacation resorts in the Catskill Mountains, or "Borscht Belt," thrived from the early 1900s through the 1980s when families further south wanted a cool place to stay each summer. And when other resorts discriminated against Jewish people, the Catskills welcomed them.

As air travel became increasingly common and affordable in the late 1900s, and as fewer families sought out vacations with Kosher options, the Catskill resorts began losing money. Most closed by the early 1990s. Yet, today, Jewish Americans frequently reminisce about their summers in the mountains.

Last year, a museum opened in Ellenville, N.Y. to celebrate the history and nostaglia of the region. Now, New York Times reporter Andrew Jacobs, the head of the Borscht Belt Museum's Board of Directors, will speak in Bergen County about the history of the place.

The Event

The National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section (NCJW BCS), a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who "turn progressive ideals into action" will present Jacobs on Tuesday, Nov. 28 to share his insights into the history of the Catskills.

Here is a press release from the group about the event:

Jacobs will be the guest speaker at the section’s General Meeting on Nov. 28, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Temple Emeth, which is located at 1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck.

Andrew Jacobs is the President of the Borscht Belt Museum’s Board of Directors. For the past two years, he has helped lead the creation of a cultural institution dedicated to the history and legacy of the Borscht Belt resort era.

Andrew is also a reporter for The New York Times, where he covers health-related issues for the science section. During his nearly three decades at The Times, Andrew has covered a wide range of beats, including the American South, China, New Jersey politics, and the New York City Police Department.

In 2002, he was part of a team of reporters who won a Pulitzer Prize in the public service category for their coverage of the 9/11 terror attacks in Manhattan. In 2008, Andrew directed and produced “Four Seasons Lodge,” a documentary about a community of Holocaust survivors in upstate New York that was based on an article he wrote for The Times.

“I am delighted that Andrew Jacobs will be speaking to us about the history and legacy of the Borscht Belt resort. For many of us this will be a wonderful trip down memory lane,” stated Joan Cooper, NCJW BCS member of the Education and Advocacy committee and organizer of the event.

The event is free for members. There is a charge of $15 for nonmembers payable at the door.

For more information on this meeting and the National Council of Jewish Women, Bergen County Section (NCJW BCS), as well as, postings of upcoming events, please visit www.ncjwbcs.org or call (201) 385-4847.

Celebrating the 100th anniversary, National Council of Jewish Women, Bergen County Section (NCJW BCS) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals Into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW BCS strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.