Author Description

The middle section of the 1900s experienced an active flowering of the the Jewish Community in this one community of Peekskill, New York - located along the river in the Hudson Valley. Shop owners, doctors, lawyers, insurance agents and various manufacturers dominated the business of this one downtown. In the 1950s, approximately 50% of all retail stores were Jewish owned and operated. Their various clubs and and social organizations were active within the overall community life. The population dynamic was that most of the Jewish settlers were part of the several waves of European immigrants starting in the 1880s through the 1930s. Almost as soon as they arrived they went to work to support their families, and that in turn benefited the overall Peekskill community. This was a distinct era in American life. This book is a culmination of information from many and several sources. Archives, photos, interviews, maps and so on were assembled in a collaborative effort. The primary sponsor of the well-received publication of year 2019 is the First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill, New York.