User:Davidiklein/Jewish community of scranton

The city of Scranton has a vibrant Jewish community and a distinct ultra Orthodox community. The community is mostly centered around Scranton's hill section. The Jewish establishments in Scranton include the Yeshiva co-op, a kosher grocery, Abe's kosher delicatessen & restaurant (though it is not frequented by the Orthodox community due to lack of proper supervision). Scranton also has three Orthodox synagogues, one Reform synagogue and one Conservative synagogue. The Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania, located in Scranton, was formerly known as the Jewish Home for the Friendless of Scranton and used to serve as an orphanage in addition to it its current purpose as an old age home. It also conducts regular prayer services. Jewish education in Scranton consists of the Scranton Hebrew Day School, which is kindergarten through eighth grade and co-ed, and Yeshiva Beis Moshe, a boys only ultra Orthodox high school. Scranton also has a large Jewish community center with many athletic facilities.

The Scranton Jewish community has existed since before the 1850's, and since before the city was given the name Scranton. The first Jew to have held public office in Scranton was in the year 1960, when Joseph Rosenthal served as the city's first, and at the time, only policeman. The first congregation was established in 1858 and in 1860 was named "Anshe Hesed." In 1866 the first building built specifically for Jewish purposes was erected, a synagogue on Linden Street. In 1906 Scranton had a Jewish population of 5,000, approximately 5% of Scranton's total population, and its institutions consisted of five synagogues and two schools, and had in their midst the famous Rabbi Boruch Greenfeld, the author of the sefer Ohel Boruch

As with much of the east coast, Scranton saw a large influx of Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe in the early part of the twentieth century, including a large Hungarian population. As the rush of immigrants came in, Scranton came to have a vibrant YMHA (Young Men's Hebrew Association), which served as a support system for new immigrants, helping them adjust to new life in America. It was also a home away from home for much of the youth of that generation. It would later become the JCC (Jewish Community Center) which is still around today. Scranton's current yeshiva, Yeshiva Beis Moshe, was founded in 1964 by Rabbi Yaakov Schnaidman and Rabbi Chaim Bressler, who both still currently hold their posts as Rosh Yeshiva.

famous Scranton Jews

 * Rabbi Baruch Greenfield: author of the sefer Ohel boruch


 * Rabbi Moses Mescheloff: a famous American Orthodox rabbi, especially known for his community work in Miami Beach, Florida, and Chicago, Illinois. In Scranton he had his first position at Congregation Machzike Hadas, where he met his wife.


 * Lauren Weisberger: an American novelist and author of the best seller "The Devil Wears Prada." She was born in Scranton to a Conservative Jewish family and then later became Reform.


 * Howard Gardner: an American developmental psychologist and Harvard University professor of cognition and education. He is a recipient of the Graweymayer award in education, and is known for his theory of multiple intelligences.


 * Jeffrey Birnbaum: an American journalist, author, and television commentator. He has worked for the Washington Post and Washington Times, written four books, and regularly appears as a political analyst on Fox News.


 * Dr. Jacob M. Schorr: served as CEO of Spirit Airlines. He is an Orthodox Jew from Scranton and currently owns a kosher restaurant outside of Washington, DC.


 * Dr. Harvey Sicherman: was head of the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also served in his career as a special assistant to then Secretary of State Alexander Haig in the early 1980's. He was born in Scranton in 1945. He also attended college at the University of Scranton.


 * David Hochman: is an American journalist who does most of his writing on entertainment, cultural trends, travel, parenting, technology, food and adventure. He has also written a children's book with his wife, and according to his website, "He also ghostwrites books for famous people."