Monsey Memories: “Ah Yiddishe Gorten Shtetl, A Jewish Garden City”

As we endeavor to chronicle the early Jewish history of the Rockland County area, we think about more than a century of Jewish life, and constant growth and population. Those early pioneers who came to farm the land more than one century ago would probably not recognize the area, and neither would that special contingent of Torah Vodaath Rebbeim and talmidim who fled the bustling city to found Beis Medrash Elyon in the 1940’s. 

 

Today, we take a look back at an article written by A. Feldman in der Morgen Zhournal, in which he relates an account of a trip to Spring Valley in 1917, one hundred and five years ago! 

 

“Yiddishe Yidden with quasi-gentile livelihoods—farms and factories—summer boarders and animals—quiet Yidden and quiet roads,” begin his reflections. 

 

“Those pining for a quiet, serene Jewish life, I would send them to the small Jewish garden shtetl of Spring Valley. It is located a mere thirty “techum Shabbos” from the hustling and bustling city… 

 

“As its name suggests, it is situated in a blessed valley which are so abundant in that area. The town boasts about 1,000 families, about 200 of whom are Jewish—but for some reason, it seems like a Yiddishe city. As soon as one arrives in the train station, one is confronted with many Jewish faces… Jewish taxi cabs await you, and will drive you anywhere for a quarter… 

 

“Nearly every Jewish family has a home and a garden, and nearby they keep livestock and room for summer boarders. Yidden like things that bear fruit… and for this reason, fruit trees abound around many homes. 

 

“Spring Valley also has many factories where shirts and other garments are produced…but the people don’t seem to like those; preferring to live off their farm and garden produce. Thus, they live themselves a quiet life… in this garden shtetl. And everyone has time, and everyone does everything calmly…. They walk tranquilly and they speak peacefully… and at the end of the month, when there’s no moon, they walk on the mountain, holding a lantern in hand. 

 

“Spring Valley Jews have a custom not to speak loudly… maybe, because it’s so quiet, one can hear the slightest noise. They are extremely pious; they have their own shul, their own shochet, their own shammas, and all other klei kodesh. By them, Shabbos is Shabbos… as Hashem has commanded—and Yom Tov is Yom Tov, with every flavor, and the children speak in Yiddish…”

 

Reading these nostalgic portrayals of a very different Spring Valley than today—one gets the sense that the Yidden escaping the city for the serenity of the area, were pursuing not only physical quiet; but the peace and serenity to conduct a Torah life away from the ferocious winds of assimilation that were so much more prevalent in the urban centers—a peace and quiet that they found right here in Rockland County. 

 

“Monsey Memories” is a special project of Rockland Daily which takes a look back at the Jewish history of the Rockland Area.