Approximately one hundred years ago in the heart of the Lower East Side, it seemed like every street had at least one synagogue to satisfy the burgeoning Orthodox Jewish community. Some of those religious sites were small shtieblach, (one room houses of prayer) that were usually located in tenement apartments – with many buildings housing multiple Shuls in each. Quite a few however, were located in buildings of varying size including converted townhomes and churches. There were also those that were original construction, designed by famous architects on a grand scale to fit a large, expanding congregation.

Your guide, Urban Historian and educator Bradley Shaw, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He shares with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history. He has been a docent, walking tour guide and manager at the Museum at Eldridge Street for more than six years, in addition to doing walking tours for the LESJC, Context Travel and his own company NY History Tours.