THIS IS NOT THE BORSHT BELT: Early Jewish Catskill Resorts

One hundred and fifty years ago, a small number of resorts in towns about 90 miles north of New York City beckoned to members of the cultural and social elite of American Jewry. Consciously challenging anti-Semitism, these affluent Jews found a summer reprieve from city life in a specifically Jewish environment amidst the lush forests and lakes of the Catskill Mountains. Enclaves, such as those in Tannersville and Saratoga Springs, were frequented by world-transforming musicians, composers, prominent businessmen, a well-loved opera singer, a New York State Governor, stars of the Yiddish Theatre, and the only woman in American who was a close second in popularity to Eleanor Roosevelt. Can you guess who they were? Join us to find out, and to explore this fascinating history of communities, now largely forgotten.