In the ultra orthodox community, surrounded by mystery, women and men live mostly apart. It’s a life regulated by many rules. One important aspect is the invisibility of women. They are not to be represented outside of their family.
Ghila Krajzman has found a way to show the strong bond that unites these women. With extreme cropping, showing their hands only, and heavy photoshop, these images let us peek into this intriguing world, and reveal their intense relationships.
Modesty, and the reluctance to stand out, have them dress mostly alike, in very similar color palette. And the similarity of their looks brings a feeling of unrest to the viewer. By removing all specific context from the images, this artistic documentary aims to convey communication among women in all societies.
Ghila Kratjzman is a professional wedding photographer and longtime island resident. Her photos are available on gknyphoto.com
Prior to the ceremony, Ashkenazi Jews have a custom to cover the face of the bride (usually with a veil), and a prayer is often said for her based on the words spoken to Rebecca in Genesis 24:60.[10] The veiling ritual is known in Yiddish as badeken. Various reasons are given for the veil and the ceremony, a commonly accepted reason is that it reminds the Jewish people of how Jacob was tricked by Laban into marrying Leah before Rachel, as her face was covered by her veil (see Vayetze). Another reasoning is that Rebecca is said to have veiled herself when approached by Isaac, who would become her husband Sephardi Jews do not perform this ceremony. Additionally, the veil emphasizes that the groom is not solely interested in the bride’s external beauty, which fades with time; but rather in her inner beauty which she will never lose. Wikipedia (c)
The atrium of Motorgate Winner is Alexis Villefane and Nancy Brown
Wheel from old tram cabins that area abandoned in back of Motorgate
EDITORIAL
Last evening a phone call arrived from an old friend. She retired from the island about 20 years ago to live in California with her family. After being a member of a community she relished the thought of her own life and own home.
We spoke of the old days, when we consulted each other at a booth at Trellis, when we all met and chatted no matter where we were on Main Street. We followed our own paths but all paths seemed to intermingle here. We supported the store, donating and buying. Some folks worked there for a pittance and may bags of food. No on was turned away.
The teens loved the activities, celebrations, Halloween, trips and all kind of fun activities.
After she left, our communities went back into isolation, few activities for the community and a hands – off attitude of those who here part time to serve us. We miss you friend. Your years on the island brought us a sense of community well-being.
Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff FUNDING PROVIDED BY: ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION THRU PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDING
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THRU DYCD
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated PHOTOS COPYRIGHT GHILA KRATJZMAN (c) FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD
Today is my 43rd anniversary of moving to Roosevelt Island. The weather was about the same as today, hot, humid and steamy. I came from Manhattan and moved into 580 #134. I was supposed to move to an apartment on the 7th floor. Three days before I moved I discovered that the apartment had been rented to two tenants. The only apartments that were available were on the 4th floor in 560 or the 1st floor in 580.
The day before I was supposed to move the apartment in 560 was burned out due to a fire spreading to 4 apartments.
My only option was the apartment with a garden in 580. It was a lucky choice and I loved the backyard for 19 years. It was the scene of neighbors sitting there during hot summer evening, lobster roasts and just being out of doors.
The first year I was on the island I hired the company that paved Main Street to lay a brick patio, which beat the gravel surface that came with the apartment.
Growing flowers every summer made the yard glorious including wisteria that climbed the fence and barrels of inpatients and geraniums.
Th gardens were private and I never had a problem with intruders, except the 6 year old who snatched my tulips.
The back of one of the school buildings was just outside my yard. There was a hill that the kids would sled down in winter. After a year or two, I came home and found that management had bulldozed the hill. End of fun time in this courtyard.
MORE CARTOONS HOW MANY CAN YOU IDENTIFY? PART 2
GIRLS HAD PAPER DOLLS
BOYS HAD ERECTOR SETS
Many of our childhood past-times came back this winter. My friends and I would spend hours clipping out paper dolls or dressing our Barbie dolls. My brother and father would be in the basement with the Erector Set making a Ferris wheel that worked.
TUESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
WHAT AND WHERE IS THIS? Send your submission to rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com Win a trinket from the RIHS Visitor Center Kiosk
MONDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
WIND INTERVALS BY PHYLLIS MARK (1976) ON THE RIVERCROSS LAWN FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS IN THE LATE 1970’S. LINDA BECKER, JAY JACOBSON AND JOAN BROOKS REMEMBER THE ART PIECE
EDITORIAL
100 is Coming This Thursday, July 9th will be our 100th edition. Please pick a photo, article or item that you particularly enjoyed. Go to rihs.us and scroll down thru all our issues.
Pick your favorite and e-mail it to rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com. Judith Berdy
Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff FUNDING PROVIDED BY: ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION THRU PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDING
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDS THRU DYCD
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY (C) WIKIPEDIA (C)
WONDERFUL CANDY SHOPS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD THOSE BARTONS ALMOND KISSES WERE YUMMY LOFT’S CANDIES WERE MANUFACTURED ON VERNON BLVD. IN THE BUILDING THAT IS NOW MOISHE’S MINI STORAGE
THERE ARE STILL SOME GODIVA SHOPS
DINING
LA FONDA DEL SOL IN THE TIME LIFE BUILDING
ABOVE: TOP OF THE 666’S BELOW: MAXWELL’S PLUM ON FIRST AVENUE
ABOVE: MANY WOLFE’S STEAK HOUSE (THREE MARTINI LUNCH) BELOW: GLOUCESTER HOUSE (ACROSS FROM ST. PAT’S, GREAT BISCUITS)
ON EAST 49TH STREET PATRICIA MURPHY’S WAS WHERE YOU TOOK GRANDMA FOR MOTHER’S DAY AND TO EAT LOTS OF POPOVERS.
STILL A FAVORITE IS THE OYSTER BAR IN GRAND CENTRAL. PROBABLY MY ADMIRATION OF THE GUASTAVINO TILES AND CLAM CHOWDER.
PART OF FDR FOUR FREEDOMS SPEECH ENGRAVED ON WALL OF FDR FOUR FREEDOMS PARK
MULTIPLE WINNERS: BARBARA BROOKS, NANCY BROWN, ED LITCHER, ALEXIS VILLEFANE, BRENDA VAUGHAN
The family tradition continues. My brother Alan is the chief grilling specialist.
From Caroline Cavalli-
You forgot Alba’s Italian Pastries in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. But I sure do miss Ebinger’s. You could buy half the cake or pie, thereby getting a nice assortment. Caroline
Hi Judy, I loved your bakery issue!!! I’ve always adored bakery windows, from the time I was very little. I would ogle the pastries, wanting to taste everything on display. In my old Brooklyn neighborhood, there were alway Napoleans and cupcakes with whipped cream and a cherry on the top. And cakes with lots of frosting. There was an Ebinger bakery about a half-hour walk from our apartment (there was no transportation available to get there other than on foot), and for years, my birthday cake came from there: yellow layer cake with chocolate butter cream frosting.
Back in the 1950s they could sell you half a cake (the cake would be sliced into two perfectly even halves), for people like my parents, who couldn’t afford to pay for a whole cake. My mother never asked for any kind of decoration, or even the words “Happy Birthday” written on it. It wasn’t until I married Mitch that I got a real “birthday cake,” bought by his mother. It left me teary-eyed.
Ironically, when we moved to a more middle-class neighborhood (in the Midwood High School area, where Bernie Sanders grew up), there was an Ebinger’s bakery around the corner from our apartment building. That was absolutely heaven!! They would sell holiday-themed individual pastries, with icing that matched the holiday symbolically (e.g., green icing with a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day, pink icing with a red heart for Valentine’s Day). These were made of yellow cake with butter cream in the center. My mother would buy two on Friday afternoons, one for me and one for Mitch, when we were dating.
The other picture that you included in the bakery issue that meant something special to me was the Hungarian pastry shop next to Columbia University. Amber was an undergraduate at Columbia, and she would frequent that place, because she loved my mother’s Hungarian homemade pastries, and she could buy things that she was fond of in that bakery (I think their Hungarian accent also gave her a lift). She also would visit my parents during those four undergraduate years, on Friday nights, for sabbath dinner. Mitch and I were based in Pittsburgh, so we missed out on those dinners. So, many, many thanks for the bakery issue!! Susan — Susan Berk-Seligson Research Professor and Professor Emerita Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff All materials in this publication are copyrighted (c)
MATERIAL COPYRIGHT WIKIPEDIA, GOOGLE IMAGES, RIHS ARCHIVES AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION (C)
FUNDING BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDING
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING BY COUNCIL MEMBER BEN KALLOS THRU NYC DYCD
THE KIOSK WILL BE OPEN THIS WEEKEND. COME CELEBRATE THE 4TH WITH US!
THIS IS THE 96th ISSUE OF FROM THE ARCHIVES JULY 4-5, 2020 WEEKEND EDITION
HOW WE CELEBRATED
OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY
July 4th Parade
SMALL TOWN PARADE IN MONTICELLO, NY
JERSEY SHORE PARADE
Heroic Images During World War l
Before Norman Rockwell
The BBQ, an American Tradition
I assume my parents were at a July 4th event. We still have the GENIUS AT WORK apron. We had lots of BBQ’s and family would visit our home in Suburbia. Dad would spend hours at the grill. Spiffy shoes Mr. B.!
TIME TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH AT THE RIHS VISITOR CENTER KIOSK
WE ARE OPEN EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY DO YOUR GIFT SOPPING WITH US!!
FRIDAY IMAGE OF THE DAY RUNNING COMMUTER MOSAIC AT THE 72ND STREET AND SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY STATION ALEXIS VILLAFANE GOT IT FIRST
EDITORIAL
This week we took a look at the office, took a road trip, ate cake and today celebrated the 4th. We are going to recognize the 4th by looking forward to a ferry trip to Long Island City… or maybe points farther away. We will be at the Visitor Center all weekend to greet the locals and visitors.
Funding Provided by: Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Purpose Funds Council Member Ben Kallos City Council Discretionary Funds thru DYCD Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT RIHS. 2020 (C) ALL PHOTOS IN THIS ISSUE (C) JUDITH BERDY RIHS
OUR CONTINUING SITUATION COMPLETELY JUSTIFIES THE CONSUMPTION OF SWEETS. SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BAKERIES ARE LONG GONE, CORPORATE OWNED NOW AND NOT THE SAME AS BEFORE. LET’S WANDER THRU THE LAND OF HOBART MIXERS. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE?
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020
The
95th Edition
From Our Archives
LET US EAT CAKE!
BAKERIES OF TODAY AND YESTERDAY
QUEENS
USED TO BE JUST BREAD BUT IT HAS EXPANDED. JUST NEXT TO Q102 BUS STOP AT 30-17 BROADWAY, ASTORIA
FAMILY OWNED BY CHRISTOPHER WALKEN FAMILY. NOW HIPSTER DINING STREET,
STILL OPEN WITH OLD STYLE FURNISHINGS AT 29-15 DITMARS BLVD. BEING CROWDED OUT BY OTHER ETHNIC BAKERIES IN AREA.
OMONIA CAFE ON THE SAME CORNER FOR DECADES AT 32-20 BROADWAY, ASTORIA. GREAT FOR FAMILY AFTERNOONS OF DINING AND TALKING. NO RUSH HERE. (AND HAPPILY SO MUCH BETTER SINCE NO SMOKING)
BROOKLYN
198 COURT STREET
192 UNION STREET IN PARK SLOPE
MANHATTAN
HUNGARIAN PASTRY SHOP THERE IS NO SOCIAL DISTANCING, SINCE THERE IS NO DISTANCE BETWEEN TABLES. COLUMBIA TYPES HANG OUT HERE. GREAT STRUDEL AND CASH ONLY.
FERRERA ONE OF TWO WITH SIMILAR NAMES IN LITTLE ITALY, GREAT FOR TOURISTS. 195 GRAND STREET
CURRENTLY CALLED BIRDBATH BAKERY AND STILL BAKING TRADITIONAL BREADS. SEEMS TO BE TURNNG HIPSTER AND “GREEN”
NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITE FOR AGES AT 372 THIRD AVENUE
GREEK TREATS AT 629 9TH AVENUE
YOU CAN START WITH THEIR STICKY BUNS, AND CAKES AND ALL I CAN SAY IS YUMMY. AN UPPER EAST SIDE FAVORITE.
NO TRAIN TRIP IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A CHALLAH OR RAISIN PUMPERNICKEL OR BABKA. ALWAYS A GOOD REASON TO PASS THUR GRAND CENTRAL, PENN OR PORT AUTHORITY.
WONDERFUL BREADS AT 308 EAST 78 STREET
NEWCOMERS
TRES CHIC PATISSERIE NOW ALL OVER MANHATTAN
WASHINGTON, DC
IT MAY BE A LONG RIDE BUT BREAD FURST ON CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW IN D.C. IS WORTH IT. THE BAKED GOODS AND BREAD ARE SUPERB. HAM AND CHEESE ON A BAGUETTE CAN MAKE YOUR DAY
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
I DROOL AT THE SITE OF THE BOXES STACKED UP ON MY GRANDMOTHER’S KITCHEN TABLE.
WONDERFUL PASTRY AND CAKES. FEW NEW VARIETIES BUT EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. ONLY CHEF BONTE AND WIFE IN STORE. YOU WAITED PATIENTLY AND IT WAS WORTH IT TO HAVE ONE OF THEIR MADELAINES.
THEIR BLACK AND WHITE COOKIES CRUMBED LAST YEAR AND THE SHOP CLOSED
ONE OF THE MANY GERMAN SPECIALTY BAKERIES NOT GONE
NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERY IN FOREST HILLS WITH THOSE GREAT MODEL WEDDING CAKES IN THE WINDOW
After writing about all these bakeries I have a desire for some good fresh pastry. Too often we look at the showcase and get the pastry home to find out it is tasteless or worse, stale. I will have to take an imaginary trip to Paris or Nice or Monaco.
In the meantime I should be dreaming of salads and diets to fight my Covid 20 lbs. Judith Berdy
Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD
We have all canceled our trips to Calcutta or to Casablanca for this summer. Let’s rent an RV and off we go across America in our socially distancing RV. If we thought quarantining in our NYC apartments was fun this should be the ultimate challenge. (There is no maintenance man here to fix the plumbing and you are testing dad’s talents). Load the gear and join our family on the road west……………
Okay, we made it to DC. Let’s see if we can make it a little farther.
Just passed thru Evansville, Indiana. Have not had to threaten the kids to send them home by bus yet.
We made to the Second City. Looks pretty cool here. The BEAN is wonderful and right in the middle of the city. The L is overhead and those mid westerners are so friendly and polite.
Out in the country passing thru quaint Americana.
Sorry kids, you stay in the camper while mom and dad party!! No way, this year! Take out tacos for dinner.
Which kid wants to stay in Hollywood? This is your chance to get out of the RV!!! Last call??
San Francisco is so lovely with Victorian homes, Fisherman’s Wharf and leftover Flower Children in Haight Ashbury. Explain 1968 to the kids.
Let’s go home thru the National Parks and meet the wildlife and mountain peaks!
WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY CHAPEL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Steps leading to lower level Winner is Nina Lublin
EDITORIAL
We have been walking around the island the last few days. I am saddened to see that many of our seniors and others are not looking well. After being cooped up in apartments, scared of Covid-19 an emotional toll is being taken on many of our elders.
Our Carter Burden Senior Center is closed for activities and meals. However, the garden is open weekdays for people to sit in. There is plenty of space to socially distant. There are umbrellas and lots of shade in the garden. Lisa Fernandez, director has tended the garden this spring and summer. It is bursting with Flowers and plants. To enter the garden go thru alleyway next to 540 Main St. The entry is to the left thru the wooden gate. (The garden is usually open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays).
Judith Berdy
Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society RON CRAWFORD (C) unless otherwise indicated
FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD
BACK TO THE 1950’S – 1960’s OFFICE “TAKE DICTATION”
My first office job was in 1967 or thereabouts. I was a Kelly Girl. This was a temporary agency for young women to get into the office work field. I remember the advertisements were completely sexist. We made sure we looked perfect from the hair-dryer perfect hair, stockings even in summer and working in an office for a week or so at a time. You would hand in your time sheet and wait for another job.
The offices all had secretaries and an office manager (female, not married and no sense of humor)
Bosses were men in offices.
An IBM Selectric typewriter was a status symbol in the office. If you typed a letter, you put the letterhead on top of carbon paper and copy pages underneath. If you made a mistake, you used the roller eraser on the copies and CO-REC-TAPE on the first page.
There was an ashtray on your desk for yourself or visitors to use.
A lady would come by with the coffee cart. You could always schmooze at the water cooler.
You went to lunch. Everyone went to lunch whether 30,45 minutes or 1 hour. I do not remember eating at my desk. For years I worked in an office and we had a full floor of cafeteria and table service. I could bring a guest or go underground to Rockefeller Center for lunch.
Office chat would be who was getting married or having a baby and then decorating their desk on the day before the wedding or leaving on maternity leave.
We left at 5 pm. Rarely, was there overtime or weekend work. No one had a pager, cell phone or other communications devise.
You got back in the subway and home for a restful weekend and no thoughts of your job.
The 15 cent subway ride was hot and sticky in the summer and heat blasting under your legs in the winter.
You had to type 45 wpm and take steno to be a secretary.
Getting a new typewriter was a big event.
Boss got an armchair, you got a “secretarial chair” Please note pen-set on desk. I don’t think the pens worked by a status symbol in the office.
Water cooler chatter was a great part of the day.
Subway reading I remember Humor in Uniform. Just enough for a commute.
I must have worked in a vacuum. No exciting relationships that I knew of.
WEDNESDAY’S PHOTO OF THE DAY
What is this and where is it located E-mail jbird134@aol.com Win a trinket from Kiosk
TUESDAY’S PHOTO OF THE DAY
The atrium of Motorgate Winner is Alexis Villefane
EDITORIAL
Time to say thanks. We have Covid-19 testing on the island this week. For ages, our neighbors have asked for testing on the island. Ben Kallos’ office and the NYC Health+ Hospitals came through for our community. RIOC has been great in providing amenities and facilities.
Located under the helix (where the farmers market is in the winter) an efficient operation is registering and testing our neighbors.
You will receive the test results in 3-5 days. The testers will be here Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thanks to the great staff from Gotham Health, part of NYC H+H. They are friendly and efficient. Many of us do not realize that we have an amazing public health system that caters to all New Yorkers. To take advantage of any of their services you are never asked your immigration status, ability to pay or other intrusive questions.
Please take advantage of this opportunity to be tested.
Text by Judith Berdy Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated RON CRAWFORD (C) FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPORE GRANTS CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD
