Kerhonkson Synagogue
Celebrating 100 years of Jewish life in the Catskills
How did this shul get here ?
In the early 20th century, Jewish immigrants poured into the US seeking a better life. Some struck out beyond the the tenements of eastern cities to become farmers. Tifereth Yehudah V’Yisroel, aka Kerhonkson Synagogue, has its origins in this movement. A small community of farmers and merchants are noted as having regular services by 1910 and in 1923 land was donated for a synagogue by Louis and Becky Speigel.
For more of our story scan here **
Some founding families in the congregation were___________________________________________________________________
Many were farmers who produced milk and eggs. Some supplemented their income by taking in summer boarders and grew into kuchalein, boarding houses and bungalow colonies .
This is how world famous resorts
like Grossingers began.
Others began businesses in town.
Kerhonkson was a much more
bustling village than today, having
a vibrant main street and a busy
rail station.
