Disciplines

Jewish Studies

Abstract

Summarized by Lily Weston

Shulamit Bell spent her formative years growing up in the Bronx and much of her early life there centered around her community shul, the Young Israel of Pelham Parkway on Barnes Avenue. She also spent much time at the Bronx House attending Purim carnivals, Hanukkah parties, and more. The legacy of the Holocaust loomed large in her family and community, as both her parents and many other community members were survivors. She recounts how her mother did not work, and her father worked in the garment district. They lived a simple, happy life in an apartment building with a Carvel on the corner.

Bell was raised Modern Orthodox, with varying degrees of religious observance in the community around her, but her children have grown up to be much more Orthodox. Bell also speaks fluent Yiddish as it was the predominant language at home growing up, and though her two daughters can understand Yiddish from spending time with their grandparents, they are not fluent. This knowledge of Yiddish led to a unique career opportunity to teach in a bilingual Yiddish special education program in Brooklyn, the borough she has lived in since moving there from the Bronx at age twelve.

Bell looks back quite fondly on her childhood in the Bronx, recalling her mothers rich sweet cooking, spending time at Orchard Beach on Sundays, attending Beth Jacob-Beth Miriam school, and generally being a part of a closely knit community. Though she did move to Brooklyn in 1977, she found this transition difficult for many reasons, though despite this has not often gone back to visit her old neighborhood in the Bronx as it has changed so much from what she knew and loved.

Keywords: Pelham Parkway, Barnes Avenue, Holocaust, Yiddish, school, parents, memories, Young Israel of Pelham Parkway, Israel, father, Brooklyn, friends, Bronx Zoo, Facebook group, home

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