The Old Country in 60s Philadelphia: Row Homes and Jewish Delis

Elissa Samberg fondly remembers the closeness of the Philadelphia row homes in the 1960s and her neighborhood of Jewish immigrants just north of Philadelphia in the liminal space between the Old Country tradition and American assimilation. She describes this childhood experience through the lens of grocery shopping with her grandparents - her hand held tight by her grandfather, Elissa would visit Jewish delis every Saturday for nova lox on a bagel while her grandmother was getting her hair done.
To learn more about the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project, visit:
www.yiddishbook...

[@Enr227]

My ex husband had this exact experience . Born in ‘53 but related much more to his grandparents’ lives. He went to synagogue every morning with his grandfather and didn’t know the Beatles. He bypassed the 60s entirely and didn’t rejoin his generation until the 70s, when we met. He bypassed rock, missed the protests, the vibe, the 60s spirit, and came back to our age group in time for disco.

[@fxm330]

I was also born in '56 in Philadelphia on North Broad Street in Logan . I'm not Jewish but we had many in my neighborhood and your story bought back many memories

[@charleneberryman1416]

I have been trying to find info on St Greens Deli in Philadelphia....would live to find some pics. My grandparents used to take me there when I was young. Being from South Florida it was wonderful being in Philly in the 60's.

[@charleneberryman1416]

SY Greens not ST Greens

[@luislaplume8261]

Now it is as dangerous as Iraq thanks to the past few mayors and city councils.