Imagine a place dubbed the baby boom capital. That’s Borough Park. This southwestern Brooklyn neighborhood is more than just a residential area. Borough Park is a vibrant center of Orthodox Jewish life.
Borough Park began as Blythebourne. It was a small hamlet of cottages built in 1887. Electus Litchfield developed it. William Reynolds expanded it with more housing. By the 1920s, Blythebourne was absorbed into Borough Park.
Jewish immigrants started arriving in the early 1900s. By 1914, a YMHA formed. It bought land to build a large facility. In the 1930s, 13th Avenue bustled with pushcart vendors and pickle sellers. The city opened a public market to end the pushcart trade.
Yemenite Jews emigrated here in the late 1920s and early 1930s. They created their own enclave. They named their synagogue Ohel Shalom. It moved to 12th Avenue and 44th Street. They purchased an old church for their services.
The 1980s saw demographic shifts. Italian, Irish, and Modern Orthodox Jewish residents gave way to Hasidic Jewish families. By 1983, about 85 percent of Borough Park residents were Jewish. New shops and restaurants opened on 13th Avenue. These catered to the growing Orthodox Jewish community. Eichler’s Judaica bookstore and Kosher Castle Dairy Cafeteria debuted in 1987. Businesses began selling Jewish books, music, and videos online in the late 1990s.
Borough Park gained the title of baby boom capital. This happened because of its high birth rate. The population reached 140000 in 2011. The neighborhood recorded 4523 births in 2004. This was the highest in New York City. Maimonides Medical Center handles more births than any other hospital in New York State.
Large Hasidic families need larger homes. This fueled construction and renovation projects. A 1998 New York Times article noted the high number of building permits issued here. A 1992 law allowed residents to build on 65% of their lot.
Thirteenth Avenue is a major commercial strip. It features storefronts supplying Jewish households. Many Hasidic Jews shop here. They come from various places to buy kosher items. The growing Jewish population and internet use benefited businesses.
The Park House Hotel opened in 1987. The Avenue Plaza Hotel followed in 1999. These hotels cater to Hasidic tourists.
Borough Park is home to many Hasidic groups. These include Bobov, Belz, Ger, and Satmar. The community adheres to Jewish law. Saturday is the Shabbos. It is a day of rest strictly observed. Stores sell only kosher food under rabbinical supervision. Mikvahs are present throughout the neighborhood.
Borough Park is known for its social welfare organizations. Chevra Hatzolah and Shomrim are notable examples. Masbia opened a soup kitchen in 2005.
Borough Park is a unique neighborhood. It is a blend of tradition and modernity. It is a testament to the enduring strength of community. The area continues to grow. It remains a vital center of Jewish life in New York City.