Dispersions Within Diasporas Word from: David

It is interesting to note the troika of Russian-related posts lately. By coincidence, I was given a copy of the fiction issue of the 'Atlantic Monthly' which includes stories by Nathan Englander and Maximilian Schlaks. Both deal with Anti-Semitism in the 1980's; one in the suburbs of Long Island, the latter back in the USSR, specifically Leningrad and a naval base in the Arctic Circle. Now follow me from Mother Russia to another land distantly remembered by my relatives, full of abandoned Jewish sites: The South Bronx.

A friend and I followed Southern Boulevard, looking for some of the sites documented in various literature on the area, especially synagogues mentioned in this survey. Between Leggett Avenue and East 156th Street, near an auto shop I noticed Hebrew and English writing on the sidewalk. It reads, as best as I can decipher: 'Honor between us, David Chaim Adler, 1927.' Whether this sidewalk survived for 78 years, or is some sort of hoax, it is a very unusual find. What's next-Leon Trotsky's apartment keys? (He lived on 1522 Vyse Avenue.)

Next stop was 1028 Intervale Avenue, site of the Intervale Jewish Center or Beit Knesset Anshei Minsk D'Bronx. This synagogue frequented by a young Herman Wouk, was the subject of a book and film by a sociologist named Jack Kugelmass, not to be confused with Professor Kugelmass, a fellow Woody Allen created to dally with Madame Bovary in one of his short stories. An African-American woman passing by asked me if the shul (her words) was going to reopen, and said she hadn't seen worshippers in the ten years she had lived in the area. I noticed that the synagogue had been 'tagged' with little Jewish stars-you can see them, near the white graffiti.

Wedged between the Cross-Bronx Expressway and Bronx Park is another synagogue, now occupied by the Black Hebrews. Note their use of early Hebrew script, rather than 'Ktav Ashurit.' You may have seen a similar picture taken by Mike Epstein, a superb urban photographer. Ironically, many syncrestic groups within African-American and Hispanic cultures use Jewish imagery, more so than the Jews of Bronx in the past. As much I would like to write another five paragraphs on the history of Jews and sucessive immigrant populations in the Bronx, can't hog the site, so one more observation.

M.I.A is giving a free concert in Central Park this coming Sunday. Part of me wants to see her, but part of me is put off by six words in her song 'Sunshowers'. 'Like the PLO, I don't surrendo.' Forgive if I sound like a member of CAMERA, MEMRI, etc. Those will familar with South Asian politics may note that Israel has armed Sri Lanka's Singhalese majority-Mia identifies with the Tamil Tiger rebels. An argument that this song describes a charachter and should not be mistaken for a political manifesto is one worth considering. Still, a sour taste is left in my mouth; the same discomfort I have for the hipsters encroaching on Monica Ali's (and my great-great-grandparent's) Brick Lane makes me not want to dance with the new residents of the Lower East Side and Williamsburg.