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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 350

Borscht Belt

A large sculpture of a bowl of borscht by artist Robin Schwartzman is the centerpiece of 'And Such Small Portions! Food and Comedy in the Catskills Resort Era' exhibit at the Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, New York. (Courtesy Borscht Belt Museum via JTA)
July 26, 2024, 1:19 pm
A museum exhibit on Jewish food and humor puts the ‘borscht’ in Borscht Belt
Running at the Borscht Belt Museum in Ellenville, NY, through November, ‘And Such Small Portions!’ reflects a bygone era where guests found comfort in food, laughs and one another
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
First responders tackle a fire at the Nevele Grand Hotel, near the Catskills town of Ellenville, March 19, 2024. (Courtesy/Eric Helgesen via JTA)
April 2, 2024, 9:51 pm
The Borscht Belt is burning: In the Catskills, abandoned resorts keep catching fire
Firefighters also work to extinguish rumors that blazes are ‘Jewish lightning,’ an antisemitic term used for arson committed with the intention of collecting an insurance payout
By Luke Tress
An undated image shows the outdoor pool of the Pines resort in South Fallsburg, New York. (Courtesy/Steingart associates via the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project)
April 29, 2023, 1:44 am
New projects aim to keep Borscht Belt memory alive with historical markers, museum
This summer in the Catskills, programs will place plaques in town centers, open pop-up exhibits, hold a festival and comedy show to commemorate and celebrate Jewish heyday
By Luke Tress
Friars Club dean Freddie Roman poses for photos at the Friars Club Roast of Don Rickles at the Waldorf Astoria on June 24, 2013 in New York. (Greg Allen/Invision/AP)
November 28, 2022, 10:49 am
Comedian Freddie Roman, a Borscht Belt icon, dies at age 85
Born Fred Kirschenbaum, the longtime stand-up comic and former dean of The Friars Club is remembered by friends as ‘the ultimate pro with the biggest heart’
By Lindsey Bahr
Novelist Elyssa Friedland with her new book, 'The Most Likely Club.' (Courtesy)
September 9, 2022, 12:04 pm
Podcast: After writing the great Jewy-American novel, author Elyssa Friedland’s back
This week, the ‘Last Summer at the Golden Hotel’ and ‘Floating Feldmans’ author releases her newest work and tells us all about it. NEW: Full transcript included
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Illustrative: In the 1950s, during the heyday of this Catskills bungalow colony, 10 women shared the single kitchen. (Courtesy Paula Goldberg via JTA)
April 20, 2021, 5:48 am
Meet the 27-year-old amplifying the sounds of the Borscht Belt
‘Borscht Beat’ radio host Aaron Bendich recalls the heyday of the Jewish vacationland in upstate New York — and gives notes on six of his favorite songs, too
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of the 'Eat to Live' series and founder of the 'nutritarian' lifestyle (Courtesy)
September 29, 2016, 11:24 am
With Borscht-Belt humor, nutrition guru promotes a healthy, unsweetened New Year
In his serious one-man crusade against the diet industry, Dr. Joel Fuhrman uses humor to gain steam, even as his followers lose weight
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
A postcard depicting Kutsher’s Hotel in 1955. (JTA/Flickr Commons)
July 1, 2015, 10:16 am
Jewish resort Kutsher’s to become yoga retreat
Indian billionaire plans to turn site that inspired ‘Dirty Dancing’ movie into wellness center
By JTA
Howie Mandel is among the funny men and women interviewed. (photo credit: Courtesy Alan Zweig)
June 2, 2014, 3:11 pm
So, nu? Are Jews still funny?
Alan Zweig’s documentary ‘When Jews Were Funny’ is one part history lesson, two parts conversation on assimilation
By Debra Kamin
May 16, 2014, 3:15 am
Borscht Belt resort, Kutsher’s, to face wrecking ball
Last such hotel in the Catskills to be demolished to make room for wellness retreat
By JTA
October 5, 2012, 6:12 pm
Irving Cohen, maitre d’ of Concord Hotel in Catskills, dies at 95
Beloved Borscht Belt worker earned reputation as ‘King Cupid’ for his matchmaking skills
From the WebApril 17, 2012, 10:03 am
Lou Goldstein, Borscht Belt master of Simon Says, dies at 90
The New York Times: His acts appeared on national television and at major sporting events’ halftime shows
April 17, 2012, 9:46 am
Former Brown’s Hotel in Catskills burns down
Brown’s was among the more popular Borscht Belt resorts
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