Bronx walking tour explores forgotten Jewish history

The Fordham Center for Jewish Studies organized a “Jewish life” walking tour in the Bronx to highlight the neighborhood’s historical Jewish roots. Led by licensed city guide and physician David Herszenson, the tour explored the area near Fordham University, focusing on sites that once served the community.

Participants visited landmarks such as former synagogues, businesses, and movie theaters. Herszenson noted that the Bronx was once referred to as the “Jewish borough,” noting that the South Bronx was majority Jewish for a period of time. The tour highlighted subtle architectural remnants, such as Jewish stars embedded in the stonework of buildings that have since been repurposed, including the Love Gospel Assembly, which sits on the site of the former Concourse Center of Israel.