The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County is currently showcasing an exhibit titled “300 Years of Jewish Business,” featuring the generational success of Jewish businesses on Long Island. Over 100 artifacts and photographs from more than 60 Long Island businesses are on display, highlighting the historical significance of Jewish business on Long Island.
Brad Kolodny, the president of the Jewish Historical Society of Long Island, explained that the exhibit aims to shed light on the overlooked Jewish history on Long Island, as many Jewish people moved to Long Island from crowded areas in the Lower East Side to seek better living conditions and job opportunities.
The exhibit showcases a variety of artifacts, including an ice pick, tongs, and saw from the first ice manufacturer in Amityville in the 1890s, a 13-foot sign from the old Lang’s Shoe Store from 1937, and a menu from a restaurant in St. James where a few cents could get you a full meal. The exhibit also highlights the story of a bootlegger from Glen Cove, who owned a liquor store and started manufacturing and selling alcohol illegally after prohibition was passed.
The exhibit provides visitors with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how Jewish people have thrived on Long Island before, during, and after the Holocaust. Dana Arschin, a spokesperson for the museum, stated that visitors can explore the horrors and history of the Holocaust and then end on an uplifting note by learning about the success of Jewish people on Long Island.
The exhibit is open to the public until September and more information can be found at www.hmtcli.org.
