Zach B., Yale University
In 1914, Joel Russ, a German Jewish immigrant opened his first store, selling Polish mushrooms, herring and salmon. Nearly one hundred years later, Joel’s shop still flourishes on the Lower East Side in New York City. Over time, this neighborhood’s demographic has changed multiple times, from the original Germans, to Yiddish speaking Jews, and more recently to Hispanic and Asian immigrants. Although the Jewish community has dwindled, its presence can still be felt through institutions like Russ and Daughters.
