Introduction

Lawrence, New York is a village on the south shore of Long Island about 20 miles east of Manhattan and makes up one-fifth of the area known as the Five Towns. For the past few decades Lawrence and the rest of the Five Towns have seen a large increase in the Orthodox Jewish community. There are many aspects to the Five Towns that attract this ever growing community. First off, there are an abundance of synagogues for each family to choose from and plethora of strictly kosher grocery stores, butchers, bakeries and restaurants to enjoy. There are also a number of Orthodox private schools for children to attend. With so many advantages to a Religious Orthodox family it is no surprise that the community is growing at such a high rate. This influx of Jews carries with it many effects on the neighborhood. The religious principles of Orthodox Jews has raised real estate prices and in turn reduced diversity in Lawrence.

Thesis statement and supporting points

The beliefs of religious orthodox Jews in Lawrence have raised real estate prices and in turn reduced the diversity in the area.

1. Proximity to synagogues, religious schools and kosher food is a must for orthodox Jewish families.

2. Real estate prices have risen and diversity has fallen.

Interview with Diane Berger

1. Hi. What’s your name?

-Diane Berger

2. Where do you live?

-Jorgan Street in Lawrence

3. How long have you lived there?

-20 years

4. Tell me something about your family.

-My husband and I have 5 children

5. How old are your children?

-They range from 29-12

6. So you already had children when you moved into the community?

-Yes, we moved into house a month before our 4th child way born

7. What made you look at this community?

-There where a number of orthodox synagogues and yeshiva day schools [orthodox Jewish private schools] for our children. Also the proximity to the long island railroad is convenient for my husband’s commute to the city.

8. How has the neighborhood changed since you moved here 20 years ago?

-More and more orthodox Jews are moving in. more orthodox synagogues are opening. Many stores are closed on sat and open on Sunday to accommodate the orthodox Jewish population. The enrollment in the public school system has gone down and public schools have been consolidated. The prices of homes and our taxes have gone up.

9. Would you consider moving to a different community where the price of owning a home is less?

-No because here I have my shul [synagogue] in walking distance, the school for my children and all of our kosher needs.

Two sources from QC database system

DUBOW, By J. B. "In Five Towns, Orthodox Community Booms." New York Times (1857-Current file) Jun 21 1998: LI2.

In this article the author describes the flourishing Jewish community in Lawrence and the rest of the Five Towns. She discusses how with growing families many people are doing construction to extend their houses. She also describes how shops and businesses are changing their policies to cater to the growing Jewish community.

Woodmere, L. I., and By V. KELLERMAN. "A Rural Ambiance Close to Queens." New York Times (1857-Current File) Aug 11 1996: RCW5.

In this article the author talks about the Orthodox Jewish community in the Five Towns. She describes how the proximity to synagogues and kosher food is a draw to Orthodox Jews. She also discusses how this influx of Jews has raised real estate prices and hurt the public school system.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Chapter 15

In chapter 15 Jacobs discusses what she refers to as the vicious cycle of slums. This cycle is created by urban renewal projects. They try to replace the slums with other projects but the slums just move on to another place. In order to truly help the slums and the people there we need develop the area. She says that the problem with slums is that people move in and out to quickly. It is like there is a revolving door that never stops. If the area was developed better then people would stay and could form a community. With a constant population more businesses and diversity would move into the area. It would take time but this is how a slum could fix itself.

The Death and Life of Great American Cities - Chapter 13

In chapter 13 Jane Jacobs discusses how diversity will inevitably negatively affect a neighborhood. She describes how economic opportunities help create diversity and create these successful neighborhoods and cities. Now with this influx of people there is a lot of competition and less opportunity or each business to succeed. People will then leave in search of the next up and coming neighborhood and better economic stability. This is the natural order of life of cities. They will have times when lots of people move in and there is a diverse thriving community and there will be times when good opportunities are harder to find and people move out of the community.

DRS - Built 2001

I finished elementary school and now it was time to move on to the real deal, high school. The high school for our elementary school, D.R.S., was established only shortly before I finished elementary school. They had just graduated their first class when my class was joining. At the time they were renting space for school. Not only was the building small, but we were sharing it with a preschool. Our student lounge doubled as a class room, our auditorium served as our lunch room and a class room as well. I even remember times when a class would have to meet on the front stairs because no class room was open at that time. The building had no gym or computer room. Our basketball team had to travel and rent space for practice and games. Our computer classes were also taking place off campus.

Then in 2001, towards the end of my first year, the new building was completed. This building contained its own gym and computer room. The lunch room was just simply a lunch room. Class rooms were larger and more spacious. The new building changed my high school experience completely. The gym became my best friend. When a teacher wasn’t there that day or I simply had a free period, there was a place for me to spend my free time. If a class was going on in the gym then there was always the computer room. The series of computers connected to the same network allowed for some amazing team action shooting games.

My high school years were my most enjoyable years of my life. My friends from high school are still some of my closest friends today. When we all get together to hang out we still can’t do it without reminiscing about our days in D.R.S. The school defined who I am today and will always be apart of me.