Would I be the only Jew in NEPA?

[cjseliga]

I went to and graduated from Abington Heights in the early 90's and in my graduating class of 220, we had about 25 to 30 Jewish people, many were my friends. Like mentioned before there is a large Orthodox Jewish population in the Hill section in Scranton. All the Jewish people in my class were Reform not Orthodox. I would think that there's a fair number of Jewish families living in the Abingtons.

[memoriesbre]

I grew up in Brooklyn/Queens right near Howard Beach. The big majority of people were Jewish and Italian/Catholic...

You will be fine here!!!

One word of caution: Watch out for Stroudsburg. It isn't like we remember it when we use to come for summer vacation years ago.

Welcome to PA!!
PS: The more NY/Jewish folks moving to PA may bring us some really good bagels. I sometimes get the bagels from H&H in the city. Yummy!!!

[pemn]

Hi,
Having grown up in Wilkes-Barre, PA (my mother still lives in that area), I can tell you that there is a pretty solid Jewish community there. I'm not familiar with Milford, but if you're not already committed to that particular town, you might consider Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding "suburbs" of Kingston and Dallas. Temple Israel in Wilkes-Barre is the conservative synagogue (that's where I was affiliated), and its current Rabbi, Rabbi Larry Kaplan, is a delight. He is probably the most down-to-earth, genuinely kind, lives-what-he-preaches Rabbi I have ever met. The Orthodox synagogue, O'hav Zedek, is a short walk from Temple Israel. The Reform synagogue, B'Nai Brith, is just across the river in Kingston. There is a very viable Jewish Community Center, and they offer a wonderful summer day camp program for preschool through middle school. Living closer to a city now as I do, every time I return to the Wyoming Valley area (that's how the WB-Kingston area is known), I recognize how much slower the pace of life in NE PA is. But that has a definite appeal, especially with the insane growth in real estate and abhorrently heavy traffic other suburbs are experiencing.

[pemn]

My observation about racial diversity is that while it was virtually non-existent when I grew up there in the 60s/70s, there's just a little more diversity now. However, there are plenty of like-minded (liberal) Jews there, and there are a number of inter-faith families.

[Sofa King]

I'm Jewish. I would say a conservative Reform Jew. My husband is not, but we raise our children Jewish. We live in the Wyoming Valley and there are several synagogues here for you to chose from (depending on your traditions/practice and where you feel most comfortable) and an active Jewish community.

I'd say my experience is that although I hope my kids grow up with broader minds than the generation that preceeds them with regards to diversity, I'm fairly comfortable with our community in that regard. In fact, I've been pleasantly surprised in recent years.

[MichaelMarinelli]

Originally Posted by memoriesbre

PS: The more NY/Jewish folks moving to PA may bring us some really good bagels.

Oh, I could only wish on that one....I miss goooooood bagels!