Historic event1930s–1940s
Frankfurt on the Hudson: Washington Heights' German-Jewish refugees
Thousands of German Jews escaped Nazism in the 1930s and 1940s and settled in Washington Heights, earning it a nickname from a book by Steven Lowenstein.
Wikipedia’s Washington Heights article says the neighborhood saw an influx of German Jews escaping Nazism in the 1930s and 1940s, and that the history is documented in Steven M. Lowenstein’s 1989 book Frankfurt on the Hudson: The German-Jewish Community of Washington Heights, 1933–1983. The title refers to the many refugees who came from Frankfurt.
The article says one attraction was likely the area’s existing Eastern European Jewish presence, and another was its abundant housing from the early 20th century building boom. Some congregations were founded by German Jewish immigrants during that flight, such as the Conservative Fort Tryon Jewish Center, while Khal Adath Jeshurun, an Orthodox congregation, was started by Rabbi Joseph Breuer.
The community’s best-known members include Henry Kissinger and Ruth Westheimer, who also have their own entries in this guide.