The majority of Borough Park’s residents are Orthodox Jews. In fact, this neighborhood is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish communities outside of Israel.

In a 2010 New York Times article, Gregory Beyer wrote, “Religious tradition and ritual touch nearly every aspect of neighborhood life.” When I went there for a visit (in 2012), that was obvious in the nature of the many shops I saw lining the streets. And, as soon as I got off the subway at 50th Street, there was Hebrew and Yiddish everywhere.

According to a 2011 article in the Jewish Daily Forward, Orthodox parents in this neighborhood typically have at least five children. The ratio of baby carriages I saw to the number of adults walking around was very high!

I cannot exactly say I had fun on my excursion there. It was an interesting experience nonetheless.