BOOK REVIEW: FLOWERS IN THE DESERT
Author: Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
Review by: Suri Davis
I placed a new coffe table book in my home right before the holidays, and figured in between my preparing meals, I would sit with it and read it. I had to fight for the book. It turned out to be a new center of gravity in my home over the holidays.
My parents were over for Sukkoth, my kids were back from school. As each sat in my living room, they gravitated towards this new coffee table book, Flowers in the Desert. Most of the time, people scan coffee table books, not so this one. It is a fascinating historical compilation of the history of Jewish heritage in the Five Towns, produced by the Jewish Heritage Society of the Five Towns.
I have been here all my life, went to TAG, and davened in the Five Town shuls. I am sentimental and love to reminisce. I love learning history, especially that which is relevant to me. The book is rich in history and photographs of those who pioneers of the Five Towns. The pillars of this community. The book was a source of conversation among our three generations, which became four generations, when my niece came with her children, and her eldest took an interest in the book and was reading it with my mother.
It is a fascinating book. Looking now at how rich our Jewish community is, one would never have guessed at its origins. We have the ability now, because we have grown, to become insular and isolate ourselves among ourselves, and that is a shame, but it is also, for some, a privilege, the ability to go back to the insulated shtetl, where there is only us, who look like us and act like us.
Our community forefathers, like Rabbi Binyomin Kamenetzky, Rabbi Ralph Pelcovitz, Rabbi Emanuel Rackman, Rabbi Gilbert Klapperman, were bridge builders with the community and its politicians. It is because of them that the politicians today even give us an eye.
I have memories of a Cedarhurst without a kosher restaurant. There were two kosher eateries in Far Rockaway I remember, one was a pizza store with pinball machines, and the other was Karmel’s takeout. We still have one Karmel family member in our community in Far Rockaway, Mrs. Jeanette Baruch. Her parents, AH, were so kind.
I remember Toddys in Far Rockawy, when it was the size of a double telephone booth. I remember the movie theatre which is now Judaica Plus and office suites. For those who have lived here long, it is a sweet walk down memory lane. For those who are new, it is a great and wonderful history lesson, replete with pictures of well known greats of the community.
I am savoring the book, reading it slowly. Of course I cheated by skimming the book first, looking at the pictures and bits and pieces of outline. It is a rich and lovely book and I recommend it highly for all residents in every generation.
Yasher Koach to Rabbi Kamenetzky and the Heritage Society for their tireless work in compiling this beautiful and important book.
The book can be purchased in the local book stores.