The neighborhood that I’ve chosen is Borough Park, which happens to be one of the largest Jewish communities in New York. I have a personal connection with that place because my mother worked in that area for several years, and I remember going there with her when I was little. I’ve done a bit of research and I realized that this neighborhood has a lot of history and potential. Over 76,600 Jews live in Borough Park, and it is considered to be the “baby boom capital” due to the high birth rate. Another thing that grabbed my attention was the fact that while it consists of mostly Jews, the economic diversity is huge. I discovered that the wealthy, the middle class and the poor dwell in the same areas, attend the same schools and go to the same synagogues. This made me curious about how all residents interact. Does everyone see it as the perfect opportunity to put their status aside, learn from one another and grow together as a community? Or is it awkward for certain people, making it difficult for them to blend in?

What I like about this neighborhood is that it’s a lively place that’s always full of energy. Businesses and local stores are improving because of the huge population, and the public education system is very different. For instance, another interesting fact that I learned was that since most children attend Orthodox Jewish private schools, populations at public schools are so small that principals know almost all of the students by name.