The Borscht Belt resorts were abandoned long ago. These signs point to a brighter future.

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Our culture reporter Irene Katz Connelly traveled to Mountain Dale, New York – once a thriving Borscht Belt hotspot – to see how a new trail of historical markers are paying tribute to a Jewish vacation hub and aiming to spur Catskills tourism.

Rise and fall: Borscht Belt resorts launched the careers of comedians including Lenny Bruce and Joan Rivers, dominated the regional economy and shaped the rhythm of life for locals: many grew up valeting cars for tourists and spotting celebrities at the hotels. But in the later part of the 20th century, as antisemitic discrimination eased and airplane travel got cheaper, the resorts shuttered. 

‘Permanent map of our history’: Marisa Scheinfeld, whose grandparents vacationed in the Catskills for decades, grew up witnessing that decline. In 2016, she compiled a photo book of decrepit dining rooms, overgrown pools, and rotting Adirondack chairs. Now she’s launched the Borscht Belt Marker Project.

Tourist boom: Locals are already anticipating how new interest in Borscht Belt history could boost the economy. Dara Manzi, who grew up in the area and started a bus transportation company during the pandemic, hopes to offer tours as more markers are installed — and bring customers to local businesses along the way. “They’re gonna have to eat, they’re gonna have to drink, they’re gonna have to sleep somewhere,” she said of prospective tourists.

Meanwhile: A new Borscht Belt museum in Ellenville, New York, had its inaugural festival last month and is open with special summer pop-up exhibits on resort culture and artist Morris Katz. “We’re tapping into this zeitgeist moment,” the museum’s Andrew Jacobs told our colleagues at the New York Jewish Week, pointing to the popularity of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Dept of corrections: In Wednesday’s newsletter, we misstated what security experts are suggesting synagogues do amid a wake of fake bomb threats. They have not suggested shuls stop live streaming services. 

Netanyahu has resisted internal and external pressure to moderate. Can IDF reservists change that? Thousands of Israeli air force reservists have stopped reporting for duty in protest of the actions of Netanyahu’s far-right government. “The anger is very sincere,”  said Ephraim Sneh, a retired IDF Brigadier General. “They say we cannot serve a dictatorial regime. They say this is not the state that we fought for, and that our parents fought for.” Read the story ➤

Related: At protests in Israel, cries for democracy mix with vendors hawking popsicles and soft pretzels.

Opinion | Why did two pro-Palestinian protesters who beat up Jews get sentenced to visit a museum? Jewish groups were hoping for prison time, but our columnist Rob Eshman says  “the sentence was fair, maybe even a little harsh” because of clarifying facts that came to light long after the incident. He asks: “Did Jewish groups and politicians, fueled by superheated social media and a worrying upswing in antisemitism, turn a street fight into a pogrom?” Read his essay ➤

Plus…

• New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to travel to Israel on Monday in a visit focused on technology and combatting antisemitism.
  
  
• Headline of the week award: These bodaciously herbaceous Jewish ingredients just might make you cuckoo for kuku.

On this day in history (1920): The 19th Amendment was ratified, granting women in the U.S. the right to vote. Here’s a look at two Jewish suffragists who are often forgotten.

Thousands of Hasidic men converged for the funeral of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe in Borough Park, Brooklyn, on Wednesday. He was 92.

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Thanks to Irene Katz Connelly, Rebecca Salzhauer and Talya Zax for contributing to today’s newsletter. You can reach the “Forwarding” team at editorial@forward.com.