ABSTRACT
To its Jewish residents, Newark has always been something of a paradox. Most of all, perhaps, the collective memories of its people seem focused on the sense of community that characterized Newark, one that they assert was unique and impossible to duplicate elsewhere. An old vaudeville joke characterized Newark as "the place where the Pullman porter comes in to brush someone off for New York." In modern times, Newark has suffered greatly from the 1967 riots that gave it an image of chaos and urban decay from which it has never quite recovered. Thousands of Newarkers worked in New York City, enjoyed its Broadway theaters and fine eating establishments, as well as its elegant shops and boutiques. Newark was buffeted by the winds of the American Revolution in much the same manner as the rest of the East Coast, and its residents fought with bravery and distinction in the Revolutionary War.
