A History of Jews in Boyle Heights

    Beginning in the 1880s, mass immigration of Jews, in outrageous numbers, began to flow from Germany and parts of Eastern Europe. The assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881 set off a wave of anti-Jewish riots, called pogroms.

The park

This led to strict enforcement of the requirement that all Jews must reside in the Pale Settlement, an area bordering on Germany, Austria, and Rumania. Further restrictions, persecutions, and pograms resulted in increasing numbers of Russian Jews deciding to emigrate to the United States.

    The immigrating Jews who arrived from Eastern Europe congregated on the East Coast and began to settle in the nearby eastern cities. During this time, while the eastern cities were establishing identity as centers of business and industry, on the West Coast today’s cities were still forming frontier towns. These frontier towns held little attraction for the urbanized Jewish immigrants.

Jewish cemetery

As the cities in the West became large enough to support industry, however, Jews came in large numbers. The benefits of a warmer climate and healthful surroundings were the main attraction. The Jewish population in Los Angeles had grown to 500 in 1870, representing six percent of the total population. By the turn of the century, when Temple Street had become the main Jewish center, the number had increased to 2,500.

    By 1920, the Jewish community had moved to the Boyle Heights area. Brooklyn Avenue was the heart and soul of the Jewish community. Brooklyn (now Cesar Chavez) and Soto Street, the main intersection, continued to grow through the 1940s and was crowded with stacks of newspapers, the cry of news boys hawking papers, bus traffic and the Jews’ favorite hangout, Curries Ice Cream. Evidence of the Jewish life on Brooklyn Avenue, Zellman’s Men’s &Boy’s Wear, located at 2806 Brooklyn, right before Cornwell Street, is the last Jewish-owned business remaining in the area .

    When the Jewish settlers arrived here they brought along their culture and traditions.

La Iglesia

Not satisfied with the Los Angeles society, the Jews decided to to form their own.

    They wanted to secure a separate cemetery where the deceased could be buried according to traditional Jewish practices. Secondly, they wanted to establish a shul that would carry out the Jewish tradition of charity . As a result, the Home of Peace Jewish cemetery, located at 4334 Whittier Boulevard, was built and is now part of the Jewish legacy of Boyle Heights. Also remaining is the famous Breed Street Shul located at the intersection of Breed and Brooklyn (Cesar Chavez).

    When the Jewish children of Boyle Heights returned from military service in World War II, they were able to buy homes with the help of the G.I Bill. Some initially lived in the multi-racial public housing units called Aliso Village and Estrada Courts, built in Boyle Heights just before the war. Boyle Heights had become an industrialized area, with over 26% of its area used for manufacturing.

Hollenbeck Park

While these factories were providing jobs that attracted new ethnic groups to the community, the young Jews wanted a different life. Jews went out in search of a better life and surroundings. They moved out and began to settle in the San Fernando Valley, Westchester, the West Side, Monterey Park, and other towns on the East Side. Boyle Heights, which was once known as a Jewish area, then primarily became Mexican-American. However, the Jewish establishments and historical background have become a part of history for Boyle Heights.

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For further information about Jewish museums, art galleries, schools, etc. visit this website:

For bus tours and information on purchasing the video "Meet Me at Brooklyn and Soto" visit: