OFFICIAL BOOK WEBSITE

www.borschtbeltbook.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

“On the deserted grounds of these former retreats I have found an enchanting solitude—a seclusion that is empty and uncontrolled. Yet the stillness is deceptive. What appears to be abandoned is actually full of life and activity. One act of animated history has ended, but, as any visitor to these sites quickly learns, new acts have begun. Guest rooms have become sanctuaries for birds. Leafy ferns have pushed their way through foundations and floors. Overgrown shrubs and tangled weeds have swallowed staircases.”—from the Prologue.  

Today the Borscht Belt is recalled through the nostalgic lens of summer swims, Saturday night dances and comedy performances. But its current state, like that of many other formerly glorious regions, is nothing like its earlier status. Forgotten about and exhausted, much of its structural environment has been left to decay. The Borscht Belt, which features essays by Stefan Kanfer and Jenna Weissman Joselit, presents Marisa Scheinfeld's photographs of abandoned sites where resorts, hotels and bungalow colonies once boomed in the Catskill Mountain region of upstate New York. 

The book assembles images Scheinfeld has shot inside and outside locations that once buzzed with life as year-round havens for generations of people. Some of the structures have been lying abandoned for periods ranging from four to twenty years, depending on the specific hotel, or bungalow colony, and the conditions under which it closed. Other sites ave since been demolished, or repurposed, making this book an even more significant documentation of a pivotal era in American Jewish history. 

The Borscht Belt, presents a contemporary view of more than forty hotel and bungalow sites. From entire expanses of abandoned properties to small lots containing drained swimming pools, the remains of the Borscht Belt era now lie forgotten, overgrown and vacant. In the absence of human activity, nature has reclaimed the sites, having encroached upon or completely overtaken them. Many of the interiors have been vandalized or marked by paintball players and graffiti artists. Each ruin lies radically altered by the elements and effects of time. Scheinfeld's images record all of these developments. Check out the book's official website at www.borschtbeltbook.com.

A traveling exhibition accompanies this book and is available by contacting Marisa directly. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & CONTRIBUTORS

Marisa Scheinfeld's photography has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is among the collections of The Center for Jewish History, The National Yiddish Book Center, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, and The Edmund and Nancy K. Dubois Library at the Museum of Photographic Arts. 

Stefan Kanfer is a contributing editor of City Journal and the author of A Summer World: The Attempt to Build a Jewish Eden in the Catskills, from the Days of the Ghetto to the Rise and Decline of the Borscht Belt.

Jenna Weissman Joselit is Charles E. Smith Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of History at The George Washington University, where she also directs two graduate programs in Jewish cultural arts. She is the author of The Wonders of America: Reinventing Jewish Culture, 1880-1950 and A Perfect Fit: Clothes, Character, and the Promise of America. 

BUY THE BOOK

Books can be ordered at Amazon, Barnes and Noble or found at your local independent bookstore.

BORSCHT BELT HISTORICAL MARKER PROJECT

In 2022, Marisa founded the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project, with a group of artists and historians. The group is dedicated to commemorating the history of the Borscht Belt, a celebrated era in American Jewish life, American culture and Catskill history. Their mission is the creation of a large-scale historic marker trail that permanently cements the famed era in its physical place while paying tribute to its legacy. Enhanced by photographs and QR codes, when complete the 20-marker trail will be united by a self-guided audio driving tour.

The Marker Project is designed to engage both those who lived through the Borscht Belt era and those newly intrigued by its history. By blending traditional historic markers with modern elements like QR codes and multimedia, the project strives to create an immersive experience that appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Beyond guiding visitors through a literal roadmap of history, the Marker Project, along with its accompanying public programs rolled out at each historic marker dedication, fosters community engagement, a sense of social connection, and deepens the relationship citizens and visitors have with the region's vibrant past.

Beyond guiding visitors through a literal roadmap of history, the Marker Project, along with its accompanying public programs rolled out at each historic marker dedication, fosters community engagement, a sense of social connection, and deepens the relationship citizens and visitors have with the region's vibrant past.

When completed (estimated in 2026), the permanent marker trail, along with its audio tour, will encourage visitors to explore the landscape and discover the various towns that were central to the Borscht Belt era. Prior to this initiative, there were no historical markers commemorating the Borscht Belt era.

As of late 2024, the group has installed nine historical markers, with six more planned for 2025. Marker dedications will continue into 2026 until the trail is completed.

The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project goes beyond just markers. It includes a variety of initiatives such as film screenings, exhibitions, bus tours, and events celebrating authors, literature, comedy, music, and more. Additionally, we are creating a self-guided audio driving tour. All public programs associated with the historic marker dedications are free. Our goal is to combine history and adventure, offering an immersive, educational community experience while fostering economic growth and tourism in the region.

Visit www.maytheborschtbewithyou.org for more information.