Comparison: Washington Heights and Rego Park

From Decoding New York

Some may believe that two neighborhoods like Rego Park and Washington Heights couldn’t possibly have anything in common. After all, the differences are abundant. For instance, Rego Park is composed of primarily Bukharian Jews, whereas Washington Heights has a predominantly Christian Hispanic population. Furthermore, these two groups not only come from different areas of the globe but have what appear to be completely dissimilar histories. Yet if one takes the time to really look closely into the two groups’ experiences in the United States, it becomes clear that they have more in common than initially thought. In fact, many immigrant groups can relate to one another because of the hardships, isolations, and also triumphs that immigrants have to face as they settle in the United States.

Although Washington Heights is currently considered a Hispanic neighborhood, it was at one time an area which was populated by a significant number of Soviet Jews who made the neighborhood their own through Georgian restaurants and shop signs written in Russian. Similarly, the Bukharian Jews residing presently in Rego Park make the neighborhood their own through Soviet influence on the neighborhood’s landscape and ambience. Both neighborhoods also at one point were home to countless Irish settlers in the early twentieth century.

When immigrants first arrive in the United States they lack the security and familiarity of their homeland. Thus to counteract the unbearable feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, immigrants from the same country or region “ban together” in neighborhoods where they can speak their native language and be offered helpful services from people who understand their language and culture—such is the case with the residents of Rego Park and Washington Heights. Hispanic residents of Washington Heights hold on to their roots from places like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Mexico by the many small shops with sign names in Spanish, and Hispanic-centered cuisine. The Bukharian Jewish population of Rego Park also maintains its Soviet identity—albeit this is an identity that isn’t exactly its own but was in many ways forced upon it—through the many Russian grocery stores, Bukharian restuarants, and store signs which may be entirely in Russian or may offer a combination of English and Russian writing.

The economies of both neighborhoods flourish in roughly the same way—through blocks upon blocks of small businesses catering to each population. Interestingly, one particular area of business that flourishes in both neighborhoods is ethnic fashion. Though one cannot say that Washington Heights stores like “Juanito Fashion,” which offer urban-centered fashion, cater to individuals who want traditional Hispanic dress, shops like these that offer clothing styles which many Hispanics adhere to, do support Hispanic culture. Likewise, in Rego Park, one or two shops were found that provide residents with the opportunity to buy traditional Bukharian dress for men and women.

And so, when one first takes a look at two different places it may seem impossible to compare two groups of people with unrelated languges, customs, and beliefs. However, as one explores beneath people’s unique superficial differences, what becomes apparent is that we are all alike in terms of our wish to survive and persevere wherever we may end up settling and living.

Rego Park: The predominance of the Jewish faith in the community is illustrated by some of the creations of a local bakery, such as the “Torah” cake. Photos by IM.

This section on Washington Heights and Rego Park developed by Irina Mullokandova, Karina Fatova, Quinn Marston.