Historical Component 2

By Cara S. Trager. Cara S. Trager is a free-lance (1990, July 7). LIVING IN: WEST HEMPSTEAD There is comfort, friendliness, and lot of good sports :[ALL EDITIONS]. Newsday (Combined Editions). Retrieved September 30, 2007, from Newsday database.(DocumentID: 77377292). http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=77377292&sid=13&Fmt=3&clientId=55107&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This article from Newsday was written in 1990. While some things about West Hempstead are very different then they were when this was written, many things are still the same. A certain family said that when they moved in to the neighborhood in the 1970s, they loved the friendly neighbors and the big backyards for their children to play in. West Hempstead was and is very child friendly. It discusses the many activities set up in the community for the children to participate in. There is little league softball for both boys and girls starting from age eight. The public library started reading programs as well as periodical trips to cultural exhibits. Also at this time, the school district set up programs for children 14 and over to learn foreign languages. The community also attracts many different cultures and religions due to the establishment of a Roman Catholic school and a Jewish day school. It was uncommon to find a house for over $300,000 whereas now it’s almost impossible to find a decent sized house for under $600,000. West Hempstead doesn’t have many houses to rent, but rather to buy since it never was a fleeting population. It also gives a few demographics from 1989 such as population, average age and income.

Thomas Frank. STAFF WRITER (1999, November 28). Getting into the Swim / Orthodox seek same-sex hours :[NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]. Newsday (Combined Editions), p. A03. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from Newsday database. (DocumentID: 46685820). http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=46685820&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=55107&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This article was written in 1999, concerning the community of West Hempstead. It shows how the Orthodox Jewish community in West Hempstead has expanded. The topic of this article is about same sex swimming hours in the public pool in West Hempstead. Many Jews feel it a violation of the Jewish tradition to have men and women swim together, since there is an issue of dressing modestly. This article is a perfect example how this Jewish community has developed from being modern orthodox, to a more right wing orthodoxy over the years. West Hempstead Civic Association vice president Seth Bykofsky proposed that they make certain separate hours for men and women to swim in order to accommodate the growing Jewish community. He said that it isn’t fair that a large part of the population is being excluded from a community facility just because of their religious beliefs. While many people think that this a good idea, some people think that it’s discrimination and public services should not only accommodate certain religious groups. In response to that argument, they say it isn’t discrimination because other members would also be welcome to swim with their same gender. While this matter was discussed almost eight years ago, nothing has been done but maybe the Jewish population will increase even more that the pool will accommodate them.