Jewish Cultures of Rest and Recreation: Encounters in Spa Towns and Resorts

From Marienbad in today's Czech Republic to the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, spas and summer resorts have long been part of modern Jewish life. Jewish visitors helped shape these places into cosmopolitan spaces where unexpected encounters could occur. These spaces brought together both Jews and non-Jews, and Jews from diverse backgrounds with different beliefs and traditions, to meet, socialize, occasionally clash, and often exchange ideas. Jewish Cultures of Rest and Recreation visits these vibrant centers of social life, where visitors mingled and flirted with locals and fellow travelers, enjoyed leisure activities, and spent time with (or without) family.