Hastings Street.This iconic Detroit road was more than just a thoroughfare; it was a thriving community. For decades, Hastings Street and the surrounding area was known as Little Jerusalem, home to a growing population of immigrant Jews. Although Hastings is long demolished, the Jewish entrepreneurial spirit remains and thrives in the city.
The story of Hastings Street is one of many that illustrate the remarkable history of Jews in metro Detroit. It was once said, “Something lives only as long as the last person who remembers it.” By preserving photographs, historic documents and oral histories, we have an enduring – and growing – legacy to pass on and a road map for the future.