Kiryas Joel is a tight-knit village of Yiddish-speaking Satmar Hasidic Jews. Grand Rebbe Joel Teitelbaum and some of his followers chose the location in the 1970s to develop a self-reliant community guided by traditional values a comfortable 55 miles north of New York City. Nicknamed KJ, Kiryas Joel was incorporated into the town of Monroe before splitting off into the newly created town of Palm Tree in 2019. The village’s 2023 population estimate was around 42,000, representing a 27% increase since the 2020 US Census.
Residents choose from apartments and condos
Kiryas Joel’s housing consists almost entirely of apartment and condo complexes. Several were developed in 2020 or later. Residences are spread uniformly throughout the village. Spanning only 1.5 square miles, Kiryas Joel has a dense population. Homes rarely enter the public market, with most of the village’s growth being internal. A few ranch-style and two-story Colonial Revival homes lie on the community’s edge on Schunnemunk Road.
Bais Rochel School and private religious schools
Students are zoned for the Kiryas Joel Village Union Free School District, which is unrated by Niche. The district was created solely to instruct special education students without violating Hasidic customs. Most students attend the community’s roughly two dozen private religious schools, including D-minus-rated Bais Rochel School, which serves girls from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Kashrut-friendly cuisine in Kiryas Joel
Thanks to KJ’s compact size, residents are within walking distance of kosher grocery stores, bakeries, boutiques, yeshivas and Jewish houses of worship. Additionally, diners can choose from various kashrut-compliant eateries, such as Yossi’s Café & Restaurant, known for its pizzas, salads and sweet treats.
Satmar Main Shul is one of the town’s primary synagogues. Major holidays celebrated in town include Lag B’Omer and Pesach, or Passover.
Close to highways and 55 miles from New York City
U.S. Route 6 bounds the city to the south, running 2.5 miles east to Interstate 87. Via Palisades Interstate Parkway, Manhattan is about a 55-mile drive south, which makes for between a one- to two-hour commute. Residents can visit Aizer Health Center for routine checkups and Rambam Urgent Care in the event of an emergency. Both are located on the south end of the village. About 15 miles north, New York Stewart International Airport offers flights to select destinations primarily in the eastern United States.
Outdoor opportunities in Kiryas Joel
Gonzaga Park lies just outside town, with walking trails leading to scenic vistas and an abandoned chapel. Across U.S. 6, residents let their canines enjoy leash-free play at Smith Clove Dog Park or stroll down the forested trail at Orange & Rockland Park.
Kiryas Joel experiences four seasons: humid summers and cold, snowy winters.
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