Kuchelain

Kuchelain - during the rise of the tourism and hospitality industry of the Sullivan County Catskill mountain region, there was a large influx of Jewish summer vacationers. Discrimination and Anti-Semitism prevented them from staying at the already established resorts. Many struggling farmers began converting their farmhouses into large boarding houses. Their summer guests were often given kitchen privileges so that the Jewish mothers could prepare meals for their entire families. This popular type of arrangement became known as the "kuchelain," named after its translation, to "cook alone." However, the women were rarely alone in the communal kitchen, which was generally bustling as the center of activity. There were many opportunities to share & compare recipes; boast about whose latkes were the best and whose matzoh balls were the lightest; and gossip & interact about the news of the day.