The Jewish Mafia of the Early 20th Century

The big winners from the Prohibition era became America’s gangsters. Large bootlegging operations led by tough Irish, Italian, and Jewish mobsters arose to service the thirsty. Income from the bootlegging industry ran into hundreds of millions of dollars. From the beginning of the era of prohibition through World War II, Jewish mobsters ruled New York and much of the country.

There were hundreds, if not thousands, of Jewish toughs from mob bosses through enforcers, gunmen, and bootleggers. This program focuses on these unusual and often controversial gangsters. We will examine the myths, stories, and events of this perilous period of Jewish American history.

Monday, October 13 & 20, 1:15pm • $25/2 sessions