The late nineteenth and early twentieth century witnessed a rise in organized crime in New York City. Pickpockets, extortionists, armed robbers, bootleggers, gamblers and contract killers were commonplace not only in the notorious Five Points neighborhood, but also in the growing Jewish ghetto of the Lower East Side. As more Orthodox Jews settled in the area, so did unscrupulous and vicious gangs of Jewish Gangsters! These not so nice Jewish boys who loved their mothers and grew up attending Synagogue, also poisoned horses, robbed and torched pushcarts, sold illegal whiskey and drugs and were some of the best hit men in organized crime.

Your guide, Bradley Shaw will shed light and fill you in on the Jews of this dark aspect of New York's past, including such notorious gangsters such as Arnold Rothstein, Meyer Lansky and Bugsy Siegel, whose criminal activities extended to Atlantic City, Miami, Cuba and Las Vegas. All of their stories began on the Lower East Side of New York. We will examine where these leaders of the Jewish underworld began their nefarious activities. Along the way we will analyze questions of morality, power and assimilation.

Bradley, your guide on this journey, was born on the Lower East Side, has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College and is a licensed NYC tour guide. He will share with us his love of the neighborhood and passion for its history. He has been a docent, walking tour guide and manager at the Museum at Eldridge Street for more than four years, as well as guiding for the LESJC.

Tickets are $30 for Adults, $28 for Seniors, and $25 for students. There is an additional $3 PP the day of the tour, pending availability as registration will be capped at 40 people.

There is a significant amount of walking on this tour and we go RAIN OR SHINE so please dress accordingly.

If the group is large enough, we will be using a free phone app that enables you to better hear the guide. Please bring your headphones/earbuds and make sure that your phone is fully charged.

United States Events , New York Events , Things To Do In New York, NY, New York Tours , New York Community Tours

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