April 16, 2010
100 Years Ago in the Forward
Molly and Michael Greenberg, 19 and 20 years old, respectively, were arrested at their New York City apartment on Allen Street and are being held on $5,000 bail on the charge that they ran a brothel and duped young women into performing “immoral” acts. They were also accused of running a school at which young boys were taught how to pick pockets and steal. The pair was caught after a teenager from Forsyth Street, Rose Levy, disappeared. Levy’s older sister suspected Michael Greenberg and called police. Detectives broke into the Greenbergs’ apartment and found Levy hidden under a bed. She told police that she had to service men brought in by the Greenbergs, and that young boys frequently brought them their earnings from the street robberies they committed.
75 Years Ago in the Forward
If one looks at a typical editorial these days in one of New York’s African-American newspapers, he or she might easily find such a comment as: “Let us follow the example of the Jews. Look how the Jews among us are united. Look how conscious they are of racial issues. Look how proud the Jews are. Look how they have raised themselves up in such a short time. Look at the significant role they play in public life. Let us follow the example of the Jews.” As Jews, we know that this is all an exaggeration; that we are not at all united; that most Jews are not racially conscious, nor do they take pride in being Jews or in the fact that there are millions of poor Jews. But considering their position in society, one cannot fault the Harlem African Americans for being jealous of New York Jews.
50 Years Ago in the Forward
Under the watchful eyes of Arab Legion soldiers, Arab excavators began digging next to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, apparently searching for treasures left over from the Second Temple period. The Jordanian press reports that the dig is taking place under the guidance of John Allegro, a professor at the University of Manchester, together with archaeologists from the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. The search for these treasures is being made in accordance with information found in recently released Dead Sea Scrolls that says valuable items were buried in the Temple before the Romans destroyed it. The archaeological dig is taking place under armed guard because fanatical Muslims consider digging in that area to be forbidden.
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