Looking Back: August 24, 2012
100 Years Ago
1912 According to New York City District Attorney Charles Whitman, detectives have located Louis “Lefty Louie” Rosenberg, who is one of the suspects wanted for the murder of casino owner Herman “Beansie” Rosenthal. The DA told reporters that he anticipates that “Lefty” will be in police custody by the next week. Reporters have conjectured that Rosenberg will appear of his own volition, while others claim that detectives are tracking him. In the meantime, Whitman said that the first trials related to this case will be that of Charles Becker. He was the New York City Police captain who was indicted after Rosenthal went public with allegations that he extorted money from casino and brothel owners.
75 Years Ago
1937 A Jewish mother, Anna Eisenberg of Union Street in Brooklyn, had her own son subpoenaed to a federal courthouse on the charge that he falsified information on his passport application in hopes that he would be able to return to Spain to continue fighting for the Republican Army. Her son, 20-year-old Abraham Eisenberg, returned to the United States after being wounded on the Spanish front. After recovering, he is itching to get back to fight the fascists. But because anyone under 21 must have his or her parents’ permission to obtain a passport, he forged an application under the name “Julius Lieberman,” a federal crime. When his mother wasn’t able to talk him out of returning to Spain, she called in the feds. Abraham Eisenberg is currently in jail, awaiting trial.
50 Years Ago
1962 Two Jewish accountants, Mirsky and Shtifzin, were sentenced to death in the Soviet Union. Mirsky worked for Soyuzpetshat, the organization that distributes Soviet periodicals, and Shtifzin worked for Izamuzgizh, a Ukrainian publisher of music and art books. Both were accused of sending large royalty payments to a number of nonexistent authors whom, according to the Soviet court, the two men invented. As a result, the highest Ukrainian court sentenced them to death. Soviet observers say that the number of Jews arrested and tried on charges of speculation has been increasing. Moreover, the Soviet press emphasizes Jewish crimes, and, it has been noted, Jewish felons receive tougher sentences than gentiles
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
