Looking Back: September 28, 2012
**100 Years Ago
1912 Seven young Jewish girls stood before the magistrate in Essex Market Court, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, on charges of running an illegal gambling ring out of Mrs. Rays’ Hairdressing Parlour, located on Second Avenue between Houston and First Streets. The police raid on the hairdressing parlor caused a huge sensation because it was done at the exact time that both Yiddish theaters, on each side of the parlor, were letting out. As a result, the arresting officers had an audience of at least 3,000 people, and reserves had to be called to the scene. The arrestees made a huge commotion, screaming and howling as they were put into the patrol wagon. Two of the women were further charged with disorderly conduct. Avrom Treibetz, purported to be the ringleader, was also arrested.
75 Years Ago
1937 When a bomb was thrown into a Socialist rally in Warsaw, Poland, earlier in September, it was assumed that the perpetrator was a fascist. But, in their wisdom, Warsaw police have concluded that it was actually a socialist and, what’s more, a Jew. The real bomber is part of a group that is also known to have thrown a bomb into a Bund youth club, wounding two young Jews. All Jewish newspapers and some Polish ones have condemned the bombing and have demanded that the police find the real perpetrator. Bund sympathizers worldwide have also written to the Polish government, demanding that it address the violence that has convulsed their country.
50 Years Ago
1962 The news that the United States is planning to sell missiles to Israel has brought forth great joy in the Jewish state, so much so that the newspaper Yediot Aharonot published an ersatz Rosh Hashanah card with a missile drawn on it that says “Happy New Year from President Kennedy.” The decision of America’s government to sell Israel the missiles is considered extremely important in order to help Israel maintain strong security, particularly in response to Gamal Abdel Nasser having increased Egypt’s military capability. Nasser, for his part, is apparently furious with the decision of the United States and cursed the president roundly.
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