KI to host author of “The Last Jewish Gangster”

From "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas" to countless books, movies and television shows, Americans have long been fascinated by organized crime. But one part of that history has largely faded from popular memory: the Jewish mob.

Myron Sugerman, author of "The Chronicles of the Last Jewish Gangster: From Meyer to Myron," will discuss the history of Jewish organized crime at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Kehilath Israel Synagogue (10501 Conser, Overland Park, Kansas 66212). 

Drawing on his firsthand experiences, Sugerman will share the story of the mob from a Jewish perspective. Sugerman describes himself as “the last man standing of a generation of a world that once was.”

Sugerman’s book traces the history of the Jewish mob from its earliest days to the present. He recounts his journey from the Jewish neighborhoods of Newark into the international world of slot machines and gambling, encounters with legendary mob figures, Nazi hunting with connections to Simon Wiesenthal, and the role Jewish gangsters played in defending Jewish communities and supporting the emerging State of Israel.

The free event will include a book signing. Registration is required at kisyn.eventsmart.com/events/mobster/.