Yiddish Black Hand
Encyclopedia
The Yiddish Black Hand or the Jewish Black Hand Association was a criminal organization that operated on New York's Lower East Side
during the early 20th century, led by Jacob "Johnny" Levinsky. Around 1906, Levinsky, with Charles "Charley the Cripple" Vitoffsky and Joseph Toplinsky
, began an extortion ring from their hangout at a Suffolk Street saloon, delivering anonymous letters signed as the "Yiddish Black Hand" threatening to steal or poison the horses of local pushcart vendors and other businessmen. This method was used earlier by Neapolitan Camorristi, Sicilian mafiosi and others who preyed on Italian immigrants as the Black Hand. Within three years, the ice cream manufacturers' association created a commercial fund from which they would annually pay off the organization.
By the end of 1913, having gained a virtual monopoly in their criminal activities, the three reorganized their criminal organization with Levinsky concentrating on extortion in the ice cream trade, Vitoffsky focusing on job offers between rival dealers and manufacturers of seltzer
and soda while Toplinsky cornered the produce market, truckmen and livery stables. Although the three often worked independently from each other, they did work together when hired out for specific jobs such as assault, theft, and murder for hire. A member who had turned informant provided a description of their rates:
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
during the early 20th century, led by Jacob "Johnny" Levinsky. Around 1906, Levinsky, with Charles "Charley the Cripple" Vitoffsky and Joseph Toplinsky
Joseph Toplinsky
Joseph "Yosky" Toblinsky , better known as "Yesky Nigger", was a New York City racketeer who, as head of an independent gang on East Side Manhattan, was involved in extortion and poisoning horses with the Yiddish Black Hand during the early 1900s...
, began an extortion ring from their hangout at a Suffolk Street saloon, delivering anonymous letters signed as the "Yiddish Black Hand" threatening to steal or poison the horses of local pushcart vendors and other businessmen. This method was used earlier by Neapolitan Camorristi, Sicilian mafiosi and others who preyed on Italian immigrants as the Black Hand. Within three years, the ice cream manufacturers' association created a commercial fund from which they would annually pay off the organization.
By the end of 1913, having gained a virtual monopoly in their criminal activities, the three reorganized their criminal organization with Levinsky concentrating on extortion in the ice cream trade, Vitoffsky focusing on job offers between rival dealers and manufacturers of seltzer
Seltzer
Seltzer may refer to:* Seltzer water , carbonated water** Seltzer bottle* Seltzer, Pennsylvania, census-designated place in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United StatesPeople...
and soda while Toplinsky cornered the produce market, truckmen and livery stables. Although the three often worked independently from each other, they did work together when hired out for specific jobs such as assault, theft, and murder for hire. A member who had turned informant provided a description of their rates:
- Shooting, fatal - $500
- Shooting, not fatal - $100
- Poisoning a team - $50
- Poisoning one horse - $35
- Stealing a horse and a rig - $25