The Kosher Capones: A History of Chicago’s Jewish Gangsters

In this underwhelming history, English professor Kraus (An Accidental Anarchist) tells some tales from a century of Jewish organized crime in Chicagoland. Drawing mostly on secondary sources, along with some interviews that provide color, he starts with a section about “Zukie’s Bad Day,” when “the boss of the last independent predominantly Jewish gang in Chicago,” Benjamin “Zukie the Bookie” Zuckerman, was gunned down in 1944, leading to his gang members coming under tighter control from the syndicate known for its association with Al Capone. Kraus then moves backwards and forwards in time and geographically between the Maxwell Street and Lawndale neighborhoods, looking at power struggles (ranging from execution-style murder to “peace conferences” among rival gangs that yielded press conferences), business structures, and personal relationships. When the story moves forward in time, Kraus focuses on Lenny Patrick, “the central figure in Chicago Jewish organized crime,” who eventually became a cooperating witness whose testimony took down the syndicate; surprisingly, after prison he moved back to the neighborhood and there were no reprisals. These players occupied relatively niche roles in organized crime, so the level of drama is frequently low, and Kraus doesn’t look deeply into their Judaism, Chicago Jewish culture, or other Jews’ reactions to their dealings. There just isn’t much excitement here. (Oct.)