The Underbelly of the Jewish Lower East Side

From 1880 – 1924, 2.5 million Jews came to the United States. Nearly 85 percent of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe immigrated to New York City, and approximately 75 percent of those settled on the Lower East Side. Very quickly, the Lower East Side become the most densely populated Jewish community on the planet. For these families, striving for a better life didn't just include finding work, securing a place to live, and learning English, but also navigating a neighborhood filled with vice: gambling halls, brothels, political corruption, labor abuse, and criminal enterprises. Psychics, palm readers, and clairvoyants offered their services to thousands of people nervous about their futures. At the same time, reformers worked to "clean up" the community. Join me for a glimpse into the underbelly of the historic Jewish Lower East Side and the people who made their homes here.