• Students
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Community
  • QUICK LINKS
  • DIRECTORY
  • APPLY
  • GIVE
  • RENT
Hunter College
About
  • Overview
  • Focus on Fall
  • Mission
  • Strategic Plan
  • Leadership
  • Campus Information
  • Contact Us
Academics
  • Approach
  • Provost
  • Schools
  • Majors
  • Honors
  • Education Abroad
  • Advising
  • Research & Creative Works
  • Course Catalogs
  • Accreditation
Admissions
  • Overview
  • Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Catalogs
Student Life
  • Clubs & Organizations
  • Residence Life
  • Athletics
  • Dining On Campus
  • Community
  • Events
  • News
  • Libraries
Hunter College Schools
  • Arts & Sciences
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Urban Public Health
  • Nursing
  • Silberman School of Social Work
More Schools
  • Hunter College Campus Schools
  • Hunter College Continuing Education
  • Libraries
  • Students
  • Alumni
  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Community
  • Events
  • News
  • APPLY
  • GIVE
  • RENT
  • QUICK LINKS
  • DIRECTORY

Read Hunter’s Focus on Spring plan.

News / All Hunter On Demand /

Unkosher: The Role of Organized Crime in the Kosher Food Trades, 1900 - 1920

November 18, 2020
Share
Kosher Pizza place

On 11/18/20, Hunter hosted this program as part of the Robert Seltzer Lunch Lecture Series.

During the era of the mass migration of Jews to the United States over the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the kosher food industry experienced unprecedented expansion. A key, hidden, and under-appreciated force behind this commercial growth was Jewish organized crime. Kosher food businesses often called upon Jewish gangsters to maintain industrial rules, punish commercial actors who challenged existing trade practices and to deal with union affairs.

This talk compared the role of organized crime in the kosher poultry industry and the trade in Jewish baked goods. Jewish gangsters operated differently in each of these sectors. But their notable influence in the kosher food industry conveys just how important organized crime was in the development of the Jewish ethnic economy over the years of largescale immigration to America.

Aaron Welt is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Jewish Studies Department of Hunter College, where he teaches courses on American Jewish History. He received his PhD in Jewish History from NYU and is currently working on a book manuscript that explores the role of organized crime in the development of Jewish immigrant capitalism in early 20th century New York.

Watch the program below.

See More On Demand Programs

PreviousNext

Office of Communications
for media information and more
student watching online event
Hunter on Demand

Enjoy virtual lectures, discussions and readings by members of Hunter’s distinguished faculty.

Join Us

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flickr

NEWS SPOTLIGHT

January 7, 2021
Harold Holzer’s Daily News op-ed: “A Disgrace for the History Books”

Looking back to 1861, Holzer offers historical perspective on the recent storming of the U.S. Capitol, with thoughts on a path forward.

December 23, 2020
Jennifer Raab: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus—public education”

President Raab reflects on the legacy of Virginia O'Hanlon, the eight-year-old letter writer who became a Hunter graduate and lifelong educator.

See All Spotlight News

EVENTS CALENDAR

Aug 15, 2020 through Jan 31, 2021
Nicky Enright: Sense Us 2020 - Hallway Exhibition

Sense Us 2020 is a mixed-media installation of images and text on flattened shipping boxes by artist Nicky Enright. It is a public response to ...

Jan 25, 2021
Hunter@Home - The Psychology of Motivation: Understanding and ...

The Psychology of Motivation: Understanding and Inspiring Your Child to Learn with Michael Middleton and Gina Riley Do you struggle at home or in ...

See All Featured Events

HUNTER

Hunter College
695 Park Ave NY, NY 10065
212-772-4000

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Flickr
  • ABOUT
  • ACADEMICS
  • ADMISSIONS
  • EVENTS
  • NEWS
Hunter College Schools
  • Arts & Sciences
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Urban Public Health
  • Nursing
  • Silberman School of Social Work
  • Arts & Sciences
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Urban Public Health
  • Nursing
  • Silberman School of Social Work
Our Other Schools
  • Hunter College Campus Schools
  • Hunter College Continuing Education
  • Hunter College Campus Schools
  • Hunter College Continuing Education
Hunter College Libraries
More Info
  • Bookstore
  • Contact Us & Feedback
  • Jobs
  • Public Safety
  • Roosevelt House
  • Student Housing
  • Space Rentals
  • Bookstore
  • Contact Us & Feedback
  • Jobs
  • Public Safety
  • Roosevelt House
  • Student Housing
  • Space Rentals
Public Information
  • Annual Security Report
  • Consumer Information
  • Covid-19 Updates
  • CUNY Tobacco Policy
  • Enough is Enough
  • Annual Security Report
  • Consumer Information
  • Covid-19 Updates
  • CUNY Tobacco Policy
  • Enough is Enough
CUNY
  • © 2021 Hunter College
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy