UNCLE LENNY - REDUX (THE Original Gangsta)

Virtually everyone who can…oh, I don’t know……breathe…is familiar with the Mafia, but how many know about Jewish-American organized crime (sometimes called the Jewish Mob, Jewish Mafia, Kosher Mafia, or the Kosher Nostra)? Some of the names are legendary in the crime world, Meyer Lansky, Dutch Schultz, Bugsy Siegel, Lenny Weinstein……..Lenny Weinstein? My dad was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1924. It was a time when crime was running rampant in the Italian and Jewish areas of the city among immigrants who felt alienated by other segments of society, yet somehow safe with these perceived Robin Hoods looking out for their well being. Little Italy was (and probably still is) one of the safest areas in New York City. Murder, Inc. was wiping out bad guys for the Mafia and all seemed right with the world of the disenfranchised. Rumor had it that my dad’s uncle Lenny was quite heavily “involved”. I’m not sure what gave it away. Maybe it was the big beautiful car he drove or fine suits he wore during the Great Depression, while others were walking in the snow of Brooklyn winter with holes in their shoes and wearing clothing that was completely inadequate, even if they were fortunate enough to be the proud owner of a sweater or a jacket. Lenny was generous to a fault within his neighborhood and, at holiday time, would drive from the docks to the neighborhood, open his trunk and hand out fine silk stockings to all of the ladies on the block. My dad was Uncle Lenny’s favorite nephew and Lenny made no bones about it. When dad came back from WWII, where he had served nobly in the Battle of Leyte, Uncle Lenny took him to his tailor. “This is my nephew, Jerry,” he told the guy, in an unmistakable Brooklyn cadence, “He’s a war hero and my favorite nephew. I want you to make him a suit just like mine. Now, don’t be cheap. There’s nothing too good for ‘da kid. My suits are the best quality….his will be too, got that?” The tailor nodded, almost subserviently, and got to work on making a suit “just like Uncle Lenny’s. A few days went by, when my dad received word that the suit was ready. He was to meet Uncle Lenny at the tailor’s to try it on and make sure it fit…….everything had to be perfect. He tried on the pants and they fit beautifully. Now, if the coat fit as nicely as they did, he’d be the suavest guy in Bensonhurst. As he put on the coat, something didn’t feel quite right, so he grabbed hold of the lapel, looked inside at the lining and saw the problem. There was a holster for a gun sewn into the lining of the coat. Just like Uncle Lenny’s………… Rumor confirmed!