North and South Chabad bring the last Jewish gangster to Orlando

Chabad will present “History of Jews in the Mob: An evening with Myron Sugerman” on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Nate’s Shul, 1701 Markham Woods Rd., Longwood, and Wednesday, Oct. 17 at Chabad South Orlando, 7347 W Sand Lake Road, Orlando.

Myron Sugerman, author of “The Chronicles of The Last Jewish Gangster: From Meyer to Myron,” was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938 during the mob’s glory days. At the age of 21, he followed his father’s footsteps into the family business—coin-operated amusements. Like his father, Barney “Sugie” Sugerman, Myron sold and operated slot machines, jukeboxes, cigarette machines, and anything else that accepted coins and entertained people in bars, nightclubs, and other hangouts around the world. For well over half a century, Myron did business with some of the most dangerous characters known to the public, including top-ranking members of the Genovese and Gambino crime families, La Corporacion, the Yakuza, and the Cali Cartel, among others. Myron has rubbed shoulders with legendary mob figures like Longie Zwillman, Meyer Lansky, Joe “Doc” Stacher, Gerry Catena, Tony Bananas Caponigro, Tommy Ryan Eboli, and many others. 

Today he lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with his wife, Clara. He is semi-retired, but sought after for his counsel by the up-and-coming generation of the gambling machine business, to whom he is known as the “chief rabbi.” He has three sons—one of whom is a real rabbi and a well-known rabbinical scholar, and eight grandchildren. 

Myron Sugerman’s memoir, “The Last Jewish Gangster: From Meyer to Myron,” is more than just a riveting account of the Myron’s nearly 60-year career as an international outlaw in the field of slot machines and casinos. It’s also a fascinating meditation on a variety of themes: aging, respect, adventure, greed, and man’s tendency to be his own worst enemy. “The Last Jewish Gangster” follows its author from 1959 to the present day as he travels the globe from Europe to Africa to South America to Asia. The story covers everything from his dealings with the fearsome Cali Cartel to his attempt to help famous Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal track down the Angel of Death, Josef Mengele in Paraguay. 

There will be a book signing following the talk. 

Tickets for the Longwood location can be purchased at http://www.JewishNorthOrlando.com.

For the South Orlando location http://www.JewishOrlando.com.