Lot 206

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Description:

Meyer Lansky, the Mob's Accountant Re: One Day People Will "Not Be Punished for Being Born a Jew"

Four page autograph letter signed (3 full page with the last page trimmed in half). Dated "November 28, 1973", and signed by Meyer Lansky as "Meyer". Three sheets are 5.75" x 8", the trimmed page is 5.75" x 5.75.  Fine condition with two punch holes along right edge affecting several words of text.

Meyer Lansky, known as the "Mob's Accountant", was a major American organized crime figure who, along with his associate Charles "Lucky" Luciano, was instrumental in the development of the National Crime Syndicate in the United States. He writes to Yushki and Seppi with whom he has regular exchanges. (Joseph "Yushki" Sheiner, a member of the Israeli Security Agency who had tried to secure citizenship for Lansky in Israel).  In his letter he reflects "… We can only live in hope, that the day will come that children and people are not punished for being born a Jew. Say what you may and blame whomever you want - you are a great people, a heroic people. The World will never forget when History is written the Military Strategy this little Army has shown. Also the Military bravery of its men. We saw a picture on television of a group of prisoners with the Torah; that picture will never leave my mind. If only I could be with those boys …"

Lansky would have been referring to the The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, or October War, also known as the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, which was fought round the time of this letter from October 6 to 25, 1973, by a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel. This politically complicated war was the the fourth Arab-Israeli war began on October 6, 1973, many of Israel’s soldiers were away from their posts observing Yom Kipper (or Day of Atonement), and the Arab armies made impressive advances with their up-to-date Soviet weaponry. Iraqi forces soon joined the war, and Syria received support from Jordan. After several days, Israel was fully mobilized, and the Israel Defense Forces began beating back the Arab gains at a heavy cost to soldiers and equipment. A U.S. airlift of arms aided Israel’s cause, but President Richard Nixon (1913-94) delayed the emergency military aid for a week as a tacit signal of U.S. sympathy for Egypt. On October 25, an Egyptian-Israeli cease-fire was secured by the United Nations. Israel’s victory came at the cost of heavy casualties, and Israelis criticized the government’s lack of preparedness. In April 1974, the nation’s prime minister, Golda Meir (1898-1978), stepped down.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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March 3, 2021 10:30 AM EST
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