Organized crime in America is often depicted through the lens of Italian-American mobsters, thanks largely to Hollywood classics like The Godfather.
However, beneath this familiar narrative lies a far more complex and hidden reality.
At the center of this web was Meyer Lansky—a figure whose reach extended beyond gambling dens and speakeasies into global finance, U.S. politics, and even Israeli intelligence networks.
Exploring Lansky’s true influence reveals a deeper story of power, protection, and international intrigue that continues to challenge the myths we’ve been told about America’s underworld.
Rethinking the American Mafia: Beyond the Italian Stereotype
Now that we’ve introduced Meyer Lansky—a central figure in American organized crime—it’s only fitting to explore the broader body of literature and evidence surrounding the influence of criminal syndicates on the U.S. system.
As this exploration unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that the story of organized crime is deeply intertwined with political power structures, including the role of the Israeli lobby in American affairs.
While pop culture has cemented the image of the Mafia as an Italian-American enterprise—largely through iconic films like The Godfather—serious historical analysis suggests a more complex picture.
At its highest levels, organized crime in America has often been steered not by Italian families alone, but by individuals of Jewish descent, with Meyer Lansky standing out as a particularly influential figure.
Meyer Lansky: Architect of a Transnational Crime Empire
Historically, many of the most influential figures in organized crime were closely connected to Meyer Lansky, widely regarded as one of the most powerful crime bosses of the 20th century.
Born in a region of Poland that now lies within modern-day Russia, Lansky immigrated to New York City, where he would rise to prominence.
His operations later expanded internationally, with a strong focus on gambling enterprises.
Lansky played a central role in establishing lucrative casino interests in the Caribbean—most notably in Cuba—and was also deeply involved in the development of Las Vegas as a gambling hub, often working alongside his longtime associate, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.
A Controversial but Groundbreaking Biography
Of the published biographies on Meyer Lansky, only two merit serious attention.
The most notable is Lansky by Hank Messick, first released in 1973 by Robert Hale, Ltd.
As the first full-length biography of the notorious crime boss, Messick’s book remains the most objective and factually grounded.
A seasoned crime reporter, Messick faced accusations of anti-Semitism for highlighting the significant Jewish involvement in organized crime—a reality exemplified by Lansky and many of his close associates.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of B’nai B’rith took particular offense to early promotional materials for the book, which emphasized that while the mob held power over America, it was Lansky—identified openly as Jewish—who controlled the mob itself.
Moe Dalitz, Las Vegas, and the Syndicate’s Respectable Facade
Among Hank Messick’s many important works on organized crime, The Silent Syndicate (MacMillan, 1967) stands out for its vivid exploration of Jewish criminals connected to Lansky.
The book traces their roots back to Cleveland, detailing how these figures—most notably the infamous Morris “Moe” Dalitz—rose to prominence in Las Vegas.
Dalitz, once a key player in organized crime, later reinvented himself as a respected civic figure.
In an ironic twist, he was eventually honored as a philanthropist and even received the Anti-Defamation League’s “Torch of Liberty” award.
This was perhaps unsurprising, given the long-standing financial ties between the ADL and the Lansky Crime Syndicate.
Mogul of the Mob: An Inside Look at Lansky’s Later Years
A second major biography of Meyer Lansky came from Israeli authors Dennis Eisenberg, Uri Dan, and Eli Landau.
Published in 1979 by Paddington Press, was written with Lansky’s cooperation and offers a revealing—though naturally self-serving—portrait of the crime boss.
The authors established a close working relationship with Lansky during his self-imposed exile in Israel, where he sought refuge to avoid prosecution in the United States near the end of his career.
Ultimately, the case against Lansky was dismissed—not due to any proven innocence, but, as many suspect, because of behind-the-scenes influence involving blackmail or bribery.
Israel’s Rejection of Lansky: Not a Refutation of Final Judgment
Some critics of Michael Collins Piper’s book Final Judgment have argued that his thesis—that the Lansky Syndicate, in collaboration with elements of the CIA and the Mossad, orchestrated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy—falls apart when considering the fact that Israel denied Lansky permanent refuge.
They claim that if Israel had truly been involved in such a conspiracy, it would not have turned its back on Lansky, especially given his years of service to the Israeli state through gun-running, money laundering, and financial support.
But according to Michael Collins Piper, that line of reasoning misunderstands the priorities and ideology of the Israeli state.
As he noted, it was not in Israel’s national interest—as a country representing the broader Jewish people—to offer sanctuary to one individual, even a man as influential as Lansky.
Israeli rabbinic authorities have long held that even a war to defend the state is permissible provided “no more than one-sixth of the nation be killed.”
In that context, the abandonment of a single Jewish figure—even Meyer Lansky—was a politically and ideologically acceptable trade-off.
Therefore, the Israeli government’s rejection of Lansky proves nothing and does not invalidate the central thesis presented in Final Judgment.
The Overlooked Ties Between Lansky and Rabbi Tibor Rosenbaum
Mogul of the Mob is particularly noteworthy for its detailed exploration of the relationship between Meyer Lansky and Rabbi Tibor Rosenbaum.
Celebrated as a Jewish hero of World War II, Rosenbaum is known for his daring missions to rescue Jews from the Nazis—acts of bravery memorialized by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in the documentary Unlikely Heroes.
However, Rosenbaum’s post-war endeavors are far less publicly acknowledged within the Jewish community.
Despite his wartime heroism, his later affiliations—including those with figures like Lansky—remain an intriguing and under examined chapter of his life.
Rosenbaum, BCI, and the Global Web of Covert Operations
Operating out of Switzerland, Rabbi Tibor Rosenbaum played a critical dual role in the post-war global underworld.
Through the Banque de Credit International (BCI), which he founded in Geneva, Rosenbaum became the primary money launderer for the Lansky Syndicate’s proceeds from gambling and narcotics.
Simultaneously, he acted as a top-level arms procurement agent for Israel’s Mossad, using BCI to fund arms manufacturing, international weapons deals, and the clandestine development of Israel’s nuclear arsenal.
Crucially, Rosenbaum and BCI were also deeply entangled with the European-based entity known as Permindex—a shadowy organization with its own controversial legacy.
Permindex was founded by another Jewish hero of the anti-Nazi resistance, Ernest Mantello, and its board was chaired by Louis M. Bloomfield, a Zionist attorney and banker based in Montreal. T
his convergence of criminal finance, intelligence operations, and Zionist activism illustrates the complex, overlapping networks at play in Cold War geopolitics.
The Bronfman Family and Lansky Syndicate Connections
In my blog post Media Power and Influence: The Dynamics of Corporate Control, I previously discussed the connection between the Lansky Syndicate and the Bronfman family.
A key figure in this network was Bloomfield, who played a significant role in the early financial operations that supported Israel’s nuclear weapons program.
It’s also important to note that Bloomfield served as a legal representative for the Rothschild family of Europe, who are often considered the royal family of Judaism.
Clay Shaw, Permindex, and the CIA Connection
Alongside Bloomfield on the board of Permindex was Clay Shaw, a New Orleans trade executive and CIA asset.
Shaw, who was not Jewish, was famously tried by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison for his involvement in the conspiracy surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Although Shaw was acquitted, his defense was notably funded by the Stern family—wealthy Jewish benefactors in New Orleans.
The Sterns, along with their financial interests in the NUMFC nuclear plant in Apollo, Pennsylvania, were connected to a controversial operation involving the illegal smuggling of nuclear materials to support Israel’s nuclear weapons development.
A Nazi Twist in the JFK Assassination
The Permindex connection in the JFK assassination takes an unexpected turn.
Many researchers agree that the organization played a role in the events surrounding President Kennedy’s death.
However, some argue that Permindex’s ties to Jewish and Israeli interests are not the key clue.
Instead, they claim it is actually evidence that remnants of the Nazi Third Reich were behind the assassination.
This theory, surprising as it sounds, was first popularized by a well-known conspiracy researcher named Mae Brussell.
What makes her involvement even more interesting is her background.
She was the daughter of Rabbi Isaac Magnin, who served as a spiritual guide to several powerful Jewish figures in Hollywood.
Ignoring Evidence: The Myth of a Nazi Connection
Despite mounting evidence that points in another direction, some still insist that Permindex proves a Nazi connection to the JFK assassination.
Yet this claim stands on shaky ground. In fact, the truth seems far from their concern.
Those who promote this view often ignore any discussion of Jewish or Israeli involvement.
This pattern appears not only in the JFK case, but also in other major events.
These include the Oklahoma City bombing, the tragedy of 9/11, and other controversial incidents where such links may exist but are rarely examined.
Lansky Reads The Spotlight: A Personal Vindication
During his time as a correspondent for The Spotlight, Michael Collins Piper found a surprising moment of validation.
In a biography of Meyer Lansky written by Israeli authors, it was revealed that Lansky had been well aware of the newspaper’s ongoing coverage of his activities.
Toward the end of the book, Lansky reflects on his life and his long battle with the press.
According to the biographers, he remained deeply concerned with how he was portrayed. “Anti-Semites have used my name to attack Jews,” Lansky believed.
“They’ve always tried to find reasons to attack me and point out my Jewish background.”
Interestingly, he had read The Spotlight’s July 1978 issue.
That edition described him as the reigning chairman of the National Crime Syndicate.
It also claimed he had gained influence inside the Carter Administration.
The article even revived an old title he and Luciano once mocked: “Boss of all the Bosses.”
This mention served as a rare and ironic moment—one where the subject of Michael Collins Piper’s reporting openly acknowledged reading and reacting to it.
The Power Behind the Throne: Luciano’s Final Word on Lansky
When people hear about the American Mafia, names like Charles “Lucky” Luciano often come to mind.
He is remembered as one of the most powerful Italian-American mobsters in history.
However, there’s a deeper story that often goes untold.
In the 1975 book The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano (Little, Brown & Company), co-authored by Martin A. Gosch and Richard Hammer with Luciano’s direct input before his death, a striking revelation is made.
Contrary to public perception, it wasn’t Luciano who truly dominated organized crime in America.
Instead, it was Meyer Lansky—a Jewish financier—who quietly rose to the top.
Lansky’s Reach Extended Far Beyond U.S. Borders
The book makes it clear that Lansky’s influence wasn’t confined to the United States.
His network stretched globally, positioning him as a shadowy power player with tentacles reaching into international affairs.
His control over financial resources gave him unmatched leverage.
While Lansky and his Israeli biographers dismissed The Spotlight’s description of him as the “Boss of all the Bosses,” Luciano’s own words seem to support that very claim.
Puppet Master of the Syndicate
In his final reflections, Luciano described a moment that exposed the real power dynamic within organized crime.
There had been controversy over a possible film about Luciano’s life.
When he discovered that Lansky was involved, everything became clear to him.
Luciano explained:
“When I realized that Meyer Lansky was right in the middle of this, that’s when I knew he had us all by a string… He was pullin’ the wires and everybody was dancin’ to his tune on the other end, like a bunch of puppets.”
This quote, straight from the man once considered the top figure in the Mafia, paints Lansky as the real power broker. Despite being behind the scenes, Lansky was the one orchestrating events.
The Treasurer Who Became the True Boss
Luciano didn’t stop there. He noted that Lansky controlled the syndicate’s purse strings.
This financial control allowed him to move beyond traditional hierarchy.
Without even a formal vote, Lansky positioned himself as the true boss over both Italian and Jewish mob factions.
Luciano stated:
“He was really tryin’ to be the boss of everything. He was so hungry for power behind the scenes… so that in the end, Meyer Lansky, my old partner and a Jew, would wind up the real boss of bosses… without a single fuckin’ vote on the council.”
A Quiet Confirmation from the Inside
So, while Lansky’s biographers downplayed these claims, The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano offers an insider’s confirmation of what The Spotlight had long asserted.
It gives readers a more honest and realistic understanding of how the Jewish crime syndicate, under Lansky’s leadership, shaped the history of organized crime in America.
Even if the book Meyer Lansky: Mogul of the Mob stops short of admitting everything, it still helps connect the dots. It underscores Lansky’s powerful and often overlooked role in the criminal underworld.
The Hidden Puppet Master of Organized Crime
Meyer Lansky’s story challenges the familiar Hollywood portrayal of organized crime, revealing a far more intricate web of power, influence, and international intrigue.
As the true architect behind much of America’s underworld, Lansky’s reach extended well beyond gambling and Italian mobsters, weaving through politics, global finance, and covert operations.
The insider perspectives from figures like Lucky Luciano only reinforce Lansky’s pivotal role as the shadowy mastermind pulling the strings.
Understanding this deeper narrative not only reshapes how we view the Mafia but also exposes the complex alliances that shaped modern organized crime.
Stay tuned for the next blog post, where we’ll dive into how Meyer Lansky and his associates helped build Las Vegas into the gambling mecca it is today—a city where power, money, and crime converged to create a unique American legend.