Unlikely Band of Boxers Save America
Between 1910 and 1940, boxing was the most popular sport in America. Entering into the ring with more contenders in the eight weight classes than any other ethnic group were Jewish boxers. They dominated the sport with twenty-six world championships.
What was their secret? They were the sons and brothers of hardened survivors whose parents had escaped horrors. They had no options. College was a luxury. Work was scarce. Boxing brought opportunity and community. And as a bonus, boxing came to represent the fight against anti-semitism from the working class.
Then these boxers were recruited for a much higher cause. During the Great Depression in Newark, NJ, these boxers were recruited by Mob King Longie Zwillman and trained by champion fighter, Nat Arno, to help the US government fight German-American Nazis taking over America. This resistance patrolled and disrupted meetings, went under cover, collected evidence and much more.
The novel Newark Minutemen immortalizes these men with messages like the following:
“I like it,” Dr. Kalb says wrinkling his forehead. “You Newark Minutemen got tactics, unlike the thugs-for-hire in New York who just pummel the bad guys until they don’t move anymore.”
“Who wouldn’t want our prize-fighting boxers as their militia?” Longie says. “We got more boys winning in the ring than anyone in the World.”
Dr. Kalb unbuttons his suit jacket and reads his pocket watch. “The secret is the juice running through these boys’ veins,” he says in his forthright tone. “They’re kids like I was, who cut their teeth fighting Russian Cossacks. As a boy, I watched mothers hacked to death with machetes and baby brothers splatted against the wall.” The contrast of the blood and guts he’s describing against his clean-shaven, compassionate reputation is dizzying. “We’re the fierce kids who battled with guns, knives and bombs. Became a prime militia.” I know these stories from my father, but to hear them again fills my ire like an empty gas tank.
“We’re also the battle-hardened survivors of the Great War who reclaimed Palestine from the Turks,” Longie says. Our leaders are describing the boxers and their sons who are the Newark Minutemen. I swell with pride whenever Longie compares us to King David's mighty warriors. The timin’ is lucky that Longie’s got an army of boxers he can pivot into a band of soldiers for the FBI."
These are a few of the heroes:
Benny Leonard was the symbol of physical fitness. Barney Ross, the famous champions. Max Baer and Joe Choynski flexed their Adonis bodies Ruby Goldstein was unbeatable. “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom was a great light-heavyweight champion.
Nat Arno
Harry Dropper Vines Levine
Abie Bain
Benny Levine
Max Puddy Hinkes
Allie Stoltz
Moe Fisher
Al Fisher
Maxie Fisher
Tony Starr
Mendie Kirschbaum
Abe Green
Ruby Gross
Benny “Pavalyah” High
Irving Berlin (not the songwriter)
Jake “Mohawk Skuratofsky
Marty Cohen
Irving Edisis
Pinny
Little Itzig Goldstein
Murray Wachsman
Solly Castallene
Hymie the Weasel Kugel the referee
Benny “Blubber” Markowitz
Julius Skinny Markowitz
Louie Halper
Louis Slott
Max Novich
Mickey Fox Breitkopf
Moe Fischer
Benny Leonard
Alexander Portnoff
Al Gorlin
Jerome Rodburg
Max Feilshuss
Benjamin Hirsch
George Hirsch
Dr. S. William Kalb
Jake “Cocky Jake” Rothseid
Leo Lerner
King David had his massive army with 3 powerful leaders and his 30 mighty men. His best men were said that one man is equal to a thousand2 Samuel 23:8-39, Chronicles 12:14, New Century Version (NCV)
What was their secret? They were the sons and brothers of hardened survivors whose parents had escaped horrors. They had no options. College was a luxury. Work was scarce. Boxing brought opportunity and community. And as a bonus, boxing came to represent the fight against anti-semitism from the working class.
Then these boxers were recruited for a much higher cause. During the Great Depression in Newark, NJ, these boxers were recruited by Mob King Longie Zwillman and trained by champion fighter, Nat Arno, to help the US government fight German-American Nazis taking over America. This resistance patrolled and disrupted meetings, went under cover, collected evidence and much more.
The novel Newark Minutemen immortalizes these men with messages like the following:
“I like it,” Dr. Kalb says wrinkling his forehead. “You Newark Minutemen got tactics, unlike the thugs-for-hire in New York who just pummel the bad guys until they don’t move anymore.”
“Who wouldn’t want our prize-fighting boxers as their militia?” Longie says. “We got more boys winning in the ring than anyone in the World.”
Dr. Kalb unbuttons his suit jacket and reads his pocket watch. “The secret is the juice running through these boys’ veins,” he says in his forthright tone. “They’re kids like I was, who cut their teeth fighting Russian Cossacks. As a boy, I watched mothers hacked to death with machetes and baby brothers splatted against the wall.” The contrast of the blood and guts he’s describing against his clean-shaven, compassionate reputation is dizzying. “We’re the fierce kids who battled with guns, knives and bombs. Became a prime militia.” I know these stories from my father, but to hear them again fills my ire like an empty gas tank.
“We’re also the battle-hardened survivors of the Great War who reclaimed Palestine from the Turks,” Longie says. Our leaders are describing the boxers and their sons who are the Newark Minutemen. I swell with pride whenever Longie compares us to King David's mighty warriors. The timin’ is lucky that Longie’s got an army of boxers he can pivot into a band of soldiers for the FBI."
These are a few of the heroes:
Benny Leonard was the symbol of physical fitness. Barney Ross, the famous champions. Max Baer and Joe Choynski flexed their Adonis bodies Ruby Goldstein was unbeatable. “Slapsie” Maxie Rosenbloom was a great light-heavyweight champion.
Nat Arno
Harry Dropper Vines Levine
Abie Bain
Benny Levine
Max Puddy Hinkes
Allie Stoltz
Moe Fisher
Al Fisher
Maxie Fisher
Tony Starr
Mendie Kirschbaum
Abe Green
Ruby Gross
Benny “Pavalyah” High
Irving Berlin (not the songwriter)
Jake “Mohawk Skuratofsky
Marty Cohen
Irving Edisis
Pinny
Little Itzig Goldstein
Murray Wachsman
Solly Castallene
Hymie the Weasel Kugel the referee
Benny “Blubber” Markowitz
Julius Skinny Markowitz
Louie Halper
Louis Slott
Max Novich
Mickey Fox Breitkopf
Moe Fischer
Benny Leonard
Alexander Portnoff
Al Gorlin
Jerome Rodburg
Max Feilshuss
Benjamin Hirsch
George Hirsch
Dr. S. William Kalb
Jake “Cocky Jake” Rothseid
Leo Lerner
King David had his massive army with 3 powerful leaders and his 30 mighty men. His best men were said that one man is equal to a thousand2 Samuel 23:8-39, Chronicles 12:14, New Century Version (NCV)
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