2 chapters across the catalog
The final topic explores why Julius Rosenwald's philanthropic legacy was largely "memory-holed" despite his close ties to Rockefeller. The hosts reveal that Rosenwald funded the defense of Leo Frank, a Jewish businessman convicted of murdering Mary Phagan in Georgia. This case led to the only recorded lynching of a Jewish man in America and served as the catalyst for the founding of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Eli Evans describes the "dark mood" in Atlanta following the Leo Frank trial and his subsequent lynching. The hosts point out that the media narrative surrounding Frank often omits the details of the crime, focusing instead on the "horrifying moment in Jewish history." They conclude that this case was the foundational event for the ADL and promise a deeper dive into the organization in a future episode.
