In 1902, when mourners lined the streets of New York’s Lower East Side for the funeral of the city’s chief rabbi, workers at a local factory rained debris and scalding water on them. When the police arrived, the inspector in charge ordered officers to beat up Jews, injuring hundreds. The Jewish community set a pattern for the future by deftly pursuing justice for the victims. The Chief Rabbi’s Funeral is the first book-length account of this event and its aftermath.