The Golden Medina is about a pious Russian Jewish family who come to America, for freedom and opportunity. They move into the tenements of the Lower East Side of New York City, a loud ethnic melting pot of Jews, Italians and Irish. While the mother creates a home out of their cramped apartment, the father works in the garment district. Their sons are excited about going to school in America. The eldest wants to be a doctor because of his hunchback and limp. The youngest is genius who wants to be rabbi and a chess champion. Their future is wide open. Or so they think. The Golden Medina is the action-packed early days of the Italian American mafia. It is about immigrants Charlie Luciana making his marks on the streets and Johnny Torrio outwitting his opponents. It is about territory and ambition, money and power. But it is a dangerous game. They are all seeking the American dream. How far will they go to achieve it?