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Rifka's Good-bye to Berdichev
One of Rifka's older brothers, Nathan, fled from the Russian army. When the family jumps on the train, a search is interupted. Rifka, being the one in the family that looks less of a jew, talks to the soldiers. While in the middle of a conversation, her Uncle Avrum distracted the guards long enough for her family to be on their way to America. -
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Rifka's Journey
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First Days in Poland
Once Rifka and her family crossed the border, they were greeted by more guards. As the family of Jews did what they said, a doctor came to examine their health. The doctor then sprayed a vile on Rifka. When the family was returned their belongings, Rifka realized the Polish guards had taken her mother's candlesticks she held dearly. Rushing to dress, the family entered Poland without a moments notice. -
Stranded by Illness
Once crossing the border, Rifka grew ill. Soon after, her whole family, except Saul, developed this illness. Her parents had to move to Motziv, Poland where they could heal from the disease typhus. -
Alone with Saul
While Rifka's parents are away, she and Saul try to survive on the little money that they have. He finds work at an orchard where he sorts apples. Every morning before he leaves he grabs a herring and a roll for them to split. Rifka realized that he was being nice to her for once and she saves some food for him. A girl she sees all the time steals the food. When Rifka feels better she goes on a walk to see her parents. After a couple of visits, she was allowed to stay a while by their side. -
Remembering Home
Rifka and her parents were on a train to Warsaw. Through the window, she watched as the cows grazed. She remembered how in Berdichev, the woman would sing in beautiful harmony. To stretch her legs, Rifka walked around the train for a while. She met a girl with a baby. After a short discussion, she offers to fix the girls hair. She notices the girl has round sores on her scalp, and her hair stank. When she returned to her parents, she wanted to find a nice corner to crawl up to Pushkin. -
Examanation
Rifka sat on a train until she reached Warsaw. Once arriving, she was put under examanation. The steamship company checked her scalp, found her with ringworm, and denied her passageway to America. Her mother gave her money for food, when Rifka decides to try an orange. Returning to her family, the taste of the orange fruit danced in her mouth as she was scolded by everyone in her family except Nathan, who was compassionate for her. -
Rejected
Rifka received the news of her ringworm which could not heal on the ride to America. She had to leave to Belgium where she could heal with a family that would care for her until she was better. Her parents could not stay with her though. They received their ticket to America and was on their way. -
Home Away From Home
Finishing on saying good-bye to her family was hard. Rifka was soon enough on the train leading through Germany and Belgium with gifts of hope from her parents. Finding courage to keep moving with her mother's necklace and her father's tallis. In Antwerp, Rifka under goes treatment with green soap, a violet light, and powder. With her nurse, Sister Katrina, she feels loved. -
Lost
Going on an adventure to her treatment, Rifka passes a cafe that has a big angry lookintg man. She runs away from him until she thinks she has lost him. She soon realizes she's the one that is lost. Pausing for a while, a milkman that reminded her of her uncle helped her to find her way back to town. -
Goodies in Belgium
In Belgium, Rifka discovered some goodies worth savoring. With Sister Katrina, she learns not eating junk food is good for her. In the market, Rifka found some chocolate, bananas, and ice cream, which she was willing to teach her family to make. -
Good News
After an examanation by Sister Katrina, Rifka was clear to go to America with the rest of her family. She went to the desk, received a ticket, and was on her way floating across the Atlantic Ocean. -
Loved
While on the boat to Ellis Island, Rifka met a young man. He was working on the boat for a couple of years, cleaning up the boat. One night into day, a terrible storm hit, rocking the boat. She went to the deck and found her friend helping out everyone to the lower deck. Once below deck, she found some relief and fell asleep. -
Lost at Sea
Waking up the next morning, Rifka found the young man she once knew was flown overboard and was lost at sea. Discovering the news, she cried for herself and for him. Later on the boat ride, she and other immigrants found themselves staring at the statue of Liberty in the New York Harbor. -
The Statue of Liberty
Once reaching Ellis Island, Rifka found herself examined by a doctor. Recieving the results, she found herself still waiting to get into America. For she had thought her ringworm was still there. -
No Hair
After talking to an HIAS lady, Rifka found out she could not return because of her hair situation, not her ringworm. Feeling disappointed and relieved, she found her way to finding a new friend. -
A New Friend
Eating dinner one night, Rifka talked to this Russian boy that spoke to Rifka and described what happened to him to make him not eat. She described her journey, and her family. Soon the two became friends, and he grew interest in Pushkin. -
Visitors
For the first time being in America, Saul was the first one to visit Rifka. Being the family they are, some compliments were thrown in. After Saul, came her mother. Rifka was overly joyed to see her mother. She remembered how she smelled her mother with the same scent she contained in their old home. -
Family Reunion
After being at Ellis Island for a while, Rifka's family took a trip over to visit her. Once there, she returned the belongings they gave her. -
Chased
Rifka decided to teach her friend to read. He began to read from Pushkin, and unrolled the toilet paper. A big man talked to them, but Rifka was too frightened to stay still. She thought the man was following them. Unfortunately, the man did not chase them. Once Rifka found the lady that took care of them, the lady told the two children do not have to worry about the toilet paper, and don't worry about being sent back. -
Frightened
Rifka was going to be examined for whether she was entering the new land or if she was being sent back to her home. She was worried for both her friend and herself. She knew the judgement decided her fate. -
America Alas
Coming into the deciding area, Rifka found her siblings she had never known, and the family she watched leave her in Belgium. Rifka helped her friend reunite with his uncle, and find his way into America. With a group hug, she found her hair had grown back in the spot it belonged. The man that decided her fate signed her papers, and she had found the life of an American immigrant, united with everyone.
