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Leaving Russia.
Rifka and her family try to escape to America. Her brother Nathan left the army and would kill him if they found him. So the family was going to attempt to escape Russia by sneaking on a train. First Rifka had to distract the guards. Then her Uncle Avrum would also have to distract the guards cause they were going to check the cars. Her Uncle told the guards that someone robbed his factory and the guards left to go insepct. So then Rifka jumped into her train car and headed for Poland. -
The Doctor.
They reached the border of Poland. And a guard yelled at Rifka and her family to get off the train so they could be examined. The guards told them to remove all their clothing so the doctor could inspect them and make sure they were not sick. The doctor smelled dirty and unsanitary. He inspected them and let them back aboard the train. -
Typhus
Rifka became sick with Typhus and could no longer move because she had pain. So her family stopped in Matziv and stayed at Rifka's father cousins house. They did not have much room but, they still welcomed them. The whole family eventually became sick except Saul. They were taken to a hospital and Rifka stood with Saul at their cousins house. -
Moving
Saul and Rifka moved to an Inn when she got better. Each day all they had to eat was a herring and a roll. Rifka tried to save Saul her food but, the inn keepers dauhter came into their room and ate Rifka's food. After a while Rifka became lonley so she would go out to see her mother who was still in the hospital. At first people would chase her away but. after a while they let her stay and see her mother. -
The Girl
Rifka and her family recovered from the Typhus. But now nobody acted the same as they did before. So the family went back on the train. Rifka became very bored on the train, so she went to walk around. While she was walking she came upon a girl with a baby. She girl asked Rifka is she could fix her hair and Rifka did. This girl had many bald spotts and many scabs on her scalp. When Rifka went back to her mother she asked to get off the train but, she scolded her and said no. -
Bad News
Rifka and her family finally reached the place where they could aboard the ship that leads to America. When they were examined by the doctor she had scabs all over her scalp.It was a scalp diease called ringworm. So the doctor would not let Rifka on the boat. Even when Rifka's father bribed the ticket holder she still could not get on the boat. -
HIAS- Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Rifka's family found a group of people who could help them. She told Rifka's mother and father that they could leave Rifka here with them to get her ringworm treated and when it was gone they would send her over to America. Rifka wanted to go back home if she could not go to America with her family but, her mother and father would not let her cause that would put Tovah and the rest of her family at risk. -
Left Behind
Rifka had to say good-bye to her parents. Her father gave her his tallis and her mother gave her, her locket which Rifka's father gave to her mother. She would now live with two people named Marie and Gaston. She celebrated her mitzvah by herself and made a star of david with straws from a broom. Everyday she goes to a lady named Sister Katrina to get her ringworm cured. She spoke with Sister Katrina and she complimented her on how quickly she learns how to speak different languages. -
Lost
Rifka took a different route home and she saw a scary man. Rifka began to run. By time she had noticed where she was it was to late. She was lost. Rifka came upon a milk man and asked him to help her get home. He took he back to her house and he remined her of her uncle Zeb. Who had died. -
Explore
Rifka began exploring the city of Antwerp where Marie and Gaston lived. She enjoyed being here very much. She made a new friend named Gizelle. She plays with Rifka at the park. He father sends her money and she spend very little of it. She only uses it for food and some clothes. She wanted to save it for when she got to America. She has discovered new taste, like banna's, belguim chocolate, and ice cream. -
To a New Land
Rifka's ringworm was cured. She was now able to go to America. She was though that since she did not have haor that her family would not accept her. She was also afraid she would be put in steerage. But she was not. She was equal to everybody else. -
At Sea
Rifka has her own room on the ship, In her room is a table and a small window. On deck there are lounging chairs so people can sit down and relax, She made friends with a salior on the ship named Pieter.He thought Rifka was smart and brave. Rifka did not believe him but, he thought she was anyway. Pieter and Rifka kissed. Then Pieter left to do his work on the boat. -
The Storm
There was a horrible storm on the boat. If it weren't for Pieter Rifka wou;d have fallen over board and died.He saved her life. All the passengers were put in the hold (steerage) Everybody soon became sick from the rocking of the ship. When the storm was over Rifka went looking for Pieter. And then another sailor told her that one sailor went over board and, it was Pieter. She cried for Pieter. Then she waited for a tow ship to haul them to Ellis Island. -
Lady Liberty
They were arriving at Ellis Iskand. She was going to see her family. She was wearing her best clothes. And she remembered the letters her father sent her about Ellis Island. She now new that she wasnt in until she touched american soil, When she was done writing she added something quickly about the people crying when they saw the Statue Of Liberty. Not tears of sadness but, tears of joy. -
Shock
The doctors would not let Rifka into America. She passed all the test but, they kept delaying her approval. They wouldn't even let her see her family. They held Rifka at Ellis Island. And would not let her go because she did not have hair. Since she didnt have hair they were afraid she would not be married. And if she did not marry the government would have to take care of her. She didn't understand why that was such a big deal. -
Takes Some Getting Used To
After a while on Ellis Island Rifka got used to it. On her first night she slept in a crib. Then they moved her to a new ward. Saul came to visit her but, they did not let him see Rifka. She started carring for a baby, who's mother died of Typhus. She also meet a little boy named Ilya. He wanted to go back to Russia and did not want to go to America. This made Rifka angry. That he had a chance to go and have a better life and he was denying it. Then he decided he wanted to stay. -
Saul
Saul came to visit Rifka at Ellis Island. Saul saw her and he was happy. He brought her a banana. Saul was shocked that Rifka knew what a banana was. And she introduced him to one of the doctors. Saul didnt seem to like him very much so, he kept quiet. When Saul met Ilya he was annoyed. Saul did not like when he took out Rifka's book, and wouldnt give it to him. Saul scolded Rifka for keeping the book but, Rifka stopped him cause she didnt want to fight. -
Mama
Rifka's mother came to visit. She smelled like onion, chicken, celery, and yeast. She brought her a honey cake for her 13th birthday. Rifka told her mother mother about Belgium. Then Rifka went to do the work she does everyday at the ward. Ilya stood away from them cause Rifka's mother would not approve of her Russian friend. -
Paper
Rifka thought she was in trouble. She and Ilya went to a place where they did not go much and, Ilya started to play with toilet paper in a bathroom. Rifka was so scared she would get in trouble for wasting the paper because where she was from if you wasted paper you were in big trouble. But then she found out she wasnt in trouble. -
Its Back
The baby Rifka had been taking care of died during the night. She thought that if maybe should could have given her some of her strength that she would get better. But she didnt. Rifka's head also began itching again. She thought that her ringworm was back. She was afraid that they would for sure send her back now. -
The End
Ilya and Rifka had their final observations. Ilya did not want to stay in America. He thought his uncle did not want him. But he did so Ilya passed the test so he could go to America and live with his uncle. He could now have a better life. And then Rifka went. She was afraid they would her ringworm and send her back. So, when they went to remove her kerchief. She argued that she should go though. And that she did not need hair to get married. She then got her papers signed and she went to US.