Plus, you've helped to highlight the fact that other groups, paricularly Asians, were treated terribly at that immigration gateway. But even Alcatraz offered promise and hope for some.
What a story! Thank you so much, Rabbi Hammerman, for sharing your courageous grandmother with us. Sheesh. What stamina, hope and resilience one needed to survive such a trip. How pampered we are all today, hearing about what your grandmother went through. Thank you too for the interview, even though hard to understand, and the informative videos.
Listing past "Notebook entries" for those who missed them is a great idea. Great work. Best wishes as always.
Your little brother Mark looks like a rounder. I have so many Kodacolor snapshots from that period. My two sets of ancestors came through Ellis Island, your grandma traveled over 11,000 miles as a teenager is amazing. Ours were the lucky ones. Mine came from Russia/Poland and Hungry/Austria. Everyone spoke many languages but mostly Yiddish. This story of yours is great. Your stories are all great. Keep getting “weller” and keep writing. You are a treasure. Yours, Claudia.
I live with one of our children and three grandchildren; I have a habit of sharing something special at family meetings when they receive a list of chores for the week. This is my next sharing, such a wonderful reminder of our history, both good and not good. With immigrants from three continents in our family--none of them having that much difficulty getting here--we appreciate each diverse heritage.
Thank you for sharing your Bubbe’s story and an important history lesson. I only first learned there even was an Angel Island a couple of weeks ago, when Trump first floated his preposterous idea of reopening Alcatraz.
Thank you Rabbi Hammerman, this is something completely overlooked in our school history courses, as part of the white wash of our history. As a country I feel we should own our history not deny the icky parts where as a country we were incredibly cruel. Especially now that tRump is repeating a history that we will learn from and be unable to deny. Maybe we would be a less cruel nation if we learned from the past and stopped the bullsh*t. And impeached tRump.
Rabbi Joshua, I am fortunate to have connected with your Substack some time ago and I look forward to each and every installment. This one was particularly moving, and insightful. I wish Donald Trump and people like Stephen Miller would take the time to read it. Thank you for all of your many contributions to the ongoing conversations and deliberations about the future of the wonderful idea we all call "America!" We need more voices like yours. All best wishes to you and your amazing family.
Thank you so much, Gordon. Glad to have you aboard! People have found it more challenging to defend immigrants and refugees these days, which means we have to speak even louder on their behalf.
Rabbi - what a wonderful picture! Truly had me smiling as my Grandmother Anna and my Grandfather Benjamin - landed and emigrated through Ellis Island and they met in the sweatshops of NY - she looked so much like yours - and my mother was also a Miriam. How our past becomes the present and the photo is so like our family shots -those color photos bring back lovely memories - I was born in 1954 so we are of a similar generation - and the meaning of freedom, opportunity, and struggle is so much a part of this current MOMENT. Its why I protest, write letters, make calls, and will never give up on the truth of what this country is suppose to stand for and the fight for decency, inclusion, welcoming, and embracing people of the world.
Thank you, Rabbi for sharing your grandmother's story with us all. He was very courageous with much fortitude. I see her good qualities in you. Amazing interview; something I wish I had done with my grandparents.
What a story! Thank you so much, Rabbi Hammerman, for sharing your courageous grandmother with us. Sheesh. What stamina, hope and resilience one needed to survive such a trip. How pampered we are all today, hearing about what your grandmother went through. Thank you too for the interview, even though hard to understand, and the informative videos.
Listing past "Notebook entries" for those who missed them is a great idea. Great work. Best wishes as always.
Your little brother Mark looks like a rounder. I have so many Kodacolor snapshots from that period. My two sets of ancestors came through Ellis Island, your grandma traveled over 11,000 miles as a teenager is amazing. Ours were the lucky ones. Mine came from Russia/Poland and Hungry/Austria. Everyone spoke many languages but mostly Yiddish. This story of yours is great. Your stories are all great. Keep getting “weller” and keep writing. You are a treasure. Yours, Claudia.
I live with one of our children and three grandchildren; I have a habit of sharing something special at family meetings when they receive a list of chores for the week. This is my next sharing, such a wonderful reminder of our history, both good and not good. With immigrants from three continents in our family--none of them having that much difficulty getting here--we appreciate each diverse heritage.
Wow! Thanks Debby.
Thank you for sharing your Bubbe’s story and an important history lesson. I only first learned there even was an Angel Island a couple of weeks ago, when Trump first floated his preposterous idea of reopening Alcatraz.
Thank you Rabbi Hammerman, this is something completely overlooked in our school history courses, as part of the white wash of our history. As a country I feel we should own our history not deny the icky parts where as a country we were incredibly cruel. Especially now that tRump is repeating a history that we will learn from and be unable to deny. Maybe we would be a less cruel nation if we learned from the past and stopped the bullsh*t. And impeached tRump.
Rabbi Joshua, I am fortunate to have connected with your Substack some time ago and I look forward to each and every installment. This one was particularly moving, and insightful. I wish Donald Trump and people like Stephen Miller would take the time to read it. Thank you for all of your many contributions to the ongoing conversations and deliberations about the future of the wonderful idea we all call "America!" We need more voices like yours. All best wishes to you and your amazing family.
Thank you so much, Gordon. Glad to have you aboard! People have found it more challenging to defend immigrants and refugees these days, which means we have to speak even louder on their behalf.
Rabbi - what a wonderful picture! Truly had me smiling as my Grandmother Anna and my Grandfather Benjamin - landed and emigrated through Ellis Island and they met in the sweatshops of NY - she looked so much like yours - and my mother was also a Miriam. How our past becomes the present and the photo is so like our family shots -those color photos bring back lovely memories - I was born in 1954 so we are of a similar generation - and the meaning of freedom, opportunity, and struggle is so much a part of this current MOMENT. Its why I protest, write letters, make calls, and will never give up on the truth of what this country is suppose to stand for and the fight for decency, inclusion, welcoming, and embracing people of the world.
Keep on keeping on, Debra! Those childhood photographs do send memories streaming back.
Wonderful story. Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you, Rabbi for sharing your grandmother's story with us all. He was very courageous with much fortitude. I see her good qualities in you. Amazing interview; something I wish I had done with my grandparents.
Thanks, Rae-ann!