Safranim -- I'm reminded, as we start to seriously take on the anniversary, that our young people are increasingly unaware of American Jewish history. In the same way the Shoah is starting to fade as the generation of survivors passes on -- but to an even greater extent -- we have neglected the immigrants, especially their variety.
When I talk to kids about their ancestors, many of them assume that everyone started in Eastern Europe and that everyone came through Ellis Island (which was "always" the "only" point of immigration). When I tell them that my family came from Germany (on both sides); that one branch arrived in New Orleans in the early 1850s, and that one great-grandmother was born in Baltimore, they are at least quizzical, if not skeptical. With this in mind, we might consider recommending books like "Toby Belfer visits Ellis Island." It talks about her family moving from New York to New Orleans, which was itself a major immigrant port (now forgotten). There have been a few (regrettably so) books for kids about non-New York immigrants. Even worse, there really isn't a large number of books for adults in general circulation that talk about the immigrant experience outside New York. Some of you may have other suggestions. But now is the time, if ever, to encourage wider knowledge of the immigrant generations (note the plural) and their lives. Fred Isaac Oakland, CA Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
