The Blogs: A World for Our Children
Family Background and Immigration
Both my parents, Simon and Gertrude Gross Kaplan, immigrated to the United States as children in the early 20th century. My father was 10, and my mother was 13 when they arrived. My father came from Russia, and my mother from a region of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire—which at various times was Hungary, Romania, or Czechoslovakia, and is now Ukraine. Her family’s language was mamaloshen, and their cooking style was Hungarian.
Language and Adaptation
Despite not speaking any English upon arrival, my parents mastered the language so well as adults that they spoke without any foreign accent. Many of my friends were surprised to learn that my siblings and I were the first generation in our family born in America.
Challenges Faced
Adjusting to a new country was difficult. They left behind extended family and friends, had to learn to speak, read, and write in English, and adapt to unfamiliar customs, laws, and culture. On top of these challenges, they bore heavy family responsibilities—circumstances quite different from those of children in later generations.
Their struggles were magnified by the Great Depression, when jobs and money were scarce. These hardships were even greater for Jewish families, and especially for Orthodox ones.
Personal Strength
My father, incredibly smart, an excellent student, always kept his eyes firmly fixed on the goal he was striving to reach.
Author's Summary
This story highlights the resilience and determination of immigrant parents who overcame immense challenges to build a life in America for their children.