Beautiful story Marvin. Like you I often think of my Italian immigrant grandparents and wonder what they would think of today's America. All I can say is I am glad they didn't live to see it.
My great-grandfather was a tailor from Hrubieszow in eastern Poland. In 1912, he left his wife, my grandmother, age 3, and her 1 year-old brother to go to New York. A “landsman” got him a job in the garment district. Tow years later, he sent money for his family to join him, but the outbreak of WWI closed the borders. Instead, they left in 1920, and on Columbus Day, my then 11 year-old grandmother saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time. A sight she never forgot. Speaking only Yiddish, her father enrolled her in first grade the next day. By the end of the year, they promoted her to 6th grade with the rest of the 12 year-olds.
When she was in her 80s and 90s, I often asked her about life in Hrubieszow. Invariably, she would start answering my question and then switch to talking about her life in America, “The greatest country in the world.” That’s what she always said. Despite getting married and starting a family in the middle of the Great Depression, or opening several stores that failed, the hard times never tarnished her view of America.
Thank you. Whether an ancestor came in 1620’s,1700’s, 1890’s- whenever- they came with optimism, a desire to succeed and make a good life. 47 et al are spitting on our heritage, and we have to stop them.
Thanks for sharing your father’s (and family’s) story. Although not as illustrious, it reminded me of stories my grandfather told us about coming from Germany at the age of 4. His very large family all came at the same time. Once here family members supported each other. It was indeed a different time…
I grew up in Richmond Virginia hearing my grandfather, a kosher butcher from Lithuania, talk about the Goldene Medine. The “gold” was opportunity, choice, and a secure future for his family.
Hello from a granddaughter of Lithuanians who moved to CT. I, too, want opportunity, choice and a secure future, never expecting a horrible prez and worthless Congress to tear our government apart.
Lovely reminiscence, and I share your pessimism. NB: Yiddish medine means "state, nation, land," not "paradise." But, of course, the goldene medine did seem like a paradise to many.
So great a story, Marvin. I've been thinking a lot about my grandparents -- all immigrants. It wasn't easy, but they also had no choice but to leave their mother country. Just like the immigrants today.
Thank you Marvin for writing this story about your father. I really enjoyed reading this. He sounds like he was such a wonderful human being. You were blessed to have had him as your father as I'm sure you well know.
A beautiful, heart warming piece. Thank you so much for sharing Mr. Kalb. I'm the daughter of Irish immigrants. They came as small children, so the immigrant stories belong to their parents. My paternal grandparents left "the north of Ireland" because " a Catholic can't get a fair trial there. My maternal grandparents fled the scandal of a "mixed marriage." Grandma was Scot-Protestant & Grandpa was Catholic. Life was hard, especially during the Depression and the sacrifices they and all Americans made during WWII. I see the same idealism and drive in the immigrants who have only just arrived into our country - and it BREAKS MY HEART to see the fear in their eyes. Donald Trump has toppled our illustrious nation off the pedestal it justifiably earned on the global stage. But it would be wrong to limit the blame to Donald Trump - the world now knows that the American people voted for this cruel, corrupt barbarian. Since Ronald Regan the Republican Party encouraged to American people to vote for self-centered reasons, NEVER for the greater good. Trump embodies the "It's all about ME!" ethos that now pulses through too many American voters. Yes, we have the Evangelicals - some who have adopted "the Gospel of Prosperity" which is simply "Greed" with a crucifix and while other "Born Agains abandon the intellect gifted to them by the Creator and vote "as they are instructed." Let us hold on - no matter how hard it might be, to Max's optimism. For "without hope the people perish."
It's an ordinary story after all, but repeated over and over countless times, this story and others like it, created our great country. Donald Trump and his minions are rapidly destroying this story, to the country's great detriment. Amidst all the depressing news these days, it's wonderful to find Marvin Kalb alive and still writing!
Thanks for this beautiful story. So many immigrants who had hope when they arrived, now get judged, criticized and fear being deported because of the color of their skin.
Even two generations ago my Lithuanian grandfather had rocks thrown at him on his way to and from the factory where he worked. All these years later and still so many people don't know how to accept and welcome those a bit different.
I guess it's not the dream of wealth that motivates immigrants, but the chance to live "with pride and dignity, a free man...."
I'm going to share this essay with some like-minded people.
Thank you.
Beautiful story Marvin. Like you I often think of my Italian immigrant grandparents and wonder what they would think of today's America. All I can say is I am glad they didn't live to see it.
My great-grandfather was a tailor from Hrubieszow in eastern Poland. In 1912, he left his wife, my grandmother, age 3, and her 1 year-old brother to go to New York. A “landsman” got him a job in the garment district. Tow years later, he sent money for his family to join him, but the outbreak of WWI closed the borders. Instead, they left in 1920, and on Columbus Day, my then 11 year-old grandmother saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time. A sight she never forgot. Speaking only Yiddish, her father enrolled her in first grade the next day. By the end of the year, they promoted her to 6th grade with the rest of the 12 year-olds.
When she was in her 80s and 90s, I often asked her about life in Hrubieszow. Invariably, she would start answering my question and then switch to talking about her life in America, “The greatest country in the world.” That’s what she always said. Despite getting married and starting a family in the middle of the Great Depression, or opening several stores that failed, the hard times never tarnished her view of America.
Thank you. Whether an ancestor came in 1620’s,1700’s, 1890’s- whenever- they came with optimism, a desire to succeed and make a good life. 47 et al are spitting on our heritage, and we have to stop them.
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to your father and to the promise of America that so many of us still believe in and hope to restore some day.
Thanks for sharing your father’s (and family’s) story. Although not as illustrious, it reminded me of stories my grandfather told us about coming from Germany at the age of 4. His very large family all came at the same time. Once here family members supported each other. It was indeed a different time…
What a nice piece. Thank you. I shared the same times and have the same fears.
I grew up in Richmond Virginia hearing my grandfather, a kosher butcher from Lithuania, talk about the Goldene Medine. The “gold” was opportunity, choice, and a secure future for his family.
Hello from a granddaughter of Lithuanians who moved to CT. I, too, want opportunity, choice and a secure future, never expecting a horrible prez and worthless Congress to tear our government apart.
We are fast becoming the horrible place that our grandparents fled.
So sadly.
Lovely reminiscence, and I share your pessimism. NB: Yiddish medine means "state, nation, land," not "paradise." But, of course, the goldene medine did seem like a paradise to many.
So great a story, Marvin. I've been thinking a lot about my grandparents -- all immigrants. It wasn't easy, but they also had no choice but to leave their mother country. Just like the immigrants today.
Wonderful writing. Thank you for sharing your family’s story.
Everything you is valid.
Thank you Marvin for writing this story about your father. I really enjoyed reading this. He sounds like he was such a wonderful human being. You were blessed to have had him as your father as I'm sure you well know.
A beautiful, heart warming piece. Thank you so much for sharing Mr. Kalb. I'm the daughter of Irish immigrants. They came as small children, so the immigrant stories belong to their parents. My paternal grandparents left "the north of Ireland" because " a Catholic can't get a fair trial there. My maternal grandparents fled the scandal of a "mixed marriage." Grandma was Scot-Protestant & Grandpa was Catholic. Life was hard, especially during the Depression and the sacrifices they and all Americans made during WWII. I see the same idealism and drive in the immigrants who have only just arrived into our country - and it BREAKS MY HEART to see the fear in their eyes. Donald Trump has toppled our illustrious nation off the pedestal it justifiably earned on the global stage. But it would be wrong to limit the blame to Donald Trump - the world now knows that the American people voted for this cruel, corrupt barbarian. Since Ronald Regan the Republican Party encouraged to American people to vote for self-centered reasons, NEVER for the greater good. Trump embodies the "It's all about ME!" ethos that now pulses through too many American voters. Yes, we have the Evangelicals - some who have adopted "the Gospel of Prosperity" which is simply "Greed" with a crucifix and while other "Born Agains abandon the intellect gifted to them by the Creator and vote "as they are instructed." Let us hold on - no matter how hard it might be, to Max's optimism. For "without hope the people perish."
It's an ordinary story after all, but repeated over and over countless times, this story and others like it, created our great country. Donald Trump and his minions are rapidly destroying this story, to the country's great detriment. Amidst all the depressing news these days, it's wonderful to find Marvin Kalb alive and still writing!
Thanks for this beautiful story. So many immigrants who had hope when they arrived, now get judged, criticized and fear being deported because of the color of their skin.
Even two generations ago my Lithuanian grandfather had rocks thrown at him on his way to and from the factory where he worked. All these years later and still so many people don't know how to accept and welcome those a bit different.