“Everybody is with everybody alike, in America. Christians and Jews are brothers together.”
“An end to the worry for bread. An end to the fear of the bosses over you. Everybody can do what he wants with his life in America.”
“There are no high or low in America. Even the President holds hands with Gedalyeh Mindel.”
“Plenty for all. Learning flows free like milk and honey.”
“Learning flows free.”
The words painted pictures in my mind. I saw before me free schools, free colleges, free libraries, where I could learn and learn and keep on learning.
In our village was a school, but only for Christian children. In the schools of America I’d lift up my head and laugh and dance—a child with other children. Like a bird in the air, from sky to sky, from star to star, I’d soar and soar.
“Land! Land!” came the joyous shout.
“America! We’re in America!” cried my mother, almost smothering us in her rapture.