Characters
List 2 facts about Raisa
Options: A young 13 year old girl who is leaving her life in a small shtetl in Poland behind to go find her sister in New York City. She speaks Yiddish and does not know how to read. She is a nurturer who people feel comfortable around. Raisa is motivated to find her sister and to learn how to read.
Small village
Shtetl
What defines family?
You do not have to be related to someone to consider them family. Growing up with a person or sharing a living space with a person helps you form a bond with someone who over time you may consider family. Being taken care of by someone or looked after by someone can also lead to a feeling of family.
Raisa and Henda’s mother’s best friend. She took in both girls after their mother died and raised them as if they were her own. She is Nathan’s mother.
Glukel
Jewish house of worship
Synagogue
How can people communicate if they don't speak the same language?
. Facial expressions and hand gestures can give you a pretty good idea of what a person is feeling and often what they are trying to say. Body language is also a nonverbal form of communication that people can interpret.
Who is Reb Avner?
He is the Rabbi from their shtetl in Poland.
Yiddish for old woman
Alteh
Why is education important?
Raisa knows that she is going to a country where they speak a different language than her. She is nervous because she does not speak English but is eager to learn how. A woman on the ship warned her that when she exchanges her money for U.S dollars, there is a chance she will be cheated out of the correct amount because she does not speak the language and does not know what the value should be. Raisa knows it is important to be educated so she will be taken seriously by the people in America. She also knows that she needs to be able to read and write so she will be taken advantage of by employers or landlords.
Who does Raisa meet on the ship?
Zusa
Jewish priest
Rabbi
How does Raisa show perseverance?
Raisa has come across many difficulties but has refused to give up. She is determined to find Henda. She did not expect to take in a young child but she does it even though she knows that is going to make her journey much more difficult. Raisa soon learns that Henda is not at the address she expected her to be at yet she does not give up. She keeps up hope that she will find Henda. She finds a place to stay and continues to look for her sister.
Who doe Raisa and Zusa take care of and why?
Brina- her mother passed away
What does prejudice mean?
judement of someone based on a characteristic like gender, ethnicity, religion, etc.