Immigration Letter
Written January 2002
Dear Mother,
     How are things in Italy? Are there any new anti-Jewish laws? Is everyone getting enough food?
     I arrived in America safely, but I must say, the trip over was horrible. Twelve days cramped in steerage – ick! And when I arrived at Ellis Island they changed my name from Devorah to Debra!
     I live in a neighborhood with many other Jewish immigrants. Not everyone can speak Italian, but I speak to the others in my apartment in Yiddish. There is a temple right down the road.
     Oh, Mother, I am so homesick! I have not yet found a job – I have no money to send you, nor for myself. It is hard to live here, there are people called Nativists who hate immigrants. I suppose I should be glad to be here, though. There is no racial prejudice, so there is nothing here that I cannot do because I am a Jew. For that I am thankful. I shall try to look more at the positive things, maybe then I can make it through this.
    I leave you here. Hopefully in my next letter I will have money for you. I wish you luck from America!
                                                                                 Your loving daughter,
                                                                                  Devorah Singer




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