Welcome to America!
by Stella S., Allyson N., Billy Z., Elayne G.
Did you ever wonder how and why people came to America from different countries? They traveled by boats, trains, and planes. In the early 1900's boats were slow, cramped and crowded. Immigrants brought little with them- passports, luggage packed with few clothes and a few treasures. They had a limited supply of things when they arrived to this country.
People didn't know what America would be like. Would it bring happiness and peace or suffering and depression? It was as if they were going through a forest blindfolded.
People took the chance because life in their country was not at all good. Some escaped horrible conditions, some came for business opportunities, others for religious freedom. People took dangerous risks.
How did they become successful in life in America? It is because they didn't give up, and kept on moving forward. Even when things were difficult, they put their best foot forward and built a happy life. Many started a business from scratch to support their families.
In this gallery there are passports, naturalization papers, and old photographs. Each has a interesting story to tell.
Naturalization Papers
Pennsylvania
Jeffrey B
Jacob was the first person on my father's side to come to America. He came from Russia. Although I obviously never met him, I have heard many stories. One story was that he was in the navy in America and he helped construct one of the most famous ships.
Jacob came because he wanted religious freedom and during World War I. Many Jews were being captured and tortured in Russia around that time.
Book
USA
Maurice Salama
This book, "From Darkness to Light," commemorates the people who came out of Egypt without their parents. This group includes Maurice Salama, my grandfather, who had to leave everything behind and come to Brooklyn. It's very important to me because it makes me think of how they felt and it helps us remember the pain and fear and relief they must have felt when they left Egypt. For my Grandfather, it put all the memories of his childhood and friendships with people who came with him in a form that he could share with his children.
My grandfather is Jewish and the reason he had to leave was because in Egypt there was a king who hated Jews and wanted them evacuated. Most other Arabs also wanted them killed, so a rabbi took them out of the country.
Passport
Syria
Joseph G.
This my grandpa's passport. He used it go to America from Syria when he was 5 years old. He lived in Syria with 13 brothers and sisters. His father came to America about 3 years before my grandfather did and he left his wife alone with 13 kids.
My grandfather is Jewish. He came to America to live a better Jewish life with more religious freedom and economic opportunities.
Passport
Iran
Teddy Braha
This passport was issued in Iran. Teddy used it when he immigrated to America. He was really living in Syria, but the Syrian government wouldn't let him leave the country. Somehow he got an Iranian passport so he would be able to travel.
My grandfather was Jewish and he came to America in search of a better life and more freedom of religion.
Drivers License
Jamaica
Isaac S.
This license was given to my grandfather, Isaac S.. He used it in order to drive in Jamaica. He left Syria as a young man and came to France and then to Jamaica. He went to Jamaica for two reasons. He wanted to escape from Syria and wanted to get a job. He went to Jamaica with his family and stayed there for 16 years.
He came to New York because he wanted to live in a Jewish community.
Image has been altered to protect student privacy
Old Photo
New York
Evelyn R.
My artifact is an old photograph. The picture is of my great grandfather, Jack R., with his older brother, Eliahu. They came from Syria to New York City. His older brother came to this country several years before him. Jack was a teenager when he arrived. Jack became very wealthy.
It's a picture of my great grandfather from a very long time ago. He was Jewish, and he came to America to gain freedom and to also get a better job.
Passport
Syria
Grandfather, Morris S.
The passport is a symbol of strength for my family because my grandfather, Morris S., had to escape from Syria because the Arabs were trying to kill all the Jews. A lot of people tried to escape but some of them didn't make it. It shows that even though he and his family were alone they had to survive and make a living. They escaped, they still survived and my grandfather became a very successful man. If he didn't have that passport, I wouldn't be here right now!!!!
The passport has significance to Jewish heritage because it shows that even though hundreds of strong men tried to kill the Jews in Syria, a lot of them escaped with no harm done to them. It shows the strength of the Jewish people.
Citizenship papers
Brooklyn
Sandra B
This certificate belonged to my great great grandmother, who grew up in Russia. On the certificate they made a mistake and it says she was a boy. She came to the United States as an adult, and married an American when she was in Brooklyn. Her son, Harry Millendorf, got it from her. When my great great grandmother passed away my mother, Sandra, took it from Harry's wife, Bertha's house and keeps it as a memory.
This certificate made her a citizen of the United States. If she didn't have it she would have to go back to Russia where she couldn't practice Judaism.