EPISODE 3: Maternal Grandparents

While the paternal grandparents, Rose and Benjamin K. were establishing their life in America, there was another young man living in Minsk, Russia, and experiencing turmoil. His name was Samuel Marshak.
Samuel fell in love with a beautiful young girl, also named Rose, who worked in her family’s bakery in a small town outside of Minsk. This was the Danzig family. Her mom’s name was Sarah and was a widow with 4 children. Sarah was known for her exceptional Challah in the district. Every Friday at daybreak, Samuel would go on horseback to retrieve a Challah for his family’s Shabbos, and would woo Rose D. He had made his intentions known, even though Rose was only 16 years old, and he, only 18 years old. Their future would decree them to be the maternal grandparents of Carol-Rose.
Sadly, there were many daytime and midnight raids by the Russian Cossacks in these small Jewish towns. The purpose of these raids was to take over their homes and possessions and eliminate the Jewish population.
Samuel’s family was very close with his mother’s sister’s family, the Levines. In particular, his cousin, Simcha, being the same age. The two families worked their farms in tandem and stayed close. One day, Samuel and Simcha were in the field working. Suddenly there was screaming, and Samuel’s two sisters were running wildly and yelling, “We have been attacked.” Embracing their sisters, the two young men carefully made their way to their home. The sight was terrifying. Their home had been burnt to the ground, all their possessions ransacked, valuables stolen, and with great horror, their eyes told them that their respective parents were killed by the Cossacks.
Fearfully, Samuel and Simcha took their sisters and hid in the forest, praying for their lives to be spared. They lived off wild plants and carefully devised a plan. They called themselves brothers and vowed their devotion to each other. It was decided they would try to reach America, a land that was free. Certainly, if they stayed, they would be killed. 
Samuel, then carefully entered the town, where his beloved Rose resided, and told her of his plight. He pled for permission, to her mother Sarah, for his betrothal to Rose and swore that he would send for Rose when established in America, Simcha did the same, with his betrothed Gittel, from a nearby family. They would travel towards the sea to accomplish this dream. 
Despite Samuel’s pleadings, his sister Chana, chose to stay with her intended family and would take her sister with her. She cried that America was too far, and they would be migrating to Germany. Although Sam argued with his sister that America was the destination, it was to no avail. They separated and Samuel and Simcha continued alone. They would be part of the mass migration of more than two million Russian Jewish people, leaving Russia to escape the Pogrom and settle in America.

In later years, Samuel’s account of his voyage was short. He said, “We went through the forests on foot towards port cities. We were determined to get to America.” The exact path of their journey was unclear. But after two years of traveling, they had passage on a ship. He refused to discuss the hardships endured and insisted it would be forgotten and never spoken about again.
They ultimately boarded a ship with minimum accommodations. They were young, strong, determined, and approaching age 20. The ship was headed to New York Harbor, and they would be sent to Ellis Island for indoctrination.
The older passengers on board prepped them for their acceptance to this new land. They were told to say they were very healthy, had a reasonable amount of money, and would be staying with cousins. Of course, their health would be tested They were pushed, stamped, examined, and then sent to a line to determine which state they would be sent to. There was a quota system in place.

The agent asked Grandpa Samuel his name.
Samuel said, “Marshak, Marshak.”
The agent wrote down, “Marshall.”

The agent asked where he was going.
Samuel said, “New York.”
Thankfully, the agent wrote, “New York.”

The agent asked his occupation.
Samuel answered, “I do beautiful work in farming.”
The agent sent him to the line for construction workers in New York.

Cousin Simcha answered his agent, “I am Simcha Levine.”
The agent wrote down, “Samuel Levin.”

The agent asked his occupation.
Simcha replied, “I sew.”
Thankfully, the agent wrote down, “Tailor.”

The agent asked where he was headed.
Simcha, or now Samuel, answered, “I am on the road with my cousin, wherever he goes.”
The Agent wrote down, “Rhode Island.”

So there it was. After sharing a hard life in Russia, going through an impossible journey together, with only themselves for comfort, their fate was decided. One would go to New York and the other to the state of Rhode Island.
They communicated through a friend’s address in New York as to their whereabouts. Miraculously, Samuel Marshall reached Hester Street in New York and praised God for allowing him to safely come to these shores. Samuel Levin was sent to Providence, Rhode Island, and got a job working in a shop for clothing, In months to come they would try to reunite.
Everything changes, nothing stays the same.
Episode 4 continues next month. “Rose Danzig Comes to America.”