Read "Letters from Rifka",and the below question, think out a 200 words response to support it or might respectfully disagree with a presenter, present a related but distinct observation, or cite additional textual evidence that helps to support the presenter's argument.
The below is a student's question,please read it and think out a reply, this is just like a kind of blog, as a spectator to comment this reader.
How did Rifka's separation from her family during their immigration affect her childhood?
In the novel Letters from Rifka, the author tells the story of a Jewish family escaping the harsh treatments of the Russian government and soldiers.
The family decides to pack their things and move to America after two of the brothers desert the Russian army and have soldiers looking to kill them in front of their regiment as a warning to the others. Her family leaves in the pursuit of having a better life and equal opportunity. As the family begins their journey, they are immediately hit with several obstacles along the way.
They come across soldiers searching for them, relentless Polish doctors, and eventually the family is infected with Typhus. However, the problems for Rifka do not begin with the Typhus, they begin when she offers to help a peasant girl do her hair, unaware of the events that would result from this kind act. Rifka becomes infected with ringworm after helping the peasant girl and would not be allowed to travel to America with her family.
As her family moves onto America, Rifka is forced to stay behind with the HIAS to receive treatment until she is determined clear to go by the doctors. As we all know, one of, if not the most important ideals of your childhood are your family. Rifka had hers ripped away from her and was forced to adjust to life on her own at such a young age. It's because of these events that we see her character's growth through the end of the novel. we are able to see her maturity levels increase as well as her bravery and compassion for others. Instead of enjoying her childhood as others might have, she had to fend for herself, learn new languages and navigate a whole new city on her own.
A family is the most important aspect of one's childhood because they depend on them to protect and provide for their needs. Rifka had to act as her family's role and find ways to provide for herself by working at the hospital. She also eventually found others to temporarily fill the family role such as Ilya, the peasant boy who she taught how to speak and read. Although it was devastating being ripped away from her family, this traumatic event definitely shaped her into the strong young woman we see at the end of the novel, when she tells the doctors all the things she had to learn and accomplish just to be able to come to America to be reunited with her family.