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WHY MOVING THE OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL MATTERS
My Great Grandparents from my father’s side made their way to America in the early part of the 20th century — to escape the Russian pogroms. They were coming to America for the opportunity not just for a better life, but for religious freedom. Up until they landed here, they were not allowed to practice their own religion — celebrating their holidays, praying and mourning their loved ones all had to be done in secret.
They went through Ellis Island as immigrants hoping they would be accepted by the people sitting on the other side of the tables as they tried to understand the language and quickly figure out their surroundings.
Many immigrants were following another family member who had previously made the trip, solo, to access the situation before sending for their family. This was what happened with my great grandparents; their father had come ahead of them and then managed to get them here later.
The main reason they wanted to uproot their entire life as they knew it was religious freedom, the same reason the pilgrims made their way and countless other immigrants have fled what they have known.
My great grandparents were a success story, they made it out of Russia, they began new lives here and our family grew because of their courage and strength. There were millions who weren’t as…
