The Picture that Heads this blog is a picture of Menie Walov/Walof/Wallow my husbands great Grandmother and her children. It was taken shortly after her escape from Russia (now Ukraine area)
Sometime in 1903, Rubin Walov left Russia, assisted by "Uncle Isaac" (only name known..and there is a reference to an Isaac who Sponsors him in NYC). He was a tailor and he left behind a pregnant wife and 4 small children. In 1906 the pogrom was so bad that people had to hide in their houses at night for fear of being murdered. Aunt Sadie remembers stories her mother (Ester, the oldest of Menie's children) told about this time. The Russians would hunt down the Jews and brutally kill them. There were stories about people being pulled off trains and slaughtered or people who hid in haystacks only to be burnt alive. Sometime in early 1906 Menie got a message from her husband, as well as money. (I have not yet found a steamship bank account yet for ticketing purposes but that doesn't mean it was not used....somehow Menie got the tickets /money for travel).
Imagine a bit of her dilemma she has 5 children, the youngest is about 2 or 3 the oldest was 8 and turned 9 during the journey. She left Kiev, probably not telling anyone she was going. She had to hide from everyone as each person might be a potential murderer. She probably had to travel in the dark, she didnt know any other language but Russian and possibly German. She would not be safe til she was far from Russia/Slavic area and Germany, at which time then she could travel like a civilized person on a train. She traveld Steerage (between decks, no bed, no food no facilities, basically it was unclean and crowded) She had to bring enough food for her and her children and make it last the entire boat ride over. She was met by Rubin in NYC who took her to live in Philadelphia.
The picture is very important, it represents her success, her courage and her inner strength. It is the first documentation of her family into freedom. Its letting everyone back home know that too.
Sometime in 1903, Rubin Walov left Russia, assisted by "Uncle Isaac" (only name known..and there is a reference to an Isaac who Sponsors him in NYC). He was a tailor and he left behind a pregnant wife and 4 small children. In 1906 the pogrom was so bad that people had to hide in their houses at night for fear of being murdered. Aunt Sadie remembers stories her mother (Ester, the oldest of Menie's children) told about this time. The Russians would hunt down the Jews and brutally kill them. There were stories about people being pulled off trains and slaughtered or people who hid in haystacks only to be burnt alive. Sometime in early 1906 Menie got a message from her husband, as well as money. (I have not yet found a steamship bank account yet for ticketing purposes but that doesn't mean it was not used....somehow Menie got the tickets /money for travel).
Imagine a bit of her dilemma she has 5 children, the youngest is about 2 or 3 the oldest was 8 and turned 9 during the journey. She left Kiev, probably not telling anyone she was going. She had to hide from everyone as each person might be a potential murderer. She probably had to travel in the dark, she didnt know any other language but Russian and possibly German. She would not be safe til she was far from Russia/Slavic area and Germany, at which time then she could travel like a civilized person on a train. She traveld Steerage (between decks, no bed, no food no facilities, basically it was unclean and crowded) She had to bring enough food for her and her children and make it last the entire boat ride over. She was met by Rubin in NYC who took her to live in Philadelphia.
The picture is very important, it represents her success, her courage and her inner strength. It is the first documentation of her family into freedom. Its letting everyone back home know that too.
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