Letters from Cuba

This summary includes the following letters: “Govorovo, December 2, 1937,” “On Board the Ship to Cuba, January 22, 1938,” “On Board the Ship to Cuba, January 26, 1938,” “Port of Mérida, February 1, 1938,” “Port of Havana, February 4, 1938,” “Triscornia, February 4, 1938,” “On the Train From Havana to Matanzas, February 4, 1938,” “On the Train From Matanzas to Agramonte, February 4, 1938,” “Agramonte, February 6, 1938,” “Agramonte, February 7, 1938,” “Agramonte, February 15, 1938,” “Agramonte, February 18, 1938,” “Agramonte, February 22, 1938,” and “Agramonte, February 25, 1938.”

Esther lives in Govorovo, Poland, with her irritable Mama, her three brothers— Moshe, Chaim, and Eliezer—her scholarly younger sister, Malka, and their grandmother, or “Bubbe.” They face increasing discrimination because they are Jewish: Papa was forced out of his job as a store owner because of their religion. Three years ago, Esther encouraged Papa to immigrate to Cuba—something Mama is still angry with her about—to support the family. Esther, the oldest child, will soon be 12 and considered an adult in Jewish culture. Papa has sent enough money for one of the children to join him. Esther writes to Papa begging him to let her go to Cuba to help earn money to bring the whole family across.