1. Why is Rifka's cousin Hannah given piano lessons even when she is terrible at playing the piano, while Tovah is musically talented and is NOT given piano lessons? What does this say about society in Russia in the early 1900's? Support your answer with text evidence or from our discussion in class today.
2. Why does Rifka kiss the hand of the milkman? Give text evidence.
3. During her stay in Antwerp, Belgium, Rifka starts to enjoy the city. Give three examples why she thinks, "Antwerp is a wonderful city." (p. 66)
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Letters From Rifka
By Karen Hesse
25 comments:
1. Rifks cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even when she is terrible and Tovah is really talented but is not given lessons because it says on page 59 it says that Rifkas mom said "Uncle Avrum won't give Tovah piano lessons because of her back and that it is not straight.Uncle Avrum thinks that it would be a very slem chance that she will be married. Uncle Avrum thinks that Hannah has a better chance of being married than Tovah does so he thought giving Hannah lessons will make a man want her more. (just to tell you this is the next question >) It means that back then the men and women did not get the oppertunity to chose who the wanted to marry. There fathers had to chose who there sons and daughters got married to.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because it makes her think of her Uncle Zeb who died when the solders shot him.
3.One reason that she thinks Antwerp is a good City is because of the milkman that gave Rifka a ride when she got lost. On page thirty-six which that was very helpful Mr.D it says she likes antwerp because the people are kind and generous.
AS#25
ZGE5
1 Tovah has a crooked spine from when she fell off the table as a baby, so her parents think that she will not get married, because in this society women are valued for their beauty and their skills like piano playing. Hannah is given lessons, even though she's horrible, because it will help her get a husband. While Tovah is a natural at piano, her parents don't want to waste the money since they don't think a man will marry her because of her spine.
2 Rifka kissed the milkman because for Rifka she thought of this milkman like Uncle Zeb. Her Uncle Zeb used to be a milkman and when she sees this new milkman, she has a lot of memories (on page 64). Uncle Zeb died being killed by Russians and Rifka had not been able to say bye to Uncle Zeb. For her it felt like she was thanking Uncle Zeb and feeling like she said goodbye to him.
3 Rifka loved Antwerp. Three examples are 1) the people are kind and generous - like the couple she boards with are kind and like when she speaks in Flemish, and enjoy when she tells stories about her day. 2) There are beautiful things, such as the carriages and canals and bridges. 3) The food is "splendid" such as bananas and ice cream and chocolate.
J.M.13
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah got piano lessons and Tovah did not because Rifka’s uncle does not think Tovah would ever marry because she had a hunched back and was not as pretty. But he thought Hannah was pretty and would marry. So in their culture they had arranged marriages so he wanted Hannah to have class so that way a man will want to marry her. On page 59-60 the text evidence is that Tovah is not meant to marry because of her hunched back but Hannah is.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because on pages 63-65 Rifka was lost from her walk and couldn’t find her way home. The milkman came and she said she was lost and she needed directions to Kings Street so the milk man let her have a ride with him. He took her hand and she felt like the milk man was her uncle Zeb. But he died in war and she never got to say good bye to him. So by kissing the milk man’s hand she felt as if show s saying good bye to her Uncle Zeb.
3. Three examples of why she thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city are on page 67-68 when she discovered ice cream and bananas and chocolate. Another example is on page 69 it states everyone is nice to and treat’s the Jews with a lot more respect than the people in Berdichev did. And finally nobody cares if she is a Jew or if she is bald.
J.M.13
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible while Tovah is great at playing the piano and she is not given lessons because back then in Russia there were arranged marriges so Rifka’s uncle Avrum wanted Hannah to learn how to play the piano so she has class and so families would want their children to marry her Tovah has a bent spine so Avrum thinks that no one would want to marry her whereas on p. 59 it says ”Hannah is like a fairy princess so delicate and beautiful and sweet. You Tovah are like an old rabbi clever and funny and brave.” Uncle Avrum doesn’t want to waste money on piano lessons for Tovah. This shows that society in Russia in the early 1900’s depended mainly on looks.
2. Rifka kisses the milkman’s hand because Rifka’s uncle Zeb was a milkman and he was shot by soldiers and Rifka never got to say goodbye to uncle Zeb and because this milkman reminded her o uncle Zeb this was her way of saying goodbye to him.
3. One example why Rifka thinks that Antwerp is a wonderful city is on p. 66 when she says “the people are so kind and generous, even the children.” Another example on p. 66 is that the girls are letting her play with them and teaching her rhymes even though she is bald. The last example is on p. 67 when it says that the food is splendid and she found bananas, ice cream, and chocolate.
MM17
Answers#1. Rifka’s cousin, Hanna is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at the piano because Uncle Avrum thinks that Tovah will never marry because of her back, even though she is good at the piano, and he thinks it will be more likely that Hanna will marry somebody. So that is why Hanna gets piano lessons gets piano lessons and Tovah doesn’t.
Answers#2. I think that Rifka kisses the hand of the milk man because he reminds her of her Uncle Zeb and how she never got to say goodbye to him as it states on pg.65, “I never had i chance to say goodbye to Uncle Zeb. The soldiers shot him as he came out of his house. That was that.” So i think she kissed the milk man because she felt like he was Uncle Zeb, and she thought that was like saying goodbye to Uncle Zeb.
Answers#3. One example that Rifka thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city is on pg.66 when Rifka says that “the people are so nice and generous”. Another example is on pg.67 when Rifka finds out about all the new foods. Another example is also on pg.67 when she says “the cabarets and the hula dancers, they are all so familiar to me now.”
JCL#12
1. Hannah is given piano lessons because on page 59 it says that Hannah is more of a marrying type than Tovah who has a crooked back. This shows that back then the parents wanted more money from a groom’s family. Tovah’s father would not give her piano lessons because probably no man would want to give money to marry a girl with a crooked back. Hannah however is prettier and would get a better chance at marrying someone.
2. Rifka kisses the milkman’s hand because it says on page 65 she felt as if it was saying her last good-bye to Uncle Zeb after he was shot. The milkman reminded Rifka of Uncle Zeb a lot with his horse and him being so kind
3. Rifka thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city because she thinks everyone is so nice and welcoming to her. Another reason she thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city is because on page 67 it says that it has amazing foods like chocolate, and bananas, and ice cream. These are all new foods to Rifka, which shows the poverty in Berdichev. One other reason is that it doesn’t matter if she has no hair or if she is a Jew in Antwerp
R.M. 14
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah was given piano lessons because Uncle Avrum wants Hannah to have a better chance at getting married to someone with more money. So she has lessons even though she is really bad. Tovah, even though she is extraordinary at the piano, she is not given lessons. This is because Uncle Avrum thinks that Tovah will never marry because of her crooked back.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because he took her home out of his way completely. The text evidence is on page, 64.
3. Rifka starts to like Antwerp because on page 66 it says, “The people are so kind and generous, even the children” .
MP#19
1.Rifka's cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even when she is terrible at playing the piano, while Tovah is musically talented and is NOT given piano lessons because on page 59 it says Hanah’s pretty and they want her to get married. Tovah is not pretty and she has a crooked back.
2.Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because on page 65 it says he remined her of her uncle Neb.
3.Rifka thinks that Antwerp is a wonderful city. It says on p. 53, “They have water right outside their door and a real indoor toilet just down the hall.” Rifka thinks this is a luxury. She also thinks that the people are kind and generous, even the children. P.66 Also, “the food is splendid,” she says on p. 67.
CH #8
HK#9
1.Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons because Hannah’s father thinks that Hannah is the one to marry and he wants Hannah to have class. Uncle Avrun does not think that Tovah is the one to merry because when she was little she fell and now she does not have a straight spine.
2.Rifka kisses the hand of the milk man because on page 65 it says “I never had the chance to say good bye to uncle Zeb. The soldiers shot him has he was coming out of his house. That was that. Kissing the milk man, I felt I could say good-bye to uncle Zeb too.”
3.Rifka thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city because the people are so generous even the children, she feels that she can get out without people making fun of her (because she is bald), and they do not treat Jews differently.
HK#9
JS#23
1. Rifkas cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at playing while Tovah is musically talented at the piano because Tovah has a back problem and uncle Avrum thinks she will never get married. Uncle Avrum gives lessons to Hannah because he thinks she will get married. He does not want to waste the money on Tovah. All of this is based on our discussion in class today. The society in Russia in the early 1900’s was that you would have a arranged marriage in the ages probably between 10 and 20.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because on page 65 it states Rifka liking the milkman because he seemed like Uncle Zeb with the kindness in his eyes. Rifka felt like Uncle Zeb was near her all though Uncle Zeb got shot walking out of his house by the soldiers.
3. Antwerp is a wonderful city to Rifka because on page 66 it states that Rifka says everyone there is kind, generous and she says all these things like, beautiful carriages, hula dancers, and horses trotting along the street. JS#23
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons because adding that to what she can do will just make her a better housewife. Tough, Tovah is musically skilled she will probably never marry. She will not marry because of her spin injury as stated on page 59 “Uncle Avrum won’t give Tovah piano lessons because of her back…just because Tovah’s back isn’t straight doesn’t mean she can’t play the piano. When she was a baby and fell from the table did she hurt anything else? Did she hurt her hands so she couldn’t play? No! So why can’t Tovah have piano lessons” That means that society in the 1900’s was only on looks and how the person could perform.
2. Rifka kissed the hand of the milkman because she thought this would be her finally saying good-bye to Uncle Zeb on page 65 it states “I never got to say good-bye to Uncle Zeb. The soldiers shot him just when he came out of his house. That was that. Kissing that hand of the milkman, I felt at last I could say good-bye to Uncle Zeb too.” That is why Rifka kissed the hand of the milkman.
3. The first example for why Rifka thinks Antwerp, Belgium is a wonderful city is on page 66 where it says “The people are so kind and generous, even the children.” The second example was on page 67 “I can hardly believe that it ever felt strange to me here. The bridges over the canals, the markets at the Grunaplatz, the beautiful carriages and horses trotting along the streets, the cabarets and hula dancers, they are all so familiar to me now. I wish Mama and Papa were here. The boys, too. And you, Tovah, and Hannah and Uncle Avrum and Bubbe Ruth, everyone, I wish you were all here. How I would love to share this wonderful city with you.” The final one was on page 67 “…the food is splendid… there is a fruit called a banana, colored yellow like a June sun and curved… And ice cream!” That is why Rifka believes Antwerp, Belgium is a wonderful city.
lab#2
1. Rifka's cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even when she is terrible at playing the piano, while Tovah is musically talented and is NOT given piano lessons because Uncle Avrum doesn’t feel Tovah will be able to marry a good husband. On page 59, when Rifka asks her Mama why Uncle Avrum won’t give Tovah piano lessons she said, “Uncle Avrum won’t give Tovah piano lessons because of her back.” Also, Mama said, “Uncle Avrum gives Hannah piano lessons so she can catch a good husband.” This says that society in Russia in the 1900’s valued beauty more than being smart.
2. Rifka kissed the hand of the milkman because he was kind and reminded Rifka of her Uncle Zeb, who had been shot by soldiers. On page 65, Hesse wrote, I never had a chance to say good-bye to Uncle Zeb. The soldiers shot him as he came out of the house. Kissing the hand of the milkman, I felt at last I could say good-bye to Uncle Zeb too.
3. There are three examples of why Rifka thinks, "Antwerp is a wonderful city." (p. 66) First, she thinks people are kind and generous. For example, she plays ball with children in the park and likes the couple she lives with named Marie and Gaston because they are kind to her. Second, she thinks the food in Antwerp is good. For example, she gets introduced to bananas and ice cream and really likes how they taste. Then she discovers Belgian chocolate and often eats nothing but ice cream, bananas and chocolate. Third, she notices that it doesn’t matter that she has no hair in Antwerp. For example, she found a hat she wanted but didn’t have the money. When she went back to the store after saving enough money, the hat was sold. The salesclerk told her they could make her another hat and took measurements for a new hat without saying a word about the scabs on her head.
Jrn 18
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is not good at it and Tovah is, is because Hannah is very pretty and is like a fairy princess. Which makes it easy for her to get an arranged marriage because of her looks. So if she learned the piano it would make her look like a sophisticated young woman. Tovah has a crooked back from falling off a table when she was a young infant. Which means she is most likely not to marry because of her looks even though she is smart, funny and can pick up piano quickly. Which makes her the exact opposite of her sister. I think it shows that in Russia in the early 1900’s how different it is from our time because they have arranged marriages, the ladies should have only good looks and be sophisticated, and the men should only be educated, and have lots of money.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because he reminds her of her Uncle Zeb who was so kind and generous but she never got to say good-bye to him because soldiers shot him when he was on the way out of his house. So this kiss was like her kiss good-bye to him.
3. One example to show why Rifka thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city is that she thinks the people there are so kind and generous, even the children. She plays with some of them in the park outside her room. A second reason is that Marie and Gaston (the couple Rifka is staying with) are very kind to her. They enjoy when she speaks with them in Flemish, and Gaston always laughs and claps his hands when Rifka tells him about her day. A third reason Rifka thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city is because there they have bridges over canals, a market at Grunaplatz, beautiful carriages and horses trotting along the street, and cabarets and hula dancers.
LP #21
CM#16
1. Rifka's cousin, Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is not good because her dad wants her to marry someone from their class ( which is a very good class ). Tovah, Rifkas other cousin is not able to play piano because she has a bad back. Tovah's dad doesn't think that anyone will want to marry her because of how she looks. Russia in the early 1900's was not like Russia now because back then when the girls or boys got older ( 13 or 14 ) there parents went to parties and chatted with people and their class and got their kids to get married. For example Sydney's mom talks to a guy named Joe and let's say they both are very rich. They can talk about their kids and get them to marry. In that time the kids didn't have their choice.
2. In letters from Rifka, Rifka got lost when she was walking home from her hair treatment and ran into a milkman and she asked for a ride. When she was on his carriage she was thinking about her uncle and how he always let her on his cart but he died without knowing because some soldiers shot him. Rifka felt like she was with her uncle so she kissed the milkman because that was her way of saying goodbye to her uncle. For example on page 64 and 65 Rifka said " He did not look like uncle Zeb, except for the kindness in his eyes, but still, while I was with him I felt uncle Zeb near me.
3. Rifka said "Antwerp is a wonderful city" because she met new friends that didn't care about how she looked. Also the amazing sights like the hula dancers and canals. Another reason she likes Antwerp is that they have new foods that she has never tasted like chocolate. These are the reasons she likes Antwerp.
CM#16
1. The reason why Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons and Tovah isn’t is because Tovah fell of a table when she was little and hurt her back so now she has a crocked back and her dad doesn’t think any one would marry her when she is really good at the piano when Hannah reeks at the piano. Her dad thinks Hannah is gorges and will be married so she is being tote piano lessons so she has something special. That is why I think Tovah is not being tote piano lessons.
2. I think Rifka kissed the milk mans hand because the milk man reminded haer of her uncle that died because the milk man was thought full and generous to her she wishes she could give the milk man a reword for being so thought full to her. This is why I think why Rifka kissed the milk mans hand.
DG #7
AA#1
1. Rifkas cousin Hannah is given piano lessons because her father wants her to grow up and have a good husband and Tovah does not get lessons because she has a crooked back and probably will not have a husband because of it so her dad will not give her piano lessons.
2. Rifka kisses the milkman's hand because she said he is just like her uncle Zen and she was so thankful for him bringing home for example Rifka said her uncle Zen drove a cart to and the milkman looked like uncle Zen in the eyes.
3. Three examples why Rifka starts to like Antwerp, Belgium are most people are kind, their are no conners and their is new food she has never had before.
AA#1
1. Rifka's cousin, Hannah, is given piano lessons and not Tovah is because Hannah is more of a marrying type and more attractive. On pages 59 and 60 it says that Tovah isn't given piano lessons because she has a crooked spine and probably won't catch a good husband. This means that in the early 1900's people were judged on how they look, not who they are.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because on page 65 it says "I felt at last I could say goodbye to Uncle Zeb too." Another reason that she kissed the hand of the milkman is that he went so far out of his path just to take Rifka to King Street.
3. Rifka thinks that Antwerp is a wonderful city because she says, "The people are so kind and generous, even the children." Another reason she thinks that is because a little girl named Gizelle brings a ball to the park and they play catch. She laughs at her accent, but not in a cruel way. The final reason that Rifka thinks Antwerp is a wonderful city is that they have amazing foods. Foods they did not have back in Berdichev, such as bananas, chocolate, and ice cream. Rifka writes to Tovah about these things and tells her how wonderful they are.
DMM#15
1. Rifkas cousin Hannah was given piano lessons because even when she is terrible at playing piano while Tovah is musically talented and is not given piano lessons is by Tovah not having a straight back like every body else in her family. So Tovah’s father says if Hannah plays the piano it would help give her get a better man to marry. The society says to Rifka about Russia in the 1900’s is by when girls would have arranged marriages by there parents and the husband parents.
2. Rifka kissed the mailman on page 65 it says “I kissed the strong, leathery hand of the milkman, right out in front of the house of king street. The reason Rifka kissed his hand because Rifka got lost in Warsaw so she asked the man to drive her home and he did.
3. In the text evidence it says Antwerp is a wonderful city. The next evidence is. The people are so kind and generous even the children. The last is the people who live there are verey social.
pp#22
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at playing the piano, while Tovah is musically talented and is not because, as said on pages 59 and 60 Uncle Avrum [Hannah and Tovah’s father] thinks if Hannah can play the piano she will be more likely to catch a good husband, however, he thinks that because of Tovah’s crooked back, she is not the marrying type. This tells that in the society in the early 1900’s they would not waste the money for something, like piano lessons, if they did not think it would help them in any way when they grew up.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because he reminded her of her dead Uncle Zeb. She thought this would be the way she said goodbye to him. This is shown on page 65 when it says “I never had a chance to say good bye to Uncle Zeb. Kissing the hand of the milkman I felt at last I could say good-bye to Uncle Zeb too.”
3. Rifka thinks “Antwerp is a wonderful city” because “The people are so kind and generous, even the children.”, Not only are the people kind in Belgium, but the food is splendid.”, and “The bridges over the canals, the market at the Grunaplatz, the beautiful carriges and horses trotting along the streets,the cabarets and the hula dancers, they are all so familiar to me now.”. I found this information on pages 66 and 67
1. Hannah is given piano lesson’s wile Tovah is not but has a musical talent because in Russia in the 1900’s your parents arranged your marriage. Tovah’s father does not think that because of Tovah’s bent back she is the marring type but Hannah is. He thinks giving Hannah piano lessons will add more quality to her. For example on p. 59 the book says “when I asked mama she said uncle Avrum won’t give Tovah piano lesson’s because of her back”. This shows that in the 1900’s in Russia it was all about the looks when it came to love or marriage.
2.Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because he reminded her of uncle Zeb and she never got to say her last goodbye so to her it was like kissing him one more time for example on page 65 it says “I never had a chance to say goodbye to uncle Zeb. The soldiers shot him as he came out of his house. That was that.Kissing the hand of the milkman, I felt at last I could say goodbye to uncle Zeb too.
3. Three examples why Rifka likes Antwerp is on page 66 it says the people are so kind and generous even the children. Another is on page 66 it says She brings her ball to the park I have learned a lot of bouncing rhymes even though sometimes I don’t even Know what I’m saying. The last is on page 66 it says the old couple I board with Marie and Gaston are kind to me.
1. Hannah is given piano lessons because uncle Avrum, whom is very rich, want her to get a husband of the same class as him. Hannah is very pretty, and Rifka compares her to a fairy princess, but she is not good at the piano. Tovah is a very talented musician, but, on page 5, it states “ (Uncle Avrum won’t give Tovah piano lessons because of her back)” This show that in the early 1900s in Russia, people did not do things because they want to, like for example, Hannah may not want to marry the arranged marriage her parents choose, but she has to or her family will make her not part of the family anymore. Hannah might hate her piano lessons, but her parents want her too, and therefore she must.
2. Rifka’s uncle Zeb used to be a milkman, but when he got drafted to the army and ran away, he got shot leaving his house. Rifka never got to say good-bye to him. When the milkman helped her find her way back to King Street, she felt as though she was with Uncle Zeb again, and by kissing the milkman’s hand, she felt as though she was saying good-bye to uncle Zeb, even though Uncle Zeb was dead.
3. On page 66, she says that “ the people are kind and generous, even the children.” She goes to the park now and plays with the kids. She meets the girl who she thought looked like Hannah, who turned out to be more resourceful girl than Hannah. she plays brings her ball to the park and they play ' catch" They do not tease her or avoid her because of her baldness, and they teach her jump rope rhymes. On page 67-68, Rifka writes, “ the food is splendid.” While in Antwerp, Rifka discovers three new foods, one of which is a banana. She describes it as “colored like a June sun”. Next she discovers ice cream. The ice cream man has a dog pulling his cart. She said, “ If the people in Berdichev could taste ice cream, they would give up eating anything else.” Then she discovers chocolate. She wrote to Tovah that “ It is like biting off a little corner of heaven” She thinks that it is even better than her mother’s pastries. She also likes the people who take care of her, Marie and Gaston. She writes that “ they are kind to me” and they love it when she speaks in Flemish.
KL#10
1) In the book Letters from Rifka, Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessens but is not musically talented when Rifka’s other cousin Tovah is musically talented but not given lessons. The reason that Tovah is not given piano is because when she was a baby she fell off a table and now her back is crooked and is not as beautiful as Hannah is. Hannah is given lessons because she is most likely to get married to another wealthy person so knowing how to play the piano will give her a little more class is what uncle Avrum thinks. Uncle Avrum also thinks that Tovah is not going to get married so he doesn’t bother to spend money on piano lessons for her. That is saying that in the 1900’s in Russia that looks mattered a lot, not how nice or smart you are. Uncle Avrum still thinks that Tovah is not going to get married because she is not pretty even though she is smart, clever, and funny told by Rifka on page 60. It states “But Tovah is smart and funny!” I cried “and so clever…” I thought that everyone saw you as I did. That is why Hannah got piano lessons and Tovah didn’t.
2) In the book Letters from Rifka, Rifka kisses the hand of a kind milkman for so generously taking her home when she was lost and dropping her off at the door step. Rifka kissed the hand of the milkman because he reminded her a lot of her Uncle Zeb who also was a milkman as found on pages 62 and 63. It says, “I followed him remembering Uncle Zeb and his horse, Lotkey, and how Uncle Zeb would take us for rides when he didn’t have business.” Then one day a soldier shot and killed Uncle Zeb, and Rifka never had the chance to say goodbye to him so she kissed the hand of the milkman to thank him for his generosity. It also was a way to say goodby to Uncle Zeb as stated on page 65, “…I felt at last I could say goodbye to Uncle Zeb too.” That is why Rifka kissed the hand of the milkman.
3) In the book Letters from Rifka Rifka starts to enjoy the city of Antwerp, Belgium where she is currently staying. Two ways of how she is enjoying the city is found on page 67. It states “Not only are the people kind in Belgium, but the food is splendid.” In that sentence she is enjoying boththe food and the people. Another example of how Rifka is enjoying Antwerp is stated on page 55. It says “The treatments are not as bad as I feared.” It also says “…, it feels good when Sister Katrina touches me, even if she does so only to treat my ringworm.” So those two sentences she is enjoying the treatments. Those are some examples of how Rifka is enjoying her stay in Antwerp.
JS#24
JB#3
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible at it, and Tovah is amazing at the piano but she isn’t given piano lessons because on page 59 and 60 it says that when Hannah has her lessons, the teacher would scream and tears would roll down Hannah’s cheeks. However, Tovah has a musical talent with the piano and she has never had lessons before. Uncle Avrum wouldn’t give lessons to Tovah because the piano lessons were really for getting a husband but Uncle Avrum doesn’t think that Tovah should get married. He thinks that because her back isn’t straight. Mama said that “some girls aren’t meant to marry,” and Rifka says, that isn’t fair! Tovah is smart, funny and so clever. I agree with Rifka. What this says about society in Russia in the early 1900’s is that if a girl or boy has something wrong with them or a medical condition then other people might think they would be suitable to marry. Also, fathers pick the man their daughter is going to marry. Even if the daughter doesn’t like him, she can’t make him change his mind. What ever he says, stays.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because on page 65 it says “I do not know why Tovah, but I took that long hand of the milkman and pressed my lips to it. I kissed the strong, leathery hand of the milkman, right out in front of the house on King Street. I never had a chance to say good-bye to Uncle Zeb.” Rifka thought kissing the hand of the milkman, finally she could say good-bye to Uncle Zeb because Uncle Zeb died when some soldiers shot him and the milkman was just like Uncle Zeb.
3. Three examples that show, during Rifka’s stay in Antwerp, Belgium, she begins to enjoy the city because people are so kind and generous, even the children. For example, on page 66, 67 and 68 it says that the girl outside of Rifka’s window, Gizelle, is friends with Rifka. Also, on page 67 it says that there are, “bridges over the canals, the market at the Grunaplatz, the beautiful carriages and horses trotting along the streets, the cabarets and the hula dancers, they are all so familiar to me now…Not only are the people kind in Belgium, the food is splendid.” The food cost very little, Sister Katrina introduced Rifka to so many new tastes. Some of these new tastes include bananas, ice cream, and chocolate.
JB#3
1. Rifka’s cousin Hannah is given piano lessons even though she is terrible because on page 59 it says “Uncle Avrum gives Hannah piano lessons so she can catch a good husband”.
2. Rifka kisses the hand of the milkman because he reminded her of her Uncle Zeb who died and she never got to say good bye so when she kissed the milkman’s hand that was her way of saying good bye. For example on page 65 it says “Kissing the hand of the milkman, I felt at last I could say good-bye to Uncle Zeb too.”
3. Three examples of why Rifka thinks that “Antwerp is a wonderful city” are “the people are kind and generous”, there are beautiful things, the food is “splendid”.
The only reason uncle Avrum is giving Hannah and not tovah music lessons is because Hannah cannot play the piano but Tovah is actually really good but uncle Avrum thinks that Tovah will not have a husband and Hannah will. The reason uncle Avrum says that is because when Tovah was little he rolled off the bed and he now has a crooked spine. But Hannah doesn’t and uncle avrum thinks if you can be sophisticated like playing the piano you will most likely have a higher chance of getting a husband.
The reason Rifka kisses the milkmans had is because when uncle zeb died the milk man reminds her a lot about him and also she kisses his hand for helping her find her way home.
She thinks Antwerp is a nice place is because when she was woried about asking the milkman for directions but the milk man said” you can hop on and tell me where you live she said king street. And she likes people in Antwerp because they ar helpful and thoughtful even when she has no hair and that is why she likes Antwerp.
Jp#20
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