Lovely story, Jill. The stories of immigrants arriving in Ellis Island, their courage and determination against huge odds never fail to fascinate me. What lovely memories you have of your bubbie.

I have to confess that when I arrived, with my mother and sister, in New York harbor aboard the old Queen Elizabeth, I was disappointed that Ellis Island no longer processed arrivals--instead it had all been done in the country we left. Much more efficient, but far less interesting.