September 2 - February 25 Summary

Letters from Rifka begins with Rifka writing to her cousin Tovah, telling her of how the family escaped Russia on a train on their way to the United States. Rifka thanks Tovah for her family's role in the escape and describes how Rifka, the only daughter and with beautiful blond hair, had to distract the guards. As they searched the different cars, Rifka had to keep talking to the guards to keep them from finding her family hiding in the car behind her - or finding her family's candlesticks stashed in her bag. Meanwhile, Rifka thinks back to why they left; her brother Nathan had escaped from the army and, terrified that the army would come for him and their other sons, Rifka's parents decided to leave the harsh conditions in Russia and head to the United States to...