The story of Joanna Berger
When Yakov and Bella Ilyasov walked into my Engish-as-a-second-language class that first morning, barely two weeks after fleeing the former Soviet Union, I had no idea that ultimately their family would teach me far more than I could ever have taught them. They had escaped bare-bones with their daughter and parents -- a couple changes of clothing, a few books, a classical record or two. But no dolls for their six-year-old daughter Emily; no photographs or family heirlooms to give elderly Sholom and Esfira a touchstone in this strange new place called Southfield, Michigan, USA. But for the difference in time, their situation was little different than that of my grandparents -- Jewish emigres hoping for a better life, a life free from fear and persecution.
"Let all who are hungry come and eat," the words of the Hagaddah command us each year. With ten days to go until the first Seder, I realized the opportunity to fulfill this sacred mitzvah was right before me. I was thrilled when Yakov accepted our invitation to come with his family to our Seder...
