A legacy letter from a forefather.
October, 2006
Dear Jim,
My name is Mendel Mallinson and
I am a Jew. My parents, grandparents and ancestors were Jews and
you too will carry on the tradition. It is the year 1870 and we
are on a boat to America, to place called New York. We come from
Latvia a place that is neither here nor there. And we come from
a people that is from there and has nothing to do with there.
We have heard that there is a
real place for us in this New York, but we do not know for sure.
We are told there are no pogroms, and we will be free to live as
our customs and our God tells us we should without retribution and
intervention from the goyim. We don’t know if this is so but
is worth finding this out because of you and the rest of our future
generations.
For over a thousand years our
people have been like nomads. No country of our own, limited rights
and freedom, and little protection provided by the authorities.
We deserve better, and you surely deserve better. In America, you’ll
be able to come and go as you please. You will become educated and
free to choose your life path. You can become a rabbi, a doctor,
a shopkeeper, anything that suits you. You can walk to school without
fear. You Jim can pursue your dreams and goals there like you never
could in the old country.
Change will be hard for us, but
we will make it. Go forth and live, love and experience all you
can. We are with you and your siblings and cousins. We are with
you with love and compassion and encouragement. Live well and make
us proud.
Much love, Mendel Mallinson,
your great great grandfather
Written by Jim Galinsky, Financial
Advisor
