Candice Nichols - Day 3

Today we took a long, rocky, rainy boat ride out to Ellis Island. At Ellis Island we were able to see many of the things that the immigrants in the steerage (lower class) endured. In one room it displayed all of the clothes and utensils and the few items that the passengers had. Along the walls of that room were passages of what the passengers though about American on first sights. In another room, there was a replica of the way the beds were set up (piled on top of each other). They were so close to each other there was hardly enough room to sleep overall. This museum gave me a much better look at the challenges and extremes people went through to get to American in hopes of starting a new life. Leaving the island, we nearly lost half the group when they nearly got on the wrong ferry going to New Jersey! But thankfully, we all made it back safely to Battery Park, New York!

The Tenement Museum was our next stop. It was a delightful experience. I had no idea of how people were living when they first came to American. It was amazing to see Victoria Confino (a real immigrant story played by an actor) and to hear her talk about her family and their struggles. What really stuck with me was the exercise when we had to define American. What makes someone American? Who are we willing to include in that definition and who do we exclude?

We spent Friday evening at B’nai Jeshurun. The Shabbat Service that night was amazing as well. Even though I didn’t understand much (it was all in Hebrew), the dancing made me feel included even though I am of a different faith. I didn’t really understand the words to the music but the dancing was phenomenal! I had a great time.