Mary Antin

One positive command he gave us: You shall love and honor your emperor. In every congregation a prayer must be read more

One positive command he gave us: You shall love and honor your emperor. In every congregation a prayer must be said for the czar's health, or the chief of police would close the synagogue.

First, you had to have a tutor at home, who prepared you and talked all the time about the examination read more

First, you had to have a tutor at home, who prepared you and talked all the time about the examination you would have to pass, till you were scared.

But most of the Gentiles were ignorant.

But most of the Gentiles were ignorant.

If education, culture, the higher life were shining things to be worshiped from afar, he had still a means left read more

If education, culture, the higher life were shining things to be worshiped from afar, he had still a means left whereby he could draw one step nearer to them.

As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, read more

As we moved along in a little procession, I was delighted with the illumination of the streets. So many lamps, and they burned until morning, my father said, and so people did not need to carry lanterns.