A Jewish Refugee in New York by Kadya Molodowsky (Yiddish Book Center 2026: Between Two Worlds)

During 2026, Richmond Public Library will be hosting programs as part of Between Two Worlds: Exploring Jewish Culture and Religion Through Yiddish Literature, a partnership with the Yiddish Book Center.

The third book discussion we are hosting will focus on A Jewish Refugee in New York by Kadya Molodowsky, translated by Anita Norich. In this fictionalized journal originally published in Yiddish, Molodovsy provides keen insight into the day-to-day activities of the large immigrant Jewish community of New York. By depicting one woman's struggles as a Jewish refugee in the US during WWII, Molodovsky points readers to the social, political, and cultural tensions of that time and place. Rivke Zilberg, a 20-year-old Jewish woman, arrives in New York shortly after the Nazi invasion of Poland, her home country. Struggling to learn a new language and cope with a different way of life in the United States, Rivke finds herself keeping a journal about the challenges and opportunities of this new land. In her attempt to find a new life as a Jewish immigrant in the US, Rivke shares the stories of losing her mother to a bombing in Lublin, jilting a fiancé who has made his way to Palestine, and a flirtatious relationship with an American allrightnik.

Copies of the book are available for participants who register. After registering, you will be contacted by library staff to receive your copy of the book. Participants who can provide their own copy of the books are welcome to register as well.

Please note that participation in any Between Two Worlds programs is open to all. People wishing to learn more about Yiddish literature and culture are encouraged to register, regardless of your level of previous knowledge. Through reading high quality translations and participating in facilitated discussions, these stories and histories will be made available to as many people as possible. Participation in other Between Two Worlds programs encouraged, but not required.

The Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program brings Yiddish literature in translation to libraries nationwide, encouraging connections and sparking cross-cultural dialogue. This event is presented as part of the Yiddish Book Center’s Public Libraries Program, a partnership with the American Library Association. Made possible by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.