On a clear cool day in September 1893 the SS Rhynland sails into New York Harbor past the brand-new Statue of Liberty a gift of friendship from France several years earlier The decks are crowded with people coming from many countries to live in America Most of them are poor Most have traveled a long long way across an enormous ocean hoping that life in America will be safer better happier
Look Over there is the Baline family Moses and Lena and their six children Right in front that one’s Israel He’s just five years old Soon Israel will go by the nickname Izzy and someday he and his marvelous music will be famous all over the world Right now though he’s just a tired hungry little boy waiting to start a new life in a new country
Israel Isidore Baline was born in 1888 in Russia It was a bad time and place to be Jewish Gangs of angry men rode from village to village in pogroms destroying Jewish homes and hurting the people who lived in them Israel’s house was burned down right in front of his eyes
There was nothing left for the Balines in Russia The family boarded a ship and spent eleven long days at sea At New York’s Ellis Island the first stop for all immigrants they went ashore Israel’s new life was about to begin God bless America
