This novel study divides letters from rifka into six sections for study. Can you give me a summary on the book letters from rifka by. On page 18, rifka says that the doctor stank of vomit and schnapps this is an example sensory imagery. You have been a big sister and a best friend to me. Experiencing the letters rifka wrote to her cousin, tovah, allowed me to experience a sense of kinship. In the book letters from rifka by karen hesse, a young jewish girl named rifka, has to go through an experience such as escaping religious belief and running away from pogroms.
I cannot bear to think of never talking to you again. Rifka s compelling story, relating her burgeoning maturity and ability to cope with her situation, is presented in letter. Emigration and immigration, jews, letters, emigration and immigration, jews, letters publisher new york. It is 1919 and rifka s brother nathan has deserted the russian army. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka and her family flee russia. Rifka s family hid in the trains boxcars, and rifka had to distract the soldiers.
Explanation characters main characters rifka, tovah, mama, papa, saul, peter, and sister katrina character traits of sister katrina protagonist. Letters from rifka is a story about how rifka has to learn to hold on to hope, to never give up, and finding the good in everything. Letters from rifka plot summary letters from rifka is a story about a jewish girl that escapes to america because her brothers are wanted by the german army. We plan to read letters from rifka and meet on these dates. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Caring took care of rifka as if she were her own child selfless she put rifka s health before her own a young, jewish girl named. She knew what it was like to miss her home and all she knew, just like i was. The russians and other people are treating the jews badly there.
When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate. The story letters from rifka is about a jewish family who has decided to leave russia to go to america. Her written conversations with tovah provide something familiar amidst her new surroundings. On ellis island rifka meets a new friend named ilya, but he first does not talk to her nor will he eat, so everyone thinks hes a simpleton. Letters from rifka book study guide docstoc documents. Rifka also shows her mother about the boy who looks at rifka as a mother. In letters from rifka, rifka and her family travel to many countries before arriving in the united states. The time peroid for the story was during the 1920s, the setting occured in various places. For each country rifka visits, have students label that country on the map. Letters from rifka detail questions flashcards quizlet. Letters from rifka is a childrens historical novel by karen hesse, published by holt in 1992.
Read letters from rifka by karen hesse available from rakuten kobo. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifka s family makes their way across russia to poland and the u. Rifka and her jewish family have fled russia for america in 1919. There are a couple parts that i did have to skip they talk about undressing in. Nov 24, 2009 those are three author crafts with examples of the many the author craft techniques karen hesse uses in the book letters from rifka. This book is an indepth look at a 12 year old girls struggle to get to america from russia. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka and her family flee russia for america in the hope of a better life. In letters to her cousin, a young jewish girl chronicles her familys flight from russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in belgium for a while when the others emigrate to america. Sections date we will finish reading date we will discuss 1. This is a novel study for letters from rifka by karen hesse. Rifkas mother talk to her about how it has been in america. Three types of author craft that karen hesse used in her book, letters from rifka, are, a,3. Letters from rifka is a short childrens novel narrated by a 12 year old jewish girl fleeing russia in 1919. In letters to her cousin, a young jewish girl chronicles her familys flight from russia in 1919 and her own experiences when she must be left in belgium for a.
Nonjudgmental it is very important to me that people dont judge people by how they look because it is whats inside that counts. Learn letters from rifka 2 with free interactive flashcards. As rifka travels she writes to her cousin tovah who remains in russia. Letters from rifka through the looking glass childrens. Rifka s family quickly packed up their things and left. But she dreams she will at last be safe from the russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the jews in the new country. Shortly after they leave poland rifka develops a deadly. From newbery media winner karen hesse comes an unforgettable story of an immigrant familys journey to america. The letters, each prefaced by a few telling lines of pushkin, tell of the fear, indignities, privation, and disease endured as they traveled through poland and into. The entire book consists of letters that rifka wrote to her cousin tovah, detailing the heartinyourthroat moments that surround her jewish familys escape from russia to poland then ultimately to the united states. Our online letters from rifka trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top letters from rifka quizzes. Her family decided to leave russia and take a train to poland where they got sick with typhus and were stuck there for weeks. The first letter from rifka was dated september 2, 1919 in russia. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read letters from rifka.
Explain to the students that they will be reading the book letters from rifka. One example of how they were treated badly is found on page 4. Rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in 1919. Karen hesse calls letters from rifka a gift to my grandparents and to my heritage, and to people like rifka who have made the passage between two worlds. The soldiers came to the boxcars to search for nathan, and rifka distracted them. Rifka takes a risky journey all the way to america. Rifka s mother talk to her about how it has been in america. This letters from rifka was upload at december 07, 2018 upload by crystal price in letter format and templates. Rifka, the protagonist of this book, is 12years old, which matches the beginning age for appropriateness of this book. Karen hesse is the author of many books for young people, including out of the dust, winner of the newbery medal, brooklyn bridge, phoenix rising, sable and lavender.
Paused youre listening to a sample of the audible audio edition. Letters from rifka quotes karen hesse this study guide consists of approximately 15 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of letters from rifka. Persecuted in russia by the soldiers and others who dislike jews, rifkas family makes their way across russia to poland and the u. They have a dangerous escape, and meet some unpleasant people along the way. Indeed it is within the pages of this beloved volume that rifka writes letters to tovah, letters describing her experiences and her feelings. Taken from real life experience of the authors aunt lucy. Rifka writes letters in the margins of a book of pushkin to a cousin still in russia, telling of her loneliness, fear and determination to join her family. In 1996, the m usic of the dolphinswon n u m ero u s aw ard s, in clu d in g b ein g n am ed b est b o o k o f the year by booklinksand publishers w eekly magazines. Nov 20, 2009 1 in the book letters from rifka, the jews people who are jewish are treated very poorly by the russians. Ms hesse is also the author of wish on a unicorn and the forthcoming lesters dog and lavender. Read with a group group members read an agreedupon number of pages, complete the corresponding student journal pages, and meet to discuss. Letters from rifka ebook by karen hesse 97814668025. Beginning in russia in 1919, this epistolary novel, based on experiences of the.
Letters from rifka and millions of other books are available for instant access. A comprehensive database of letters from rifka quizzes online, test your knowledge with letters from rifka quiz questions. Lessons and ideas books and authors top teaching blog teachers tool kit student activities the teacher store book clubs book fairs. Aug 20, 2010 rifka knows nothing about america when she flees from russia with her family in 1919. What special items are wrapped in rifka s backpack. Throughout her journey, rifka carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by alexander pushkin.
Letters from rifka comprehension quiz proprofs quiz. The power of pushkins poetry in karen hesses letters. Along the way she faces many obstacles and the only way she feels comfort is when she writes in a book called pushkin, that her cousin gave her. She has received honors including the scott odell historical fiction award, the christopher award, and the macarthur fellowship genius award, making her only the second childrens book author to receive this prestigious grant. Letters from rifka is spreadsheet templates to be reference your project or your job. I chose this book because world war two era is very fascinating tome. The plot section reads like a really bad book report.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This puts the family at great risk, so to protect themselves, twelveyearold rifka. It features a jewish familys emigration from russia in 1919, to belgium and ultimately to the u.
The purchase of this book entitles an individual teacher to reproduce. Karen hesse lives in williamsville, vermont, with her husband, randy, and her daughters, kate and rachel. Have students use a blank world map to trace the journey of rifka and her family. Studying this novel expands the exploration of the value tikvah, hope, the theme of the shevat 5764 issue of babaganewz. Choose from 500 different sets of letters from rifka 2 flashcards on quizlet. Rifka finally sees her mother and she has never been happier, especially in her problem. Rifka tells her mom about hows she been while in belgium. This book waas very interesting and flowed easly as letters. Letters from rifka 1993 read online free book by karen.
Printed in black and white the mother says shortly after nathen rifka s brother returns home, you should not have come, they will shoot you when you return. Beginning in russia in 1919, this epistolary novel, based on experiences of the authors greataunt, tells how 12yearold rifka nebrot and her family fled the antisemitism of postrevolutionary russia and emigrated to the us. She endures prejudice, displays family loyalty, and shows perseverance and growth. In this book a jewish girl named rifka has to escape from russia with her family. Free letters from rifka study unit worksheets for teachers to print. When she learns, for example, that she will be detained at. Letters from rifka 10 questions by davisfor5th last updated. Because she has no spare paper, she uses the blank spaces of the book to write letters to a cousin who remains in the motherland. Also, i liked how she was the little mother of a polish baby when the babys real mom died from typhus.
Imagine yourself being tortured letters from rifka summary by your own country just because you had different beliefs, or. The book is a series of letters of rifkas journey and her dramatic experiences as her family flees senseless hate and bigotry with the hope of a new life in america. Intelligent caring and being nonjudgmental is important, but being clever can also be important. Letters from rifka awesome 50 awesome letters from home g4f.
Jan 01, 1992 letters from rifka is a short childrens novel narrated by a 12 year old jewish girl fleeing russia in 1919. Writing letters helps rifka maintain a sense of connection with her family. This book is an indepth look at a 12 year old girls struggle to get to. Then have students briefly research each country and provide relevant. Karren hesse used a hyporbole, rifka s heart pounded as if she was being run over and crushed by the train. Learn language arts letters rifka with free interactive flashcards. A multiaward winning book, letters from rifka inspires readers to be brave and resourceful and to never give up. Pieter made a todo about the number of languages rifka could speak. You can get much spreadsheet template of letters from rifka from our website. The power of pushkins poetry in karen hesses letters from rifka. Rifka and her family have to escape to russia to get a better life. Free letters from rifka worksheets and literature unit for. Letters from rifka is the story of a young russianjewish girl and her family who leave their homeland in 1919 to travel to america. Choose from 190 different sets of language arts letters rifka flashcards on quizlet.
I bought it for my 9year old and, thankfully, read a part of it first before making a determination to give it to her. The entire book consists of letters that rifka wrote to her cousin tovah, detailing the. Plot summary letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. When a case of ringworm prevents rifka from joining her russian family as they emigrate to the united states, she spends nine months living in warsaw, with her care overseen by the hebrew immigrant aid society. My favorite highlights were when rifka and her family got typhus but survived. Printed in black and white the mother says shortly after nathen rifkas brother returns home, you should not have come, they will shoot you when you return. Letters from rifka plan your schedule my group members are. The letters, each prefaced by a few telling lines of pushkin, tell of the fear. Kate kerrigan talks about her tv book club summer read, ellis island. But she dreams that in the new country she will at last be safe from the russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the jews.
They chose rifka because she could speak russian and she had light hair and blue eyes. One scene that shows all this is when her family had to leave her behind and board to go on to america without her. Also my grandparents were apart of this period in history and lived through many of the hardships described in this book. As an adult, reading this book to my children was one of the most nostalgic experiences i think i have ever had.
Jul 31, 2014 rifka explains her escape to her cousin, in the form of a letter. Twelveyearold rifka tells her story through a series of letters written to her cousin tovah. Some symptoms of typhus are that things feel a lot heavier like when her dad places a wet facecloth over her eyes and it felt like it was crushing. I learned more about jewish history from this book. In the book letters from rifka how does rifka describe saul. An example of bad archaeoastronomy or rather perhaps the work of overly. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on letters from rifka by karen hesse. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. See more ideas about lettering, teaching and novels. Read the book form the group that will read letters from rifka.
However, rifka encounters many difficulties along the way. Letters from rifka quizzes online, trivia, questions. If the guards discovered only one of them, perhaps the others might still escape. In this book karen hesse beautifully captures the horrors of what it was like to be a jew living in russia and eastern europe during the early part of the twentieth century. Introduction this study guide aims to provide material to help in the preparation of a lesson, unit, or book club discussion about the novel letters from rifka by karen hesse. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of letters to her. Due to rifka s resulting isolation, the letter form is completely appropriate. Letters from rifka by karen hesse in chm, epub, fb2 download e book. Setting letters from rifkabook project by anna dayton. Why did rifka s family hide in different places around the train station.
One of my favorite characters would be saul rifkas older brother. Identify different types of boundary lines such as city, county, state, national, and. It is 1919 and rifkas brother nathan has deserted the russian army. She carries with her a lone beloved volume of poems by pushkin.
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