My family came to America about 100 years ago, in my great-grandparents’ generation.  We were part of the great wave of Jewish refugees fleeing Eastern Europe, where the Tsar encouraged Christians to burn Jewish villages.  The story of my great-grandfather Yankel, on my father’s side, especially sticks out.

Like many Jewish boys, Yankel was drafted into the Russian army at the age of 8.  Christian boys served in the military for a few years, but Jewish boys had to serve from age 8 to age 30, in an obvious attempt to either kill them or assimilate them. (more…)