Discussion Questions for Letters from Rifka:
1. What special birthday did Rifka celebrate in Belgium?
2. Why did the Nebrot family leave Russia (3 reasons)?
3. Why did Rifka’s family leave her in Belgium?
4. What does Rifka have to do to help her family escape Russia?
5. Who helps Rifka find her way back to King Street in Antwerp, Belgium?
6. What does the acronym H.I.A.S. mean?
7. What did Rifka’s parents give her the night before she left for Belgium?
8. What did the man with the oranges accuse Rifka of doing?
9. What is a rucksack?
10. Who is the poet of the book that Rifka is reading?
11. What does Rifka ask Saul to buy for their mother with the money Rifka
saved that Papa had sent her in Belgium?
12. What are Rifka’s three favorite foods in Belgium?
13. How much time passed since Rifka left Russia to when Rifka
leaves Antwerp for America?
14. Who is the first family member to visit Rifka at Ellis Island’s detention center?
15. When does Rifka meet Ilya?
16. What happens to Pieter?
17. Why does Ilya try to starve himself?
18. Does the Polish baby Rifka is caring for die?
19. What does Ilya have to do to be granted passage into the United States?
20. Why do the doctor and others decide to allow Rifka into the United States?
1. What special birthday did Rifka celebrate in Belgium?
2. Why did the Nebrot family leave Russia (3 reasons)?
3. Why did Rifka’s family leave her in Belgium?
4. What does Rifka have to do to help her family escape Russia?
5. Who helps Rifka find her way back to King Street in Antwerp, Belgium?
6. What does the acronym H.I.A.S. mean?
7. What did Rifka’s parents give her the night before she left for Belgium?
8. What did the man with the oranges accuse Rifka of doing?
9. What is a rucksack?
10. Who is the poet of the book that Rifka is reading?
11. What does Rifka ask Saul to buy for their mother with the money Rifka
saved that Papa had sent her in Belgium?
12. What are Rifka’s three favorite foods in Belgium?
13. How much time passed since Rifka left Russia to when Rifka
leaves Antwerp for America?
14. Who is the first family member to visit Rifka at Ellis Island’s detention center?
15. When does Rifka meet Ilya?
16. What happens to Pieter?
17. Why does Ilya try to starve himself?
18. Does the Polish baby Rifka is caring for die?
19. What does Ilya have to do to be granted passage into the United States?
20. Why do the doctor and others decide to allow Rifka into the United States?