In the early 1920’s my grandmother and grandfather left Eastern Europe and landed in Cuba hoping to eventually immigrate to America. At that time, America had restricted immigration significantly and they were not admitting many Jews despite their desparate plight around the world - Poland in particular. Looking to build the country and develop it’s economy, Cuba did not prevent Jews from immigrating.

Born in Havanna  in 1924. Sonia was sent at the age of 6 to live with her aunt (Tillie Larshovsky) in NY because her mother was unable to support both her daughters after she divorced her husband.

Sonia remained in NY never returning again to live in Cuba. Her mother and sister successfully emigrated to America in 1942.

IN 1949 Sonia travelled to Israel with her father on a long journey to visit his sister Rose living in Tel-Aviv.

My mother never spoke much about her past to me but I think that trip sparked her lifelong love affair with Israel. Returning to NY, she became very active in the Jewish movement. Also at this time, she studied and became a registered nurse.

In the early 1950’s, she met and married Sam Goldstein and had 2 kids with him, myself and my sister Perri. We lived in the Bronx at first but then moved to South Plainfield New Jersey. Soon after that, the family moved to East Paterson NJ to be closer to her sister and her family (Marsha lived there with her family and mother).

In the mid to late 60’s Sonia pursued a medical career and succeeded in gaining a BA followed by a Masters in nursing from Fairleigh Dickenson University and NYU respectively. She then taught nursing at Bronx Community College.

In 1970 Sonia separated and later divorced Sam and took the opportunity to realize her lifelong Zionist passion and moved with her kids to Israel.