THE BRUDER BROTHERS

A BUNDLE OF LETTERS

Introduction

Ripped the pages of the Jewish Daily Forward comes the stories of struggling immigrants as described in A Bintel Brief. In the year 1906, the Forward reached more than a half-million immigrants struggling to make their way in the New World. Within its pages, the paper ran a popular advice column called A Bintel Brief, which means a bundle of letters.

The column spoke to the many Jews who emigrated from Eastern Europe seeking a new life and freedom from the oppression destined to overtake their homeland. At the same time it helped those struggling with their new circumstances in one of the most overcrowded neighborhoods in the world.

The paper's editor and was the renown Abraham Cahan, who offered advice in his column on all kinds of personal problems. The letters provided a fascinating glimpse into the Jewish life at the turn of the century and spoke to the issues central to the common experiences of these immigrants.

The Bruder Brothers is a short story based on one actual letter published in the Forward by a young man who gets his sweetheart pregnant in Warsaw. He leaves without for America, but with a promise that he will send for her as soon as he could establish himself. Unfortunately, as you will read, his plan had unintended consequences. 

I have selected this interesting letter, along with the literary liberty of adding a backstory and details to these people’s lives. I hope you enjoy my tale and encourage me to continue imagining further stories from A Bintel Brief.

~ Neil Perry Gordon

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