Letters from Cuba

This summary includes the following letters: “Agramonte, July 19, 1938,” “Agramonte, August 7, 1938,” “Agramonte, August 18, 1938,” “Agramonte, August 29, 1938,” “Agramonte, September 7, 1938,” “Agramonte, September 26, 1938,” “Agramonte, October 5, 1938,” “Agramonte, October 25, 1938,” “Agramonte, November 19, 1938,” “Agramonte, November 11, 1938,” “Agramonte, November 14, 1938,” “Agramonte, December 19, 1938,” and “Agramonte, December 17, 1938.”

Esther and Papa celebrate Shavout by reading the Book of Ruth. Esther thinks her name should be Ruth since she, like Ruth, emigrated and adapted to a new place. Esther thinks of José Martí and wonders if she can be a poet. Esther finds solace in writing letters to Malka: They document her life and express her feelings. On the sad holiday Tisha B’Av, Esther and Papa fast and remember the destruction of the two original temples in Jerusalem and how the Jews dispersed around the world. Esther contemplates how life can change.

Esther is surprised when Papa reads a comment from Mama’s letter saying that she misses Esther and did not appreciate Esther’s hard work. The letter also contains a short message from Malka that inspires Esther and Papa. The rest of the news is not good: Mama and the family are often hungry.

Isabel de la Fuente gives Esther and Papa the bad news that she is leaving Cuba to follow her dream of getting into the fashion industry in New York. El Encanto cannot sell any more of Esther’s designs because Isabel cannot trust anyone with the knowledge that Esther is an underage Jewish refugee. Isabel gives Papa a fat envelope of money for Esther’s sales, plus some extra, telling them to return in October for the last installment. Papa and Esther can almost afford tickets for the family. Rifka knew Esther’s success was too good to last.

Esther visits Manuela during a celebration for Yemayá’s birthday. Esther is affected by the drums, which seem to call to the sea that separates her from Malka and call out her tears. Esther cries and sees the ceiba tree cry. She confides this emotional experience to Malka but does not tell Papa lest he think she is losing her Jewish faith.

At Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Esther sadly remembers family celebrations and prays that they are united as a family the following New Year. Francisco, knowing it is Papa and Esther’s New Year, surprises them with the gift of a real apple strudel and more sour cherry tea. Esther knows that Juan Chang and Francisco also celebrate a different New Year. Papa and Esther celebrate Yom Kippur in Havanna with Rifka. They spend the day fasting and praying in the synagogue with other Jewish people, asking for forgiveness. Gradually, Esther feels the power of her prayers.

Papa and Esther take their final payment from El Encanto to Rifka’s for safekeeping. Papa credits Esther for their success. Rifka received her visa: She will leave for New York in two months and wants Papa to manage her store and split its profits. Papa and Esther and their family can move into the apartment upstairs. Esther is excited at the idea of living in Havana but does not want to leave Agramonte. Esther gives Francisco a newspaper in Chinese that they bought in Havana, and he gives her an ornate drawing of the letter aleph—the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Esther treasures it.

On November 10, Doctor Pablo brings terrible news about the Night of Broken Glass. In Germany on November 9, the Nazis attacked Jews, destroyed their property, and ordered them to leave Germany. Doctor Pablo plans a march and rally of the Anti-Nazi Society of Agramonte to ensure that Nazi prejudice and violence do not come to Cuba. Esther’s friends quickly mobilize others; a huge crowd turns out. United, they march to the edge of town, and Doctor Pablo speaks about the difficulty of being a refugee and the importance of rejecting hatred. Señor Eduardo—a proud member of the Cuban Nazi Party—tries to foment trouble but leaves at Ma Felipe’s request.

Esther deeply appreciates the kindness and love of the people in Agramonte and cannot tell them that she and Papa are leaving. She makes a new blue dress for Señora Graciela, who is finally ready to overcome her grief for Emilia.

Papa and Esther collect their money from Rifka to buy the family’s steamship tickets. Rifka is surprised that their non-Jewish neighbors supported them and thinks Esther is naïve to believe that others care about Jews. Esther and Papa are short of money for the tickets. Esther volunteers to sell her gold pocket watch to Zvi Mandelbaum. It is real gold, and Zvi gives them enough for the tickets with plenty left over. Zvi then calls Esther back and returns the watch. He saw how hard Esther worked to bring their family over and knows Jews now, especially, must help each other out. Zvi warns her not to tell Papa, who would feel he owes Zvi. Papa and Esther purchase the tickets. The family will take an arduous, but safe, route to Cuba, leaving in mid-January.

Esther and Papa will move to Havana in nine days, and Esther must say goodbye. She invites all their friends to the first night of their Hanukkah celebration. Esther values Manuela’s supportive friendship and gives Manuela the pocket watch so that she can sell it and use the money to attend secondary school and become a teacher.

Esther makes sweet potato latkes for Hanukkah, and Papa fashions a menorah out of soda bottles. Doctor Pablo, an atheist, appreciates the holiday that gives thanks for light in dark times. Esther finally admits that they are moving to Havana. Everyone is sad to lose them. Esther shares the José Martí poem about coming from different places and going to new places.

Ma Felipa must leave the celebration early because it is also the night her religion celebrates the birthday of San Lázaro, or “Babalú-Ayé,” a patron saint of the poor and sick. She invites them all to join her, and they agree—even Papa. Manuela shows Francisco and Esther the statue of San Lázaro. Papa and the others enjoy the drumming. Papa appreciates how Ma Felipa’s religion honors their ancestors.