My Bridges of Hope (Pgs 199-251)

Summary: 

In Vienna Elli has three brothers on her foot night and day. One of the brothers Andy, who she has been spending a lot of time with, asked if she could meet his sister-in-law. However he wants to introduce her as his fiancé. this was a surprise to Elli, that her response was that she did not want to get married because she wanted to go to America and get a job while she is also getting an education. This was the opposite of what Andy wanted which was to get married and go live in Israel. he confessed his long time love for her since he say her in Bratislava. But when he heard her decision, he became sick. He became so sick from her answer that it lead to him starting a violent outrage and attacked his brother Tommy. They call the police and they send him to a sanatorium. When Elli hears of this news she goes to the sanatorium, to go visit him. At the first sight of Elli one second latter he falls asleep, this occurs because the treatment that they gave him drained a lot of his energy. Since that day and on she visited him and feed him his lunch because that was the only way that he would even eat. During these visits she feels as if she is getting closer to him. But back home with Andy's brothers they are also getting closer to Elli, that by the time Andy gets out of the sanatorium all three of the brothers are in love with Elli. 


After a few weeks the brothers get the opportunity to go to Israel and Elli and her mother go to Germany. There they stay with a couple of friends while trying to get a visa to go to America. However they get declined a visa, and are told that the only way they can get a visa is if they go to Austria. During their time in Germany Elli gets a job in Camp Feldafing, as a teacher. Then the camp gets moved to Camp Gerestried, but there she gets a job as camp administration. At last after years of waiting they get their visa to America and there they begin their new life with their uncle and her brother Bubi. 

Quote: 

"When will the day come when I will wave good-bye to the empty platform from the window of a departing train?" (Jackson 1240).

Reaction: 

When I read this quote i thought that it was pretty funny imaging a random person waving goodbye to an empty platform. But  at the same time that it would be a very sad and joyful time because it would mean that there is no one left in Europe, and that they are the last of their friends and family to leave Europe. Its a joyful time because at last they are able to go to America and be reunited with Bubi who they have not seen for more than three years. Now Elli has the ability to live in a place where she will not feel like everyone around her has betrayed her or left. She can study how much she wants and still have a job. This quote also reminded me how at first she wanted to go to Israel. However her loyalty to her family is more important to her that she would rather go to America than follow he dream to go to Israel. However all her dreams do come true because at the end she is able to go to Israel and have a family of her own.