Ruth and Simon cry and laugh as they sail for three days. Then a plane buzzes overhead and they are soon instructed as to what their answers are to be if they are caught. They are to resist the British in any way possible. The captain is American, but they never see him. They find items to throw at the British to keep them from coming aboard and taking over the boat. The British will have guns and tear gas.
They all receive illegal documents. More planes buzz around the boat, and then they spot a British warship.
Discussion Director:
Section 9 (P102-110)
MCEOG question:
All the refugees are instructed to say that they are from:
A: Poland
B: Germany
C: Eretz Israel
D: Palestine
Answer: C (P104, last p)
Problem: (P110, last) A British war ship is approaching
Solution: (P106-107) They are prepared to fight
Prediction: The ship will decide to leave them alone like the French border guards did as they crossed from Austria to Italy
Fact: (P107, p3) Simon is praying with some of the Orthodox militant
wing.
Opinion: (P107, p4) It’s Ruth’s opinion that Simon shouldn’t join such
a right-wing movement.
Passage Picker:
Section 9 (P102 -110)
(P107, p2) I’m excited that we aren’t just going to let the British
capture us and force us to go to Cyprus. The thought that the Haganah
leaders see us all as fighters makes me feel like one – proud, almost strong.
I like this because it shows that Ruth no longer thinks of herself
as a victim.
Author’s Purpose: To inform the readers of the change in attitude of
the victims.
Character Sketcher:
section 9 (P102-110)
Ruth:
Patient: (P103 bottom – 104 middle) She repeatedly tells a story to
the children.
Proud: (P107, p2) She says so
Concerned for her brother: (109, p2) He is associating with a militant
group and she talks with him about it, telling him her doubts.
Goal: To fight to keep the British off the boat.
Problem: (P109, bottom – 110, top) the children are becoming unruly.
Solution: (Same) She tells them story after story.
Word Wizard:
section 9(P102-110)
Dwindled (P103, p1) Every day my will to live dwindled,
and I began to give up hope.
Meaning: To become less and less. Verb (action)
The crowd in the cafeteria dwindled shortly after the dismissal signal.
.
Clamor (P103, last p) …they began to clamor for me to
tell them the story of me and Simon.
Meaning: A loud repeated noise. These children were begging her
loudly and repeatedly. Noun.
There was such a clamor after the concert, that the musicians performed
an encore.
Repatriation (P106, top) I read the certificate quickly and see
that it says that I’ve been “found qualified by the representatives of
the Jewish Community of Palestine for repatriation to Eretz Israel.”
Meaning: Sent back to her own country. Verb (action)
Ernst left Germany to live in the United States, but after ten years,
he was overcome by homesickness and applied for repatriation.