Book SummarySeparated Together, by Kenneth P. Price

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Separated Together

Abe and Sonia experienced the blossoming of their relationship and the early years of their marriage before the onset of the hardships that the Second World War would bring to Poland.

This section chronicles the lives of Abe and Sonia before the onset of conflict, tracing their distinct familial heritages and the sequence of events that culminated in their union as the turmoil and anti-Semitic sentiments escalated across Europe.

Abe and Sonia share familial bonds and common relatives.

Price adeptly highlights the profound differences in the early life settings of Abe and Sonia, emphasizing the diverse socioeconomic circumstances that were common among Polish Jews during that time period.

From his early years, Abe took on work to provide for his family, having been raised in the impoverished town of Kozienice.

Price outlines the significant challenges that characterized Abe's formative years. Abe was born in 1904 in Kozienice, a small town recognized for its shoemaking industry, situated close to Radom in Poland's eastern area. He grew up with his five siblings in a confined space that was just one room. David's father struggled to maintain their livelihood due to the competitive pressures from a rival's monopolistic practices, which often led to periods of scarcity for his cobbling enterprise. Abe began supporting his family's economic well-being early on by participating in his father's entrepreneurial activities, learning the intricacies of commerce, and seeking to increase the family income through different roles.

At just six years old, Abe had become a crucial helper in his father's business of making shoes. At eleven years old, Abe finished his schooling to help his father with the family business after it experienced financial difficulties. His entrepreneurial spirit quickly became apparent. He acquired local commodities like butter and poultry and traveled to the more densely populated Lublin to trade them for products such as kerosene and tobacco, which he subsequently sold in Kozienice town. His journeys, though fruitful, were fraught with danger. He often managed to avoid the fare on his return to Kozienice by hiding under a train seat, and many times, the money he saved by not buying a return ticket was equivalent to his whole day's pay. At fifteen, Abe demonstrated a natural aptitude for commercial endeavors. He played a crucial part in the family business, which resulted in establishing a retail store and starting up a small-scale shoe production operation in the town of Kozienice. He ultimately relocated the firm to Warsaw, while his father was given the responsibility of overseeing the Kozienice division.

Context

• Access to education was limited, particularly in rural areas, and many children left school early to work, as formal education was not always prioritized over immediate economic needs.
• Being a small town, Kozienice had limited infrastructure and access to larger trade networks, which hindered economic growth and contributed to the impoverished conditions.
• Overcrowded living conditions could lead to health issues, as limited space often meant inadequate ventilation and sanitation, increasing the risk of illness.
• In many small family businesses, children were expected to contribute to the family income from a young age, which was a common practice in poorer communities to ensure survival amidst economic hardships.
• The mention of Abe's travels to Lublin highlights the importance of regional trade routes and the role of small traders in connecting rural areas with larger markets, which was crucial for economic survival.
• In large families, like Abe's, older children often took on responsibilities to help care for younger siblings and contribute to the household income, which could necessitate leaving school early.
• The barter system and small-scale trading were prevalent in Poland at the time, especially in rural areas, due to limited access to cash and banking services.
• Trading goods across different regions could involve navigating complex and often corrupt local regulations, which could result in fines or confiscation of goods if not properly managed.
• The mention of Abe hiding under train seats highlights the lack of affordable transportation options for many people at the time, which required ingenuity and risk-taking to overcome.
• The shoemaking industry in Poland was a traditional craft, often dominated by small family-run businesses. Competition was fierce, and monopolistic practices by larger entities could easily threaten smaller operations.
• Warsaw's location and transportation links would have made it easier to import materials and export products, enhancing the business's operational efficiency.

Sonia's background was one of wealth and Jewish lineage, tracing her origins to Pruzana and Brest-Litovsk.

Abe's upbringing stood in stark contrast to that of Sonia. The writer narrates how Sonia came into the world in 1911, welcomed by a family distinguished for its esteemed reputation and honor. The Jaglom family, to which her father belonged, had accumulated significant wealth and achieved notable prosperity in the commercial sector. Her maternal ancestry can be traced back to the esteemed Rabbi Dov Berish Meisels, who served as the Chief Rabbi in Warsaw. Sonia's upbringing was in a rural setting, surrounded by the love and unity of her large family network. She grew up in a nurturing environment, receiving her education from institutions in Poland and Russia, and beyond her structured academic pursuits, she also devoted time to learning Hebrew and assimilated Yiddish within her family setting. Abe deeply envied her affluent upbringing and the societal privileges it afforded her.

Context

• These are historical regions in Eastern Europe, now part of modern-day Belarus. Pruzana was a small town known for its Jewish community, while Brest-Litovsk (now Brest) was a significant...

Separated Together Summary Sonia experienced the atrocities associated with the Holocaust's detention facilities.

This section explores Sonia's harrowing experiences in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, detailing the extreme measures her family took to survive the severe circumstances they faced within the confines of the Warsaw Ghetto, along with her own frightening ordeals in the Majdanek and Auschwitz concentration camps.

In Warsaw, the Jewish community endured profound hardship.

Kenneth P. Price's depiction serves as a harrowing recollection of the extreme and unyielding circumstances that Jews endured within the confines of the Warsaw Ghetto under Nazi rule.

Sonia witnessed the systematic destruction and forced eradication of Warsaw's Jewish population by the Germans, a horrific reality that invaded her personal life through the forced relocation and subsequent death of her mother.

Sonia and her family faced considerable difficulties when Nazi troops initiated their assault on Poland as September 1939 began. The German authorities imposed a multitude of restrictions that severely stripped the Jewish population of their basic liberties and dignity. She personally witnessed the relentless persecution of Jewish individuals by the Germans, who plundered their stores,...

Separated Together Summary Abe's steadfast resolve was centered on reuniting with his family while adapting to his fresh start as an immigrant in the United States.

This section depicts the challenges and uncertainties Abe faced as a Jewish newcomer to America, as he carefully navigated ways to bring his family back together.

Price portrays Abe's experience in America as a path defined by the stark juxtaposition of hope for fresh opportunities and the grief of acknowledging the precarious situation of his relatives against the backdrop of European turmoil.

Abe arrived in the United States with empty pockets, armed with just a rudimentary grasp of English, and encountered financial difficulties while attempting to establish a new business.

Ironically, a journey orchestrated by his cousin Zalman in July 1939, which was meant to allow Abe to witness the grandeur of the exposition in New York, led to an unexpected separation from his family just as the chaos was escalating. Abe was thrilled by the prospect of venturing into unknown regions and uncovering the wonders of the modern age. His joy was short-lived. He soon realized that the global conflict, known as World War II, had commenced after Germany's aggressive advance. In a new country, he faced poverty and the impossibility of returning to Poland; his command of English was limited...

Separated Together Summary Following the conflict, Abe and Sonia commenced a fresh phase of their joint existence in the United States.

This section highlights how the couple, with unwavering commitment to their family and community, succeeded in creating fulfilling and happy existences, despite deep sorrow, on American soil.

Abe and Sonia start anew in the United States.

Price portrays the post-war era as a time brimming with jubilant appreciation for Abe and Sonia's affection, profound thankfulness for their survival, and a steadfast commitment to forging a meaningful life for their kin in a fresh homeland.

Abe's commercial successes guaranteed the economic security of his family.

Abe secured the financial well-being and affluence of his family by thriving in the trade of bulk diamonds in New York. Additionally, his real estate ventures remained prosperous, as he acquired a Bronx apartment complex in collaboration with his business associate, where he offered his friends and their relatives reasonably priced living accommodations. Kenneth and Sonia, who were overjoyed by the birth of their children Mark and Gloria, established their family home in Lido Beach, New York, and reveled in the joys of raising their family.

Context

• Lido Beach is a hamlet located on Long Island, known for its...