Customer Reviews

Rachel Calof's Story: Jewish Homesteader on the Northern Plains

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This book has several parts, the most important of which is "My Story," by Rachel Bella Calof. This remarkable memoir was written in 1936, by a 60-year-old woman who was recalling her early life, particularly her years as a homesteader in North Dakota at the turn of the century. She was not rich or famous and would probably be the first to say she was just an ordinary person. But her story strikes one as extraordinary, indeed.

This is followed by an epilogue by her youngest son, Jacob Calof; and two essays from historians placing her story in context of the time it took place.

The best past is unquestionably Rachel Bella's own story.

The tale of one tragedy after another is punctuated by moments of beauty, joy, and tenderness. This is a woman whose hard life was a triumph over circumstances. It was constant source of amazement to this reader that she survived at all-let alone that her nine children, born and raised in primitive circumstances-also survived. It is a testimony to superior genetics and incredible strength of will.

It is also fascinating to read. The author's style is straightforward and unpretentious, but also shows evidence of the true storyteller: suspense, humor, romance, and wit. Personal relationships come alive as Calof describes herself, her family, and the people they met along the way. There are some times when we know that Calof is going to some lengths to soft-pedal the less than noble aspects of human nature, but we get the point.

The two sections written by scholars are academically dry and are simply as not interesting to read. However, they do contain some helpful background information.

My family lived close to the Calof family as well as to the other Jewish settlers in this area. I remember my Father speaking about the settlement in nothing but the fondest terms, but he also discussed with us the hardships these people lived. Their cemetary was built on land that is owned by my uncles family.I read this book ,therefore, with knowledge of the history of the settlement..I can only say, talk about history becoming alive. this is one of the rare true stories of courage,love, faith and determination that we as lovers of our nations heritage will have the priviledge of reading. It is completely absorbing and I feel that it would make a wonderful production for a movie or theatical event. Read this story, It by passes any fictional story for reading ,this is how the west was settled. Some people had great success but many, many, had to strive to keep hope and life alive.

For the last 26 years I have taught American History at the high school and college levels. I have read hundreds of history books on a variety of subjects over the years. Rarely have a found a book that is revealing as this one. This short, very descriptive and moving book is exactly what students should be reading if they want to learn about history. To those who think history is boirng, I say--read this book! It tells more about life in the West than books five times its size.

Rachel Calof's spellbinding narrative gives a rarely seen view of life on the frontier. In her story there are no cowboys, Indians, or saloons. Instead, she recounts battles with the harsh winters, crops, family, and privacy, giving the modern world a realistic view of life in the `Wild West.' Calof's style is incredibly powerful - her simple, matter of fact narration not only gives the reader a new perspective on frontier life but also moves one emotionally. Her emotions are so raw and intense, one finds oneself sharing Calof's anger, tears, and joy. Historically, Calof's novel has much merit, it is not often that one hears about Jewish or female settlers on the frontier. This realistic glimpse of existence on the frontier brings the hardships and trials of the early settlers to life. Besides giving a clear historical perspective, Calof's narrative gives the reader an important message. Calof teaches the reader that if one wants to improve one's life, or reach a goal, one must work hard and patiently for it, and never give up. As a whole, Rachel Calof's Story is truly both a historical and literary treasure, and as Rachel Calof teaches us in her own words, "if you love the living of life you must know the journey was well worth it," and through Calof's book, readers are able to understand both the hardships and the joys of the long American journey westward.

On finishing Rachel Calof's autobiography, the reader should spontaneously count his blessings, regardless of current circumstance. Virtually forced to enter a marriage arranged in her Russian homeland, Calof survives a brutal pioneer existence on the featureless prairie near Devils Lake, North Dakota while bearing child after child.

The brief memoir could easily be assigned to high school or college students. A short afterward by the translator, Calof's youngest son, completes her story, and an essay by the editor, J. Sanford Rikoon, sets the experience of Jewish pioneers in North Dakota in historical perspective. The other academic essay included is of no value.

Written later in life by an immigrant to the sparsely populated Northern Plains, this true story of a life of hardship, and at times, bare survival, depicts the daily grind of this non-stereotypical woman and her family. Only a small percentage of Jewish immigrants engaged in agriculture atall, because they were not allowed to be land owners in their 'old country.' That fact, and the hardships that they encountered here, in a harsh climate, are a testament to the courage, hope, and stamina of these early settlers.

This is one of my favorite books. It's the true story (in her own words) of Rachel, an impoverished young Russian Jewish woman who was abandoned by her family and came to the US in the late 1800s for an arranged marriage to another poor Jewish immigrant. Together they became homesteaders in the bleak midwest, where they forged a life and created a large family while braving harsh winters in dire poverty. Rachel and her husband had no privacy, as his parents shared their tiny, one-room shack for a large part of every year. Rachel's writing is unsentimental and very moving. I wish someone would make a movie of this book.

This is a short account by Rachel Bella Calof of her childhood in Russia, her emigration to America for an arranged marriage, and much of her adult life homesteading in North Dakota. The account is succinct and yet tells volumes about her life and the hardships she endured with only her superstitious mother-in-law and other family members for support. Woven into the tale of endurance is the additional interest of how the Calof clan maintained their Jewish culture and heritage in the face of the early years of starvation and illness. The bulk of Rachel Bella's narrative focuses on her life with her husband Abe farming on the prairie and as a primary historical document, it is of major interest. Following the narrative is an epilogue by the youngest of Calof's nine children and then two academic essays to place her story in a larger context. While I enjoyed her story, the academic gobbeldy-gook was well nie worthless (and one of them entertainingly states "And the cost of the experiment was especially high for families in which parents lost children because of a lack of rudimentary medical attention..." Hmmm. And I'd always thought a lack of rudimentary care was a good thing!). Rachel Bella Calof's story didn't need placement in a larger framework to be moving and interesting. If you read this one, I recommend skipping the final two essays.

Excellent documentary of life just a generation or 2 ago. We've had amazing transformation in the last 100 years. Can one imagine what this century is going to bring, just comparing what Rachel Calef's family endured just before World War I. Excellently written and should be read by all generations to show what the homesteaders had to endure just to survive.

I was required to read this memoir for a U.S. History class and enjoyed it immensely. It was a short easy read, but you really can feel for Rachel Calof in her detailed descriptions of the harsh life on the Northern Plains. I was a bit dissapointed in the shortness of this memoir, but given the writers nature, readers can be greatful that they got this much.