Molly’s Pilgrim
By Barbara Cohen
Yiddish Vocabulary
From text
What I know
When I am sad, I
cry and talk to my
mother
How would you define?
My mother tries
to make me feel
better
Sometimes my
mother calls me
“pet names” like
sweetie or baby
shaynkeit
Said by mother
Arms around Molly
“What’s the matter?”
Said to Molly
Burst into tears
Head against her
(mother’s) chest
crying
From text
What I know
When I am sad, I
want things to
change.
How would you define?
My mother might
try to explain why
things can’t
change
“Oi, Malkeleh”
A reply to Molly
“let’s go back to New
York
“I hate going to
school”
Sometimes my
mother calls me
“pet names” like
sweetie or baby
Said by mother
“We can’t go
back to New
York”
Describes how
New York was
bad
Describes how
Winter Hill is
good
From text
What I know
If girls followed
me home and
sang a terrible
song, I would feel
hurt.
How would you define?
paskudnyaks
Said by mother
“She’ll (the teacher)
make them…
…stop teasing you
(Molly).
My mother would
tell me those girls
were mean or
naughty girls.
Turning back a
few pages in the
story
Elizabeth and
Hilda follow Molly
halfway home
Singing that
terrible song.
From text
What I know
When my mother
doesn’t
understand what
I’m saying, she
might ask a
question.
How would you define?
“Nu, Malkeleh”
A reply to Molly
“I have to make…a
Pilgrim doll.”
Sometimes my
mother calls me
“pet names” like
sweetie or baby
Said by mother
Mama frowned
“What’s a
Pilgrim?”
Turning back a
few pages in the
story
“Oi, Malkeleh”
From text
What I know
How would you define?
shaynkeit
Said by mother
Mama smiling and
laughing
“A pilgrim is someone
who…I’m a Pilgrim!”
Sometimes my
mother calls me
“pet names” like
sweetie or baby
Said to Molly
“She (the doll)
doesn’t look
lik…the picture.”
Turning back a
few pages in the
story