Antisemitism is a constant throughout the novel. No matter where the family goes, they face the same thing: a hatred of Jewish people. In Russia, this antisemitism was inspired by Christians who believed the Jewish people were responsible for killing their savior. In Central Europe, a new wave of antisemitism would project hate at Jewish people as a race, rather than a religion. Eventually, rampant antisemitism would result in the Holocaust.

Antisemitism has a long history in Russia, where the Rabinovitch story begins. Ephraïm is 25 in 1919: “A brilliant engineer, he’s just earned his degree despite the numerous clauses in effect, which limited the number of Jews admitted to university” (12). His father, Nachman, limited by the May Laws, was able to earn his education despite limitations. After several genocides, clashes, and attacks, the family has had enough. On April 18, 1919, Nachman tells his family they must leave Russia, recalling times in his boyhood when Christian men at Christmas would rape Jewish women and kill the men to “punish the people who killed Christ” (15). Nachman experienced suffering and pain in Russia, and when he tells his children to leave, they obey.

Ephraïm and his young family flee to Latvia, where he finds success in a caviar business.