en everything was gone from us, then our only hope was to come to America, were Father thought things cost nothing at all" (Yezierska 34). However, Father soon learns that he was horrible mistaken. The Smolinsky family realizes that the land of freedom and opportunity comes with a price, and they are no longer living lavishly. Yezierska scholar Gay Wilentz claims:
             While the desire to assimilate was strong - especially for those coming from restricted shtetls - the immigrants were aware that attempts to assimilate into the dominant culture often precluded adherence to a centuries-old culture which has existed only because of its adherents. (33)
             In addition to this now non-adherence to old culture, not only do the Smolinskys need to alter their lifestyles in order to assimilate, but also, since the values of the Old Country are not the same in America, Reb Smolinsky is faced with the problem of rebuilding his now worthless status. Living in poverty on Hester Street, Reb Smolinsky is no longer considered a man of stature. For, in America, religi
             ...