America: then and now

A personal memory from an immigrant who arrived 61 years ago

When my mother and 14-year-old sister came to America in the early 1960s, the process was incredibly strict. They waited many years for their turn. A man from the Cleveland Symphony signed an affidavit promising that if we ever needed help, he would personally support us for five years. No government assistance of any kind.

When I finally arrived two years later—after serving in the Israeli army—I remember the intensity of the immigration interview. I was asked unexpected and uncomfortable questions:

“Have you ever been with a prostitute?” “Have you ever had any contact with a communist?” “Do you have friends who have had contact with a communist?”

My medical exam was equally detailed. Eyes, throat, chest—everything was checked. At that time, anyone with serious illness was simply not admitted.

I still remember how nervous I was walking in. I was 20 years old, alone, hoping for a chance at a new life. When they finally stamped my papers and let me in, I felt gratitude I still carry today.

Life in America back then felt different. I could walk at midnight alone in the street without fear. People seemed calmer. Cities felt smaller, slower, and more connected.

I’m not judging today’s world, and I’m not arguing politics—I’m simply reflecting on how much has changed since 1964 and how different the immigrant experience was in those days.

I’d love to hear how others remember those earlier years, or what their own immigration experience was like.