At an early age, Gitel questions the expected roles of women in society and in Judaism. Born in Belorussia and brought to the U.S. in 1911, she leads a life constrained by her Jewish parents. Forbidden from going to college and pushed into finding a husband, she marries Shmuel, an Orthodox Jewish pharmacist whose left-wing politics she admires. They plan to work together in a neighborhood pharmacy in Chicago—but when the Great Depression hits and their bank closes, their hopes are shattered.

In the years that follow, bad luck plagues their marriage, leaving them in financial distress. Gitel dreams of going back to school to become a teacher once their daughter reaches high school, but finds her ambitions thwarted by an unexpected pregnancy. And when a massive stroke leaves Shmuel disabled, Gitel is challenged to combine caring for him, being the breadwinner at a time when women face salary discrimination, and being present for their second daughter.

An illuminating look at Jewish immigrant life in early-1900s America, "Gitel’s Freedom"is also a compelling tale of women’s resourcefulness and resilience in the face of limiting and often oppressive expectations.

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About the Author

About the Author: Iris Mitlin Lav grew up in the liberal Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. She earned degrees from George Washington University and University of Chicago, and enjoyed a long career of public policy analysis and management, with an emphasis on improving policies for low- and moderate-income families. Her first novel, “A Wife in Bangkok,” was published in 2020 by She Writes Press. “Gitel’s Freedom” is her second novel. Lav and her husband now live in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with Mango, their goldendoodle, and grandchildren nearby. Learn more about her life and work at: www.irismitlinlav.com

Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Iris-Mitlin-Lav-author/100067865341751/