A Depression-era novel that showcases strength and struggles of
Jewish immigrant women in America
Washington, D.C. – For fans of Georgia Hunter’s “We Were the
Lucky Ones” comes Iris Mitlin Lav’s “Gitel’s Freedom” (March 25, 2025, She
Writes Press), a historical novel about the lives of Jewish immigrants in the
early twentieth century and one woman’s journey toward personal freedom.
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.
IRIS MITLIN LAV grew up in the liberal Hyde Park
neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. She went on to earn an MBA from George
Washington University and an AB from the University of Chicago, and to enjoy a
long career of public policy analysis and management, with an emphasis on
improving policies for low- and moderate-income families. She also taught
public finance at Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University, and in
1999 received the Steven D. Gold award for contributions to state and local fiscal
policy, an award jointly given by the Association for Public Policy Analysis
and Management, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National
Tax Association. 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
An Interview with Iris Mitlin Lav
Why did you decide to write novels after retiring from
public policy work? What is your advice for others who might wish to begin
writing?
I have always loved reading novels, and during the course of
my work life I found policy writing easy to do. I also liked to tell stories,
which often were well received. Despite the fact that my last creative writing
course was more than 60 years ago in high school, I decided to sit down and see
what would happen, which resulted in my first novel. I’d advise someone who
wants to begin writing fiction to sit down at their computer, start writing,
and decide whether what comes out seems like a viable novel. Then find a
developmental editor to help refine it.
What was your inspiration for “Gitel’s Freedom”?
Gitel’s Freedom is fiction, but it is based on my family’s
experiences. I always marveled at how strong the real Gitel–my mother–was,
dealing with all forms of adversity that kept plaguing her life, while
continuing to be the best mother she could be and also concerning herself with
social issues through various organizations to which she belonged. I wanted to
portray what her life was like. And also to portray how women’s freedoms
changed through the generations.
What is the significance of the locations in the book?
The Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago was, and still is a
very special place. At the time at which the novel is set, it was the only
racially integrated neighborhood in the city, and
Hyde Park High School was the only integrated school. Unlike
most places at the time, interactions and friendships between races was the
norm. That contrasts with the Lawndale neighborhood where Shmuel grew up and
Gitel and Shmuel first lived, which was in effect a Jewish ghetto.
Did you do any research to accurately convey the
difficulties of the time, especially for immigrants in the United States?
I did a lot of research about the Great Depression; the
statistics Gitel repeatedly cites to Shmuel in the novel about the declining
economy are accurate, as are the events such as the bank closings. Shmuel
clearly never understood how serious the economic situation was, nor did he
understand the shaky Illinois banking system with its many small, under-capitalized banks. He likely was
typical of many immigrants in that respect. Gitel understood, but as a woman
she couldn’t override her husband’s poor decisions.
Gitel is quite resourceful and resilient in the face of
limiting and often oppressive expectations. What are the consequences of the
limited opportunities for women during this time period?
In this time period, women–and particularly married
women–had little freedom to make choices. If they wanted to leave a bad
marriage, they likely would have difficulty supporting themselves because of
pay disparities between men and women and the limited type of work for which
women could be hired. (Note that the wage disparities between men and women at
all education levels persist today.) If a woman had children, the Chicago
Public Schools made it impossible for women to work because children below high
school age came home for lunch every day. Most women were dependent on a
husband’s income if they were married and had children, or on an inequitable
employment and pay system if they were single.
