My grandfather Sam Skolnick grew up in Uman, Ukraine. His brother emigrated to New York in 1910 and sent money back to the family in Crisco cans. The family saved enough to emigrate to the US. They traveled through Havana, a popular stopover for Jews from E Europe. Sam got into a vicious argument with the US officials who ripped up his passport!
He remained in Havana for 3 years pedaling ties and clothes, becoming fluent in Spanish. Ruth Statman went to Havana on vacation where she met and married him. When they came to the US her family were thrilled to learn he was fluent in Spanish and knew how to sell clothes. They sent him to San Antonio to open a clothing store. He traveled to Mexico to buy clothes and good for the store. It was there my mother and later I was born.