Lithuania to Lorain: A Jewish Journey, The First Generation of Goldbergs in America

by Hollace Ava Weiner

In the winter of 1921, the Goldberg family trekked more than 5,000 miles from Lithuania to Lorain, Ohio. They traveled by horse-drawn cart, by ship across the Atlantic to New York, and then by rail to the Midwest and the shores of Lake Erie. This book documents their saga, a classic immigrant tale, from continent to continent and generation to generation. This coffee table book is illustrated with hundreds of family photos, maps, news articles and correspondence. It is documented with hundreds of endnotes and includes a detailed index. Rare Yiddish letters mailed from Lithuania and Latvia between the world wars are translated in the appendix.

248 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

HOLLACE AVA WEINER, a journalist turned historian, graduated from the University of Maryland in 1968 and began reporting for the Baltimore News American and freelancing for the Washingtoh Post. From 1986 to 1997, she was a reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
In 1997 Hollace took a leave of absence to complete Jewish Stars in Texas, which profiles 11 legendary Lone Star rabbis. Now in its 3rd printing, the book is available in hardback and paperback.
Hollace next was asked by Brandeis University Press to produce the anthology Lone Stars of David, a coffee-table book that remains a popular gift for anyone with Texas ties. It was featured at the 2007 Texas Book Festival.
Hollace is now focusing on her own family story with the publication in 2020 of "From Lithuania to Lorain: A Jewish Journey." With its engrossing narrative and nostalgic photos, this book sets the standard for family histories.

Reviews

[Budd Margolis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollace Weiner has created one of the finest family history books I have seen. Filled with family stories and photos, documents, maps and charts that explain her meticulous and fascinating story of discovery. This is a quality printed glossy quality and well written & researched coffee table-sized book that traces her Goldberg side of the family with personal letters, articles and stories that bring back to life the story of Eastern European immigrants. It is a labour of love, expertly;y and carefully researched, over years and many miles, and the end product is truly stunning.

The book Lithuania to Lorain: A Jewish Journey, The First Generation of Goldbergs in America is s genealogical goldmine. This journey of exploration and archival discovery is an example of how to create a family history that will last for generations.

Disclosure: I am a relative and mentioned in this book but even if I was not, I would still be proud of its quality and high standard of journalism.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute masterpiece. Presented as a coffee table book yet filled with the emotional depth of a historical memoir, it offers the best of both worlds. The Goldberg family’s journey from Eastern Europe to America is told with remarkable clarity and compassion.

Every page feels intentional. The visuals—old photographs, maps, ship documents, newspaper excerpts, handwritten notes—make the story not only compelling but tactile and alive. The detailed endnotes and full index show the author’s meticulous dedication to accuracy and preservation.

One of the most unforgettable parts of this book is the appendix of rare Yiddish letters. These messages, many sent during uncertain and dangerous times, speak of hope, longing, fear, and endurance. They are the heartbeat of this family's history.

This is a kind of book that sparks conversations, invites reflection, and honors the resilience of those who crossed oceans so future generations could flourish. I'll be recommending the book to all my friends.