Hannah Yulevich, a distraught and discouraged widow wants to leave Russia after the pogrom of 1909. She hopes to take her sixteen-year old daughter, Sofia, to a safer place to escape further 'terrible incidents.'

She's advised by her Rabbi of an opportunity to go to America, and Hannah is willing to take the risk to emigrate. By chance, she is reunited with her brother along the way. Hannah, Sofia, and Boris travel to America, and the industrious woman encounters opportunities she's able to turn to her advantage.

Hannah comes to realize being forced to give up all she had has brought her to a place where she has more than she'd ever imagined possible. Nevertheless, the solution that was instigated by Hannah for her daughter's happiness now requires her to let go her most prized possession.