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Early life
Minna was born and raised in Kishinev, Moldova. She was an energetic and outgoing child. Born to an entrepreneur father and a chemical engineer mother, Minna was exposed to hard work and strength early on. Her life was filled with lots of happiness. She lived a joyful and carefree life. She always dreamed of being a dentist and had a deep passion for music.
Anti-Semitism
Being a Jew in Moldova was difficult. There were few resources on Jewish culture and it was nearly impossible to learn about the religion. Although it was a challenge, Minna stuck with her religion and always identified as Jewish. Kishinev was a particularly anti-Semitic city. In 1903 the Kishinev Pogrom occurred. This was an anti-Jewish riot that killed 49 Jews and damaged over 1500 Jewish households. Ever since the riot, anti-Semitism never went away in Kishinev. Minna faced anti-Semitism nearly everywhere she went. "It was constant and consistent, anti-Semitism followed me everywhere I went."
Image of bodies on the ground after Kishinev Pogrom
Torah scrolls destroyed in 1903
Why Immigrate?
The decision was made when Minna was in college. She got married at 21 because she knew she wanted a family early on. Minna was nervous and unsure about what finding a husband would be like in America, so she married in Moldova. After her marriage, the Kachka family as a unit decided it was best for their future and for the future of their children to leave everything behind and come to America. When the opportunity came it was sudden and a rush. They quickly packed their bags, forced to leave many things behind. Within days after packing, they were gone. Minna recalled, that she "... partially never wanted to come back. I knew I was going to miss my friends and life in Moldova, but I knew my future was America."
Images of Kishinev, Moldova
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