In 1896, Russian Jew Yankel Bogovnik has been in the United States for three years and settled where many of his background have: Hester Street, on New York City's Lower East Side. He has assimilated to American life - learned English, anglicized his name to Jake, and shaved off his beard. He is working at a $12/week job as a seamster, saving up his earnings to be can bring his wife Gitl and their son Yossele to America from Russia. Although he has fallen in love with dancer Mamie Fein, he's overjoyed when he learns that Gitl and Yossele are coming to America. His happiness at their arrival is damped when he sees that Gitl isn't "American-looking like Mamie and is having trouble assimilating as quickly as he would like. Except to Mamie, he tries to show a public façade that everything is fine at home with Gitl. But can their marriage survive these differences, and if not, will Gitl be able to manage in this new land where she has little support?