Navigating Hardships and Blessings in Chicago's Westside

Maybe we all require two families in our lives: the one we are born into and the one that comes to us when we least expect it. Sometimes, the family we find while actively searching is the one that truly feels like home. This sense of belonging can provide support during tough times and help us reach higher. It's like discovering a hidden treasure in the midst of life's challenges.

In July 1959, in Chicago, eleven-year-old Michael Friedman sought refuge from the troubles at home by exploring the summer streets. Anywhere seemed better than the dark and unsettling house where his mother battled mysterious illnesses, lost in her own world. Even with his father around, home felt like a place to escape. Despite David Friedman juggling two jobs, financial hardships loomed, leading him to vent his frustrations on his family. The entire Friedman family was truly in need of some luck, some mazel, to turn their situation around.

After moving to Chicago with his father, Michael Friedman faced many hardships. One day, he found himself in a heated confrontation with some Italian kids on a nearby street. This event marked a turning point in their lives, sparking a series of changes for the better.

Hardships and Blessings is a story of two mother and father overcoming sudden household crises by combining their strengths to help all the kids they love.