Parent/Child Conflict

Relationships between parents and their children is the main theme of "I Pity the Poor Immigrant." The book explores the main character, Hannah Groff's, relationship with her father, Lawrence; murder victim and Israeli writer David Bellen and his son, Eliav; gangster and one of the founders of Las Vegas Meyer Lansky and his son, Buddy; concentration camp survivor Gila Konig and her mother; and ultimately, ancient Israeli King David and his son Absalom.

Each one of these relationships is complex and troubled. Most of them involve a disappointed parent and a rebellious child, but they all involve people not understanding each other fully, which leads to severe dysfunction and in some cases, premature death.

Hannah's mother dies when Hannah is 12. Lawrence hires Gila, Hannah's Hebrew teacher, to care for Hannah during the illness and after her mother's death. Lawrence begins an affair with Gila...