There are many similarities between the novel “Bread Givers” and the movie The Jazz Singer. While Anzia Yezierska’s story tells of a young girl who is determined to escape her Old World father and run her own life, The Jazz Singer tells the story of a young boy trying to do much the same thing. Sarah Smolinsky wants to become an educated woman and not allow her father to ruin her life the way that he ruined her sisters’ lives. Al Jolson’s character of Jakie Rabinowitz wants desperately to become a jazz singer, but his father, Cantor Rabinowitz, is determined that he follow in his footsteps and become a cantor in the synagogue. The characters find sympathy through their mothers who help save them from their fathers’ wrath and help them achieve their dreams. Sarah has an ally in her mother who does not understand her need to live on her own and go to college, but respects her decision although her father does not. Sarah has to run away to get what she wants, and her mother defies her father in order to keep in contact with her. Jakie Rabinowitz’s mother acts as a middleman between Jakie and his father. She understands that this is a New World and Jakie should be allowed to do what is in his heart to do and not what is in his father’s heart for him to do. He does not have to run away in order to achieve his goals; his father throws him out on the street after finding him singing in a jazz club. Both Jakie and Sarah work hard in order for their dreams to be realized in the New World. They are both very self-disciplined individuals. However, they both have something missing in their lives and it is not until the end of their respective stories that they find what it is. Sarah rediscovers her heritage and lets her father back into her life and helps him out when he needs it. Jakie rediscovers his heritage and sings at the ceremony for the Day of Atonement because his father is too ill to do so. He has to miss his first starring role in a Broadway show in...