In 1909, Malka Kaminsky steals her dowry to flee Russia and an arranged marriage, arriving in New York hungry for freedom. Drawn into the hustle of the Golden Land, Malka joins a sweatshop strike and is nearly beaten by thugs, but a stranger and fellow Russian Jew, Yaakov Rogovin, rescues her. Malka doesn' t thank him, refusing to acknowledge her debt, but when chance brings Yaakov to her Sabbath table, they laugh and trade warm glances- only to deny their mutual attraction. After all, they carry deep scars from Russia, where admitting to desires always led to heartache. But as they strive to become entrepreneurs- Yaakov as a musician, Malka as a dressmaker- they hope that independence will show them how to live unafraid, despite the past. And they will need that lesson soon, because when Malka' s fiancé arrives, determined to reclaim her, she seeks Yaakov' s help, neither of them aware what fighting for their dreams will cost.
