Have you ever heard of Harry Houdini? He’s one of the most famous magicians ever, known for his amazing escape acts. Even at the peak of his fame, however, few people were aware of Houdini’s backstory, which was similar to many other immigrants of the late 1800s. Harry was born in Hungary but raised in Wisconsin, where his father was rabbi for a Reform congregation. Like many European Jews of that era, Harry’s parents immigrated to America to make a better life for themselves and their children.