Interesting story. And sure, I buy that the 'named changed by officials at Ellis Island' is largely a myth/misconception.

However, name changes were often done by immigrants themselves in an effort to fit into their new home. My non-Jewish relatives did this. My grandmother changed her name from a very German last name to a more Anglicized one - I think due to avoid the stigma of having a German name around WW2. My last name was changed. I'm not sure where/when, but at some point an 'o' got switched for an 'a'. Maybe it was a mere clerical error? I'm not sure. But the point is, many immigrants to the US change their names.

I think it's a bit of a double standard you're applying to fit your narrative: Changing a name to adapt to US culture or avoid prejudice there is bad, but changing them to adapt to Israeli culture is OK...

And yes, the US has an appalling history of slavery and bigotry towards various minority groups, including the Jews. Irish discrimination and 'Irish Need Not Apply' signs were common at one time too in the US.

However, it must have gotten a little better right? If the US remains such an awful place today for Jews, why do more Jews - many with dual Israeli passports - choose to live in the US than anywhere else outside of Israel?

And why are they continuing to immigrate to the US from Israel if its such a horrid place for them in 2024?

What you're really suggesting by complaining about how bad the US is to Jews, is that they should all leave and go somewhere else, like to Israel - which is an incredibly bigoted thing to insinuate. It's that exact sentiments that was used to 'sell' anti-Semites in the US and Europe on the idea of backing the creation of Israel in the first place: So they would not have to change their bigoted ways, and could 'dump' people they didn't like somewhere else like garbage.

These are not healthy sentiments and I think this is one of the harms Zionism has actually done - not to mention the vitriolic racism and prejudices of early influential Zionists like Herzl.