Wednesday 27 July 2016

BINYUMEN ZALMANOVITSH

BINYUMEN ZALMANOVITSH (b. February 27, 1875)
            He was born in Vilna.  His father was a gravedigger.  Until age twelve he studied in religious elementary school, later becoming a laborer.  In 1900 he moved to the United States.  He was the founder of the first Jewish butchers’ union in New York, as well as other trade unions.  He lived for many years in Paterson, New Jersey.  He debuted in print with a story about workers’ life in the weekly Tsayt-gayst (Spirit of the times) (New York, 1905).  From that point, he published stories and sketches concerning the lives of Jewish laborers in: Forverts (Forward), Varhayt (Truth), Di tsayt (The times), Fraye arbeter shtime (Free voice of labor), and Der tog (The day)—in New York.  In book form: Der barber, oder broyt far di kinder (The barber, or bread for the children), a drama in three scenes (New York, 1911), 16 pp.  He was living in Hightstown, New Jersey.

Sources: Y. Khaykin, Yidishe bleter in amerike (Yiddish newspapers in America) (New York, 1946), p. 191; Forverts (New York) (April 22, 1959).


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