YOYEL-DOV ZAKS

YOYEL-DOV ZAKS (1909-summer 1941)

            He was born in Riteve (Rietavas), near Memel (Klaipėda), Lithuania, into a devout family.  He studied in religious elementary school and in the Telz Yeshiva, where later (until 1937) he served as custodian.  He wrote articles on Jewish issues for Haneeman (The faithful) in Telz (1928-1931), and he was later a contributor as well as the last editor of the Orthodox weekly newspaper, Dos vort (The word), in Vilna, among other serials.  He was editor of the Torah journal Pri ets ḥayim (Fruit of the tree of life) in Telz (1935-1940).  He was killed in the forest near Telz, Lithuania.

Sources: Ele ezkara (These we remember), vol. 3 (New York, 1958/1959); information from Rabbi Efraim Oshri and Rabbi A. Katsman in New York.

Khayim Leyb Fuks

[Additional information from: Berl Kagan, comp., Leksikon fun yidish-shraybers (Biographical dictionary of Yiddish writers) (New York, 1986), col. 258.]