MOYSHE KHOKHEM (ḤAKHAM)

MOYSHE KHOKHEM (ḤAKHAM) (May 17, 1888-September 24, 1964)

            He was born in Smotritch (Smotrich, Smotrycz), Podolia.  He studied Talmud and Hebrew, and he was later a student at the “International Institute” in Odessa.  After 1920 he was living at first in Poland, then in Canada, and from 1923 in the United States.  He was a member of the executive of the Histadrut Haivrit (Hebrew Federation), a founder of “Aḥiever,” and a cofounder of the “Idenshtat Partey” (Jewish state party) in America.  He published articles in: Unzer lebn (Our life) in Odessa; Telegraf (Telegraph) in Kiev; Keneder odler (Canadian eagle) in Montreal; Idisher zhurnal (Jewish journal) in Toronto; Morgn-zhurnal (Morning journal), Forverts (Forward), Naye varhayt (New truth), Dos idishe folk (The Jewish people), and Der amerikaner (The American)—all in New York; Di idishe velt (The Jewish world) in Philadelphia and Cleveland; Idisher kuryer (Jewish courier) in Chicago; Idisher rekord (Jewish record) in St. Louis; and Der firer (The leader) in Pittsburgh; among others.  In Hebrew he wrote for: Haolam (The world), Haarets (The land), Baderekh (On the road), Hayehudi (The Jew), Hadoar (The mail), Bitsaron (Fortress), Hamashkif (The observer), Iton miyuḥad (Special newspaper), Hamenahel (The director), and Hagesher (The bridge), among others.  He co-edited (with Sh. Bukshpan and Y. Barats) Di idishe shtime (The Jewish voice) in New York (July-November 1934).  In book form: Milkhome un revolutsye, iberlebenishn, 1914-1921 (War and revolution, experiences, 1914-1921) (New york, 1942), 256 pp.; Mishpat ribolov (The case of [Menakhem] Ribalow) (New York, 1944), 32 pp.; Hasokhnut hayehudit taḥat shevet habikoret (The Jewish Agency under the rod of inquiry) (New York, 1953), 20 pp.  Among his pen names: M. Geynor, M. Nirenberg, Y. M. Noyboyrg, M. Berg, and M. Kligman.  He died in New York.

Source: M. Rozen, Bireshut hayaḥid (In the private domain), vol. 2 (New York, 1943/1944), pp. 104-5.