YANKEV TSHERNI

YANKEV TSHERNI (1840s-1906)

            He was born in Berdichev, Ukraine.  He was a friend of Avrom Goldfaden, who dedicated to him a poem entitled “Der moderner briv” (The modern letter).  He lived in Belaya Tserkov and practiced there as a doctor.  He was a lover and knowledgeable of the Yiddish language, and he thus wrote popular articles on medicine and hygiene for: Yudisher folksblat (Jewish people’s newspaper) 24.1 (1889); Sholem-Aleykhem’s Yudisher folks-biblyotek (Jewish people’s library); Spektor’s Hoyzfraynd (House friend); and in the journals Yud (Jew) and Di yudishe familye (The Jewish family), among other venues.  He later moved to the land of Israel, and later still returned to Belaya Tserkov where he died.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 1; Dr. Y. Shatski, “Briv fun A. Goldfaden” (Letter from A. Goldfaden), in Hundert yor goldfaden (One hundred years of Goldfaden) (New York: YIVO, 1940).

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