YISROEL LERNER

YISROEL LERNER (1907-December 1934)

            He was born in a town near Lemberg, Galicia, into a poor family.  He attended religious elementary school and a Polish public school, and later became a laborer.  For several years (1929-1932), he lived in Warsaw, before returning to Lemberg.  He debuted in print with lyrical poetry in Literarishe bleter (Literary leaves) in Warsaw (1929), later publishing poems and stories in the anthology Zalbeakht (Group of eight) (1932), Folkstsaytung (People’s newspaper), Vokhnshrift far literatur (Weekly writing for literature), and Unzer ekspres (Our express)—in Warsaw.  He cofounded and co-edited the organ of the young Yiddish writers’ group in Galicia: Oyfgang (Arise) in Lemberg (1932-1934), in which, among other items, he published his poem “Tsigayner blut” (Gypsy blood).  He also contributed to Oyfgang in Sighet-Marmației, Marmoreshe bleter (Marmației leaves) in Sighet-Marmației, and Shtegn (Paths) in Stanislav (until late 1934), among others.  He died of tuberculosis in Lemberg.

Sources: Y. Pat, in Vokhnshrift far literatur (Warsaw) (April 8, 1932); M. Tabak, in Shtegn (Stanislav) (January 1, 1935); Rabak, in Inzl (Bucharest) 1 (1935).

Khayim Leyb Fuks