LOUIS FINKELSHTEYN

LOUIS FINKELSHTEYN (1874-January 5, 1953)

            The pen name of Leyb Mlotek, he was born in Zambrov (Zambrów), Lomzhe district, Poland.  At a young age was orphaned on both sides.  He studied for a time in religious elementary school, and later (until 1892) he wandered through Poland and supported himself through fortuitous work along the way.  In 1892 he came to Warsaw and from there left for London; and from 1894 until his death he lived in New York.  He began writing poetry for Arbayter fraynd (Workers’ friend) in London (1894), and later he switched to prose and journalism.  He was a cofounder in New York of Der nayer dor (The new generation) and of the revived Fraye arbeter-shtime (Free voice of labor).  From 1899 he published there, in addition to articles on social questions, feature pieces, and poems, also polemical writings against “traditional” anarchism and socialism.  Over the years 1911-1918, he worked as an internal contributor to Di naye post (The new mail) in New York; later, until 1926, he also wrote for Gerekhtikeyt (Justice) for which he also served as editor.  In addition, he contributed to: Kibitser (Kibitzer), Kundes (Prankster), and Forverts (Forward), among others.  From 1927 until his death, he was editor of the labor and union section of Tog (Day) in New York.  He also used such pen names as: Ben-Yoysef, Leybtshe Shvatkoves, Oyzer Dalim, Dr. Zarembe, and Spartakus.  He died in New York.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 3; Ikuf almanakh (IKUF almanac) (New York, 1961), p. 559.

Khayim Leyb Fuks