ARN FRENKEL

ARN FRENKEL (May 13, 1896-1941)

            He was born in Meretsh (Merkinė), Vilna district.  He was raised in Druzgenik (Druskininkai) and Bialystok.  In 1903 he came to the United States.  Over the years 1907-1910, he worked as a principal in YIKO (Jewish Cultural Organization) schools.  He began work as a journalist with articles for Vilna’s Haolam (The world) in 1910.  From that point, he contributed to various Hebrew and Yiddish periodicals.  In 1913 he served as the correspondent from the land of Israel for Varhayt (Truth) in New York—using the pen name “Independent.”  In 1915 he published in New York a Hebrew-language weekly newspaper Hauma (The nation); served as a member of the editorial board of Hayom (Today) and Hadoar (The mail); was assistant editor of Hatoran (The duty officer) (1916-1917); and co-edited Idish folk (Jewish people) (1920-1921).  In 1918 he joined the Jewish Legion and visited the land of Israel for a second time, and there he translated Colonel John Henry Patterson’s book Bemeon arayot (In the lions’ den [original?: Tsavo Man-Eaters]).  He died in New York.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 3; M. Ḥezkuni, in Yizkor-Hadoar (New York) (Sivan 3 [= May 22], 1947).

Yankev Kahan