KHAYIM-ARN KAPLAN

KHAYIM-ARN KAPLAN (September 19, 1880-1942)

            A Hebrew writer and pedagogue, he was born in Horodishtsh (Gorodishche), Byelorussia.  In the Warsaw Ghetto, he kept a diary from September 1, 1939 until August 4, 1942.  Years later the diary was discovered (aside from the entries from April 3 through May 3, 1942) and published as Megilat yesurin (Scroll of affliction) (Tel Aviv-Jerusalem, 1966), 562 pp.  In Yiddish he published a translation of the Passover Haggadah (Warsaw, 1924), 88 + 42 pp., second edition (New York, 1926).  From time to time, he wrote for Fraynd (Friend), Unzer lebn (Our life), Haynt (Today), Moment (Moment), and Yidishes tageblat (Jewish daily newspaper) in New York, among other serials.  He died in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 3; Getzel Kressel, Leksikon hasifrut haivrit (Handbook of Hebrew literature), vol. 2 (Merḥavya, 1967); B. Mark, Umgekumene shrayber fun di getos un lagern (Murdered writers from the ghettos and camps) (Warsaw, 1954), pp. 41, 51, 67; Emanuel Ringelbum, Notitsn fun varshever geto (Notices from the Warsaw Ghetto) (Warsaw, 1952), pp. 308, 339; Y. Horn, in Unzer tsayt (New York) (February 1966).

Ruvn Goldberg