LEYB SHOYS

LEYB SHOYS (October 20, 1915-December 28, 1967)

            He was a journalist, born in Gorzhd (Gargždai), Lithuania.  In 1932 he graduated from a Jewish senior high school in Vilkomir (Ukmergė).  He lived in Kovno and from 1944 in Vilna.  He was a member of the Communist Party.  Over the years 1940-1951, he was vice-director of the official Lithuanian news agency “ELTA.”  In 1934 he began contributing to the Labor Zionist daily newspaper Dos vort (The word) as a translator and reporter.  He served as editor (1938-1939) of Ovnt-blat (Evening newspaper) and in 1940 of Folksblat (People’s newspaper).  He wrote articles in Lithuanian and Russia, as well.  He wrote the play, Zog nit keyn mol, az du geyst dem letstn veg (Never say that you are on your final road), about the Vilna ghetto.  He died in Vilna.

Source: Zalmen Zilbertsvayg, Leksikon fun yidishn teater (Handbook of the Yiddish theater), vol. 6 (Mexico City, 1969).

Berl Cohen