MEIR
ALBERTON (1900-November 20, 1947)
Born in Bershad, Podolia region (Ukraine). Until age fourteen he studied in religious
schools and various other educational institutions. He then left for Odessa where he worked in a
variety of trades. After the revolution,
he became an educator in children’s institutions. Later he worked in a Dnepropetrovsk plant, joined the
factory school (arbfak), and later he graduated from a higher school of
mountain engineering. He began
publishing prose writings in 1926 concerning the restoration of damaged
factories and about Jewish youth in small towns, piece which were published by a
coal miners. Alberton brought Jewish
laborers in foundational industries to Soviet literature. In 1928 he went to Birobidzhan where he spent
a considerable period of time and later wrote his book on Birobidzhan. He also frequently appeared as a spokesman
and reporter, especially during the war years.
His books include: Biro-bidzhan, veg-ayndrukn (Birobidzhan,
impression of a journey) (Kharkov, 1929), 245 pp.; Fyoder zubakov (Fyodor
Zubakov), a story (Kharkov: Central Publishers, 1930), 32 pp.; Di komune (The commune), a story (Kharkov:
Central Publishers, 1930), 28 pp.; Tsu di
naye shakhtyorn (To the new miners), a story (Kharkov: Central Publishers,
1931), 20 pp.; Shakhtes (Mines) (Moscow, 1931), 692 pp.; Shakhte bis
(Mine “Bis”), “adopted for schools” (Minsk, 1932), 66 pp.; In supernem tsekh (In a top
guild), stories (Kharkov-Kiev: Ukrainian state publishers for national
minorities, 1932), 46 pp.; Nit oysgetrakht, tsen fartseykhenungen (Not invented, ten accounts)
(Moscow: Emes, 1941), 105 pp.; Nit oysgetrakht, fartseykhenungen (Not
invented, accounts) (Moscow: Emes, 1947), 107 pp. (not the same as the previous
work). His work was also included in: Der arbeter in der yidisher literatur (The
worker in Yiddish literature) (Minsk, 1931); Shloglerishe trit (Shock-worker’s steps) (Minsk, 1932); Deklamater fun der sovetisher yidisher
literatur (Reciter of Soviet Yiddish literature) (Moscow, 1934); Birebidzhan (Birobidzhan) (Moscow,
1936); Komyug ([Jewish] Communist
youth) (Moscow, 1938).
Sources: Shmuel Niger, in Tsukunft
(New York) (April 1930), pp. 288-90; A. Vorobeytshik, Prolit
(Proletarian literature) (Kharkov) (September-October, 1931); M. Mizhiritski
and S. Bryanski, Lernbukh un khrestomatye fun literatur (Textbook and
reader for literature) (Kharkov-Kiev, 1933); S. Zhukovski, Pruvn (Attempts)
(Kharkov, 1934), pp. 25-92; M. Kadishevitsh, in Visnshaft un revolutsye
(Science and revolution) (Kiev) (April-June, 1935); Dobrushin, in Forpost
(Birobidzhan), no. 1 (1936); Kh. Luitsker, in Afn shprakhfront (Kiev),
no. 1 (1937); Aleksander Pomerants, Inzhenern fun neshomes (Engineers of
souls) (New York, 1943); “Meir Alberton” obituary in Eynikeyt (Moscow)
(November 25, 1947); M. Gen, in Eynikeyt (March 23, 1948).
M. Alberton wrote A nayer dor : fartseykhenungen (A new generation: accounts).- Kiev: Melukhe farlag far di natsionale minderkhaytn in USSR, 1940.- 36, [3] pp.
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