Y. GOLDBROKH

Y. GOLDBROKH (1907-1942)

            He was born in Warsaw, Poland, into a working class family.  He graduated from a secular Jewish school.  He later became a seminar member in the course on Yiddish studies at the Warsaw “Culture League.”  His first publication was a critical essay on Mendele’s “Sloyme reb khayims” (Shloyme, son of Khayim), which appeared in the collection Bleter funem seminar far yidishistik (Pages from the seminar in Yiddish studies) (Warsaw, 1929), of which (together with M. Gromb) he served as editor.  He also published in this volume: “Vi azoy darf men nisht shraybn yidish” (How one ought not write Yiddish).  Until WWII, he was a reporter for Naye folkstsaytung (New people’s newspaper) and Unzer ekspres (Our express), in which he published (under the pen name Gold) short sketches, city views, and reportage pieces which excelled in their literary Yiddish and artistic austerity.  He also contributed to Foroys (Onward) in Warsaw, among others.  He was in the Warsaw Ghetto, where he suffered from hunger and want, and there he died.

Sources: P. Shvarts, in Fun noentn over (New York, 1956); B. Mark, Umgekumene shrayber fun di getos un lagern (Murdered writers from the ghettos and camps) (Warsaw, 1954).