KALMEN LANDAU

KALMEN LANDAU (November 1, 1912-October 17, 2007)

            He was born in Nayshtot (Kudirkos-Naumiestis), Lithuania.  He graduated from a Tarbut high school in 1929 in Virbaln (Virbalis, Wierzbołowo), and he went on to study humanities disciplines at Kovno University.  Over the years 1930-1935, he lived in France.  In 1934 he graduated as a chemical engineer from the University of Caen; thereafter, until he set out for Mexico, he lived in Paris.  He was secretary general of the Jewish Student Union at the University of Caen and chairman of the student committee which directed the boycott of German chemical manufacturing in French laboratories and universities.  In Mexico City he served as chairman of the Labor Zionist party and of the League for Workers in Israel.  He was also secretary of the Great Jewish School.  He began his writing activities with correspondence pieces and articles on politics in Unzer vort (Our word) in Kovno (1932), and he later contributed to: Meksikaner yidishe shtim (Jewish voice of Mexico), Frayvelt (Free world), Der veg (The way), and Dos vort (The word)—in Mexico City.  He published political articles, essays on literature and art, feature pieces, and other journalistic works.  He was in charge of the column “Komentarn” (Comments) in Di shtime (The voice).  From 1947 he was editor of the biweekly Labor Zionist publication Dos vort.  He contributed as well to the periodical Yidisher student (Jewish student) in Caen (1931-1934) and to Di shtime in Mexico City (during the tenure of the regular editor, Moyshe Rubinshteyn).  He died in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.  Among his pen names: Ben Adin, K. Eydels, A Nayshtoter, R. Vabela, An Eygener, Ben-Shloyme, and R. Rozenblum.

Sources: Kh. Lazdeyski, in Ilustrirte literarishe bleter (Buenos Aires) 1 (1961); Rabbi Dr. Y. Avigdor, in Di shtime (Mexico City) (October 10, 1961).

Khayim Leyb Fuks