MAKS NAKS

MAKS NAKS (b. December 29, 1897)

            The Americanized name of Mortkhe-Arn Knokh, he was born in Bervenavke (Bervenovka), Homel region, Byelorussia.  He studied in religious elementary schools, at the Rogatshever yeshiva, and with private tutors.  From 1913 he was living in the United States.  He lived initially in New Haven, Connecticut, where he studied in an evening “high school.”  He debuted in print in 1922 with a story in Frayhayt (Freedom) in New York, later publishing and editing the literary collection Unzer vinkl (Our corner) in Newark (1925).  He published poetry in: Idishe shtime (Jewish voice) in Newark; Literarishe bleter (Literary leaves) in Warsaw; Fraye arbeter-shtime (Free voice of labor), Idisher kemfer (Jewish fighter), Oyfkum (Arise), Yidish (Yiddish), and Di tsukunft (The future)—in New York.  He has yet to publish in book form.  In reviews of publications to which he has contributed, his poems have been noted as quite accomplished.  He was the older brother of Professor Ezriel Naks (Israel Knox).  He was last living in New, New Jersey.

Source: Moyshe Shtarkman, Hemshekh-antologye fun amerikaner-yidisher dikhtung, 1918-1943 (Hemshekh anthology of American Yiddish poetry, 1918-1943) (New York, 1945).

Benyomen Elis