YOYSEF EPSHTEYN

YOYSEF EPSHTEYN (b. January 23, 1902)

            He was born in Zhidatshov (Zhydachiv), Galicia.  He studied in synagogue and general subject matter on his own.  Until 1930 he worked as secretary for the left Labor Zionists in Skal (Skala-Podil’s’ka) and as a teacher in a Jewish evening school.  Later, because of a trial for his political activities, he fled to Czechoslovakia.  From 1934 to 1950, he lived in France, later making aliya to the state of Israel.  He was secretary of the Jewish writers’ and journalists’ association in Paris and later in Tel Aviv.  He debuted in print in Arbeter-tsaytung (Workers’ newspaper) in Warsaw in 1922.  He later contributed articles, reportage pieces, essays on art, monographs, and book and theater reviews to: Arbeter-tsaytung; Dos lebn (The life) in Lemberg; Di naye prese (The new press), Dos vort (The word), Arbeter vort (Workers’ word), and Yidish (Yiddish) in Paris; and the bulletin Birobidzhan in boy (Birobidzhan under construction) in Muncacz.  Among his pen names: Y. Marek and Y. Kesler.  He was last living in Kiryat-Borokhov, Israel.

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