YOYSEF-YITSKHOK EPSHTEYN

YOYSEF-YITSKHOK EPSHTEYN (March 27, 1902-August 17, 1974)

            He was born in Vishegrod (Wyszogród), Poland.  He studied in religious elementary school, and secular knowledge he acquired on his own.  Until 1926 he was living in Warsaw, thereafter in Danzig (Germany).  His first poems appeared in print in Moment (Moment) in Warsaw in 1920.  He later published poetry, stories, and essays about literatary, school, and cultural affairs in: Haolam (The world) in London; Yidishe tsaytung (Jewish newspaper) and Belgishe bleter (Belgian leaves) in Antwerp; and Unzer vort (Our word), Arbeter vort (Workers’ word), and Di naye prese (The new press) in Paris; among others.  In Yizker-bukh tsum ondenk 14 umgekumene parizer yidishe shrayber (Memorial volume to the memory of fourteen murdered Parisian Jewish writers) (Paris: Oyfsnay, 1947), he published literary portraits of Borekh Vinogura and Yosl Tsuker—also included in Tsuker’s Letste shriftn (Last writings) (Paris, 1965).  In book form: Koyekh fun gloybn (Power of faith), a novel about Hassidic life in Poland (Tel Aviv, 1968), 292 pp.  He also wrote under the pen name Y. Manitsh.  From Danzig he left for Brussels and then on to Paris.  In Paris he was a leader of cultural work for the association “Arbeter heym” (Workers’ home).  He died in Jerusalem five days after making aliya.

Khayim Leyb Fuks

[Additional information from: Berl Kagan, comp., Leksikon fun yidish-shraybers (Biographical dictionary of Yiddish writers) (New York, 1986), col. 419.]