NAFTOLE FAYNERMAN

NAFTOLE FAYNERMAN (1885-February 15, 1944)

            He was born in Skvire, Kiev district, Ukraine.  He attended religious elementary school and yeshiva.  In 1906 he arrived in the United States and worked for a time in a sweatshop.  He became active in 1907 in the Jewish socialist and trade union movement.  He served for two terms as president of the Workmen’s Circle and directed its educational division.  He was a member of the national executive of the Jewish socialist union and of the Forverts (Forward) administration, and from 1931 until his death he was executive secretary of American YIVO.  He published articles in: Der fraynd (The friend), Forverts, Veker (Alarm), Sotsyalistishe shtime (Socialist voice), and Gerekhtikeyt (Justice) in New York.  He also wrote under such pen names as: N. F. and Naftole.  He died in New York.

Sources: Y. Sh. Herts, 50 yor arbeter ring (Fifty years of the Workmen’s Circle) (New York, 1950), see index; Yedies fun yivo (New York) (March 1954); Arbeter-ring boyer un tuer (Builders and leaders of the Workmen’s Circle), ed. Y. Yeshurin and Y. Sh. Herts (New York, 1962), pp. 316, 508.

Khayim Leyb Fuks