REYZL FENSTER

REYZL FENSTER (April 20, 1910-October 27, 1981)

            She was born in Biten (Byteń), Grodno district, Poland.  In 1923 she came to Philadelphia.  She graduated from a middle school and studied at the Jewish teachers’ seminary.  From 1931 she was living in New York.  For a time she served as secretary for the writers’ association IKUF (Jewish Cultural Association).  From 1950 she was active in the National Labor Alliance.  She debuted in print with a story, “Dem zeydns tilim” (Grandfather’s psalms), in Morgn-frayhayt (Morning freedom) in New York (1931).  From that point, she published stories, sketches, travel narratives, and articles on literature and cultural themes in: Morgn-frayhayt (she was also in charge, 1940-1941, of the weekly women’s section), Idisher kemfer (Jewish fighter), Tsukunft (Future), Unzer tsayt (Our times), Yidishe kultur (Jewish culture), Gerekhtikeyt (Justice), Amerikaner (American), Forverts (Forward), Morgn-zhurnal (Morning journal), and Tog (Tog)—in which she published the novels in installments: Der zig fun libe (The victory of love) and Amol iz geven a shtetl (There once was a town).  She also placed work in: Di naye prese (The new press) in Paris; Ikuf (IKUF) and Nay lebn (New life) in Buenos Aires; Dorem-afrike (South Africa) in Johannesburg; Folksblat (People’s newspaper) and Haynt Today) in Uruguay; Keneder odler (Canadian eagle) in Montreal; and Pinkes biten (Records of Byteń).  In book form: Zun af barg, dertseylungen (Sun on the mountain, stories) (New York: IKUF, 1951), 268 pp.  She also wrote under such pen names as Reyzl Tshernis, among others.  She died in New York.

Sources: Moyshe Kats, in Morgn-frayhayt (New York) (December 17, 1950); Y. Beylin, in Yidishe kultur (New York) (April 1951); Tog-morgn-zhurnal (New York) (April 15, 1966).

Khayim Leyb Fuks