KHAYIM-AVROM FRIDLAND

KHAYIM-AVROM FRIDLAND (1891-August 3, 1939)

            He was born in Horodok, Lithuania, into the family of a scribe.  He studied in religious elementary school until age twelve.  In 1903 he came to the United States.  He graduated from the Yitskhok Elchonon Yeshiva and the Teachers’ College of Columbia University.  He was among the important leaders in the field of Hebrew education.  In 1910 he was the founder of the first Hebrew girls’ school in New York.  From 1920 until his death, he lived in Cleveland, where he was a teacher and community leader.  His literary ventures began with poetry in Yiddish in Forverts (Forward) in New York (1907).  He went on to contribute poetry, stories, pedagogical conversations, and articles on Jewish community issues in: Tsaygayst (Spirit of the times), Forverts, Idisher kemfer (Jewish fighter), Dos idishe folk (The Jewish people), Di idishe velt (The Jewish world), and Hashevil (The pathway) in Cleveland—also co-edited some; and Hadoar (The mail) and Shevile haḥinukh (Educational paths), among others, in New York.  For many years he published humorous poetry and satires (under the pen name Olimpus) in: Der groyser kundes (The great prankster) in New York.  His books include: Sipurim (Stories) (Tel Aviv, 1939), 252 pp.; Sonetot (Sonnets) (Tel Aviv, 1939), 128 pp.; Shirim (Poetry) (Tel Aviv, 1940), 178 pp.; Davidl, sipur liyeladom (Little David, a story for children) (New York, 1944), 93 pp.  He died in Cleveland.  In his memory was published: Sefer zikaron leḥ. a. fridland (Memorial volume for Ḥ.-A. Fridland) (New York, 1940), 120 pp.

Sources: K. Vaytman, in Tog (New York) (August 8, 1939); A. R. Malachi, D. Perski, et al., in Sefer zikaron leḥ. a. fridland (Memorial volume for Ḥ.-A. Fridland) (New York, 1940); A. Regelson, in Algemeyne entsiklopedye (General encyclopedia), “Yidn 3” (New York, 1942), p. 196; Tsvi Sharfshteyn, Gedule ḥinukh beimanu (Giants of education among our people) (Jerusalem, 1963/1964); Kh. Orland, in Hadoar (New York) (Kislev 2 [= November 26], 1965).

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