BOREKH KATSENELSON

BOREKH KATSENELSON (December 21, 1900-February 28, 1968)

            He was a Hebrew and Yiddish poet, born in Slutsk.  He studied in the Slutsk yeshiva.  He emigrated to the United States in 1922, and there he turned to teaching Hebrew.  From 1934 he was living in the land of Israel.  He published poetry in: the Minsk-based Shtern (Star) in 1919; Farn folk (For the people) in 1920; Amerikaner (American); Yidishes tageblat (Jewish daily newspaper); Fraye arbeter shtime (Free voice of labor); Ufgang (Sunrise); Di feder (The pen); and Kundes (Prankster); among others.  In 1926 he switched over to Hebrew and published poetry in numerous Hebrew periodicals.  He also wrote articles of literary criticism.  He died Kfar Saba, Israel.

Sources: Getzel Kressel, Leksikon hasifrut haivrit (Handbook of Hebrew literature), vol. 2 (Merḥavya, 1967); M. Ribalov, Ketavim umegilot (Writings and pamphlets) (New York: Ogen, 1942); Y. K. Miklishanski, in Algemeyne entsiklopediye (General encyclopedia), “Yidn 5” (New York, 1957), pp. 152-54; Y. Likhtnboym, Tekuma (Revival) (Tel Aviv, 1958), p. 148; Pinkas slutsk uvenoteha (Records of Slutsk and its environs) (New York-Tel Aviv, 1961).

Ruvn Goldberg