MEYER SHAPIRO

MEYER SHAPIRO (July 3, 1886-1948)

            He was a journalist, born in Tolotshin (Talachyn), Moliever Province [now, Belarus].  He attended yeshiva in Minsk.  In 1900 he came to Vilna, and there he continued his Jewish and general education.  In 1906 he made his way to New York.  From 1908 he was living in St. Louis, Missouri, later Montreal, Toronto, before settling in New York in 1913.  His journalistic work began with the St. Louis daily newspaper Der forshteher (The contribution).  In late 1911 he was editing the weekly St. luizer idishe velt (St. Louis Jewish world), and in 1912 he was contributing to Keneder older (Canadian eagle) in Montreal.  Over the years 1913-1918, he edited the Brownsville edition of Yidishes tageblat (Jewish daily newspaper), as well as the Bruklin-bronzvil post (Brooklyn-Brownsville mail), and in 1918-1920 the weekly Ist nyu-york un bronzvil progres (East New York and Brownsville progress).  From 1917 he wrote primarily popular science articles for several years for Varhayt (Truth).  From 1920 he was an internal contributor to Yidishe tageblat.  From time to time, he wrote for: Dos idishe folk (The Jewish people), Der amerikaner (The American), and Idisher kempfer (Jewish fighter), among other serials.  He published articles on political and general topics, as well as feature pieces, humorous sketches, and stories.  He also placed work in English-language Jewish periodicals.  Among his pen names: A. Marsho, Y. Shebin, A. Shafer, Ashmeday, and Mefistofel.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 4; archives of the Montreal People’s Library; The Jewish Community of Canada (Toronto, 1971).

Khayim Leyb Fuks