Ihil Shraybman Bessarabian Jewish writer. Wrote in Yiddish. Date of Birth: 12.03.1913 Country: Moldova

1. Childhood and Education
2. Literary Beginnings
3. Career in Romania
4. Return to Bessarabia
5. Work in the Soviet Union
6. The "Sovietish Heymland" Era
7. International Recognition
8. Literary Style and Awards
9. Legacy and Impact

Childhood and Education

Ihil Shraybman was born on the right bank of the Dniester River in the town of Rashkov (Vad-Rashkovo, now Vadu-Rashkov, Moldova). His father was a tinsmith, and his early education took place at a heder and a government school in Rashkov. As a young boy, he sang in the choir of the renowned cantor Reb Dudale Zilberman in nearby Capresht, an experience that he later vividly described in his "Rashkov Stories."

Literary Beginnings

In 1930, Shraybman enrolled in the Chernivtsi Teachers' Seminary for Hebrew teachers, where he encountered other literary figures such as Leyzer Podryadchik, Berl Royzen, Ershl Tselman, and Meir Haratz. He participated in the underground pro-communist movement "Schoolarul Roshu" (Red Student) and the local literary scene. His experience in Chernivtsi inspired his novel "Seventeen-Year-Olds."

Career in Romania

In the mid-1930s, Shraybman moved to Bucharest, where he worked as a prompter in the famous theater-revue under the direction of Yankl Shternberg in the Jewish district of Vacaresti. This period of his life is recounted in his memoir-novel "Seven Years and Seven Months." He debuted as a writer with short stories in the New York-based Yiddish magazine "Signal" in 1936.

Return to Bessarabia

After Bessarabia was annexed by the USSR in 1940, Shraybman settled in Kishinev and became a professional writer. His work appeared in the Kiev-based Yiddish magazine "Shtern" (Star). During World War II, he was evacuated to Uzbekistan, where he collaborated with the Moscow-based Yiddish newspaper "Einkayt" (Unity), the official organ of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee.

Work in the Soviet Union

After returning to Kishinev in 1945, Shraybman was invited to Moscow for an evening in his honor organized by Peretz Markish. This led to the publication of his first book in the USSR, a collection of stories titled "Three Summers" (1946). However, with the suppression of Jewish publishing in the Soviet Union, Shraybman's stories appeared only sporadically in translation in Moldavian and Polish newspapers.

The "Sovietish Heymland" Era

Shraybman became a regular contributor to the Yiddish magazine "Sovietish Heymland" (Soviet Homeland) from its first issue in 1961. He joined the magazine's editorial board and became one of its most prolific authors. His works were also translated into Moldavian and published in local journals like "Codry," "Nistru," "Gorizont," and "Basarabia."

International Recognition

In the 1990s, Shraybman's writings appeared in numerous Yiddish and Hebrew publications worldwide. He also translated works by Isaac Babel, Liviu Rebreanu, and contemporary Moldavian writers into Yiddish.

Literary Style and Awards

Known for his exquisite literary style, Shraybman is considered one of the most significant Yiddish writers of his time. He received several prestigious literary awards, including the Zalmen Reizen Award (New York, 1998), the Rivke Fishman-Shnaydeman Award (Sweden, 1997), and the Israeli Gersh Segal and Jacob Fichman Awards (1998 and 2003) for his contributions to Yiddish literature.

Legacy and Impact

Shraybman played a vital role in mentoring young writers, including Boris Sandler and Moyshe Lemster. With his passing, two rich literary traditions that he embodied – Soviet Yiddish literature and the Bessarabian branch of Yiddish literature – effectively came to an end. His work continues to be studied and admired as a testament to the vibrancy of Yiddish culture in the 20th century.