 |
Srul GoichbergAmerican Jewish poet
Date of Birth: 01.01.1894
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Education
- Immigration and Career
- College Studies
- Literary Contributions
- "Kinder-Zhurnal"
- Musical Collaborations
- Anthologies
- Poetry For Children and Adults
- Collections
Early Life and Education
Birth and AncestrySrulik Goichberg was born into a cantor's family in the small Bessarabian town of Khotyn, Ukraine.
Education
He studied at a Jewish elementary school (heder) before attending grammar school in Khotyn and Kamenetz-Podolsk. Khotyn was a center of Jewish literature, surpassed only by Lipkany, which poet Chaim Nachman Bialik dubbed the "Bessarabian Olympus."
Immigration and Career
Emigration to the United StatesIn 1913, Goichberg immigrated to Boston, where he worked as a teacher.
College Studies
From 1917 to 1921, he pursued engineering in college. However, he resumed teaching and soon became president of the pedagogical council for the Sholem Aleichem schools, which taught in Yiddish.
Literary Contributions
PublicationsBeginning in the 1920s, Goichberg published poems in various American periodicals. However, he had a particular fondness for children's poetry.
"Kinder-Zhurnal"
In 1920, he founded and edited the children's literary magazine "Kinder-Zhurnal" from his office in New York's Union Square.
Musical Collaborations
Many of Goichberg's poems were set to music, and some became popular children's songs, such as "Dray Ingelekh" and "Runda-Runda".
Anthologies
He published several collections of his own poems with musical annotations. In 1949, he compiled and edited "Di Gilderné Pavé" (The Golden Peacock), an illustrated anthology of songs with lyrics by Jewish poets.
Poetry For Children and Adults
ThemesGoichberg's poetry for children often celebrated themes of family, friendship, and imagination. His adult poetry explored Jewish history and traditions.
Collections
Notable collections include:"Gezangen Fun Undzér Dor" (Songs of Our Generation)
"Gut-Morg'n" (Good Morning)
"Kamtso Un Bar-Kamtso" (Kamtsa and Bar-Kamtsa)
"Vertikaln" (Vertical Lines)
"Nemirov" (a chronicle of a Bessarabian town)
"Mit Leib Un Lébm" (With Body and Soul)
"Mit A Shméykh'l" (With a Smile)
"Khănŭke-Shpil" (A Hanukkah Play)
