YITSKHOK EVEN

YITSKHOK EVEN (January 28, 1861-March 12, 1925)

Born in Rozvadov, Galicia; studied in a religious high school in Hungary, later spent time in a rabbinical court in Sadigura (Sadhora); studied Hebrew and the writings of the early thinkers; became a contributor to (later, an editor of) Machzikei hadat (Holder of the faith).  He also wrote for Hamagid (The preacher) and Hamelitz (The advocate), as well as to Yiddish newspapers published by Hirsh-Leyb Gotlib (Gottlieb) in Sighet, Hungary and in a Tismenits (Tysmienica) newspaper published by Shevach Knebl.  He came to the United States in 1908.  He contributed to the encyclopedia, Oytser yisroel (Treasury of Israel), wrote Hassidic tales for Lemberger tageblat (Lemberg [Lvov] daily news), and from 1914 a regular contributor to Tog (New York) and from 1918 to Morgn-zhurnal (Morning journal) and Amerikaner (The American).  He published Hassidic stories and was in charge of the section called “Dertseylt dos eyere kinder” (Tell this to your children).  He collected and adapted Jewish tales and legends.  He died in Vienna.  His books in Hebrew include: a Jewish history in four parts according to the tradition of the Talmud and Midrash (Lemberg [Lvov], 1897); Hanaar benyamin mitryent (The youth of Benjamin of Trent) (Lemberg, 1897); Machaloket sanz ve-sadigura (Feuds in Sanz and Sadigura) (New York, 1915-1916).  In Yiddish: Fun der gut-yidisher velt (From the Hassidic world) (New York, 1917), with a preface about the history of Hassidism by Gotthard Deutsch); Di leyb sores (The body of Sarah), holiday stories for Hassidim; Der lubliner zeer (The seer of Lublin) (published by Tog, New York); Fun’m rebins hoyf, zikhroynes un mayses (From the rabbi’s court, memoirs and stories) as seen, heard, and retold (New York, 1922).  A number of his Hassidic tales were translated into English.

Sources: Zalmen Reyzen, Leksikon, vol. 1; Sh. Niger, in Tog (August 8, 1923); Dr. A. Koralnik, Viderklangen un vidershprukhn (Echoes and contradictions), part 1 (Warsaw, 1928), p. 28.