Sholem Aleichem
Sholem Aleichem (Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich) was born on March 2nd, 1859. Sholem passed away March 13th, 1916 at 57 years old. Sholem Aleichem was born in Pereyaslav, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire.
Sholem Aleichem is best remembered as a playwright and author who wrote stories in Yiddish, inspiring works like
Fiddler on the Roof. He was one of the most notable authors in Yiddish literature during his time.
His passion for writing began in his teens, and at age 17, he started working as a private tutor, teaching Russian. Aleichem eventually served as the crown rabbi in Lubny, a provincial town in Russia, though his duties were administrative, keeping records of the Jewish population, rather than religious.
While living in Lubny, he shifted from writing in Hebrew and Russian to creating stories in Yiddish. By the time of his death, Aleichem had published over 40 volumes of plays, stories, and novels in Yiddish, though he continued to write in Hebrew and Russian as well.
At one point, Aleichem married Olga, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, which provided him with financial resources. He invested part of this inheritance into various ventures, including
The Jewish Popular Library, a series that made literature accessible to the public.
Aleichem’s works became widely popular, earning him the title of the “Jewish Mark Twain.” During his career, he traveled across Europe and the United States, lecturing on literature, before finally settling in Switzerland with his family.
He made literary history as the first author to write children’s fiction in Yiddish. His works were crucial in establishing the New York-based
Yiddish Art Theatre. Additionally, the musical
Fiddler on the Roof was adapted from one of his stories.
One of Sholem Aleichem’s most beloved works,
Tevye the Milkman, is a novella that follows the life of Tevye, a charismatic milkman in rural Tsarist Russia. As he travels around delivering milk and cheese, Tevye shares a blend of Talmudic wisdom and practical common sense, capturing the heart and humor of Jewish life in the region.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Sholem Aleichem are:
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Charles Dickens, author of the novel: A Christmas Carol.
- Clive Cussler, author of the Dirk Pitt Series.
- John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
Sholem Aleichem: F.A.Q
When was Sholem Aleichem Born?
Sholem Aleichem was born on March 2nd, 1859.
When did Sholem Aleichem die?
Sholem Aleichem died on March 13th, 1916 at 57 years old.
Where was Sholem Aleichem Born?
Sholem Aleichem was born in Pereyaslav, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire.
What was the first book Sholem Aleichem wrote?
The first book written by Sholem Aleichem was The Adventures of Menahem-Mendl, published in 1656.
What was the most recent book Sholem Aleichem wrote?
His most recently released work was Three Passover Tales (a short story) on February 11th, 2021.
How many books has Sholem Aleichem written?
Sholem Aleichem has written 39 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 11 Standalone Novels, 3 Short Stories/Novellas, 17 books in the Collections, 2 books in the Sholom Aleichem Children's Books, 2 books in the Non-Fiction Books, 3 books in the Plays, 1 book in the Library of Yiddish Classics Series.