Alter Esselin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alter Esselin
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Alter Esselin
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| Born | Orkeh Serebrenik April 23, 1889 Chernigov, Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | November 22, 1974 (aged 85) Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Occupation | Poet, Carpenter |
| Language | Yiddish, English |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Citizenship | American |
| Notable awards | The Harry Kovner Award for the best collection of Yiddish poetry of the year 1954 |
| Spouse | Becky (nee Friedland) |
| Children | Joseph, Jacob |
Alter Esselin (born Orkeh Serebrenik) was an American poet. He was born in Chernigov, which is now part of Ukraine, on April 23, 1889. He wrote many poems in the Yiddish language. Alter Esselin passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 22, 1974.
Over 50 years, he wrote hundreds of poems. These poems were published in famous Yiddish magazines and newspapers. Some of these included Di goldene keyt and Di Tsukunft (which means The Future).
His work is mentioned in important books about Yiddish literature. These include A History of Yiddish Literature by Sol Liptzin.
Three collections of his poetry were published. The first was Knoytn (Candlewicks) in 1927. The second, Unter der last (Under the Yoke), came out in 1936. His third book, Lider fun a mdbarnik (Songs of a Hermit), was published in 1954. For this book, he won the Harry Kovner Award in 1955. This award was for the best collection of Yiddish poetry that year.
Esselin also won a prize for his long poem "Proletarier." This poem was published in a newspaper called Morgen Freiheit in 1924. The editor, Moissaye Joseph Olgin, announced that Esselin's poem won first place in an international competition.
In 1954, a well-known Yiddish critic named O. Rapaport wrote about Esselin. He praised Esselin's special poetic voice. He described it as a mix of sadness and sweetness. Rapaport felt this voice came from Esselin's efforts to overcome difficulties in his life.
In 1969, Esselin appeared on a TV show called "The People of the Book." This show was about Jewish culture in Milwaukee. On the show, he read his poems in both Yiddish and English. He also shared stories about his life as a poet.
The Story of Alter Esselin
Early Life and Challenges
Alter Esselin's formal schooling ended when he was ten years old. This happened after his father passed away. His mother had four young children to raise. She sadly had to send Orkeh, the oldest, to work. He started a five-year apprenticeship to become a carpenter. This became his job for the rest of his life.
Because he didn't have much schooling, he loved to teach himself. He read many books and studied on his own. This passion for learning helped him greatly with his poetry.
Esselin came to the United States in 1904 when he was fifteen. His uncle, who was supposed to help him, had passed away. Other relatives were not able to support him. He joined the Carpenter's Union and used the name Artur Solomon. Later, when he began writing poetry, he chose the name Alter Esselin. "Alter" means "the old one" and was a way to honor his family. "Esselin" came from the letters in "Solomon."
After a short first marriage ended, Esselin traveled a lot as a carpenter. He would work until he saved enough money. Then, he would rent a room and spend weeks reading books from the library. During these years, he discovered the exciting world of Yiddish poetry in America. He especially loved the poems of Moyshe-Leyb Halpern. Halpern's sad and powerful poems deeply moved him. Later, Halpern became his mentor, guiding him in his writing.
Becoming a Poet
Esselin started writing his own poems. His very first published poem was actually in Polish! He was living in Canton, Ohio, and met a young Jewish woman from Poland. He showed her a poem he wrote called Di fodim fun gloibn (The Thread of Belief). She loved it so much that she translated it into Polish. She then got it published in a local newspaper.
This encouraged him greatly. He sent more poems to a Yiddish newspaper in Detroit called Der veg (The Jewish Way). When his second poem appeared, the editor included a special note. The editor said that Esselin's poetry was the start of a new literary star. He hoped this star would shine for a long time.
Esselin later moved to Chicago. He became an active part of the city's Yiddish literary community. There, he met his second wife, Becky. After a few years, they moved to Los Angeles. They lived there until 1925.
In 1926, Esselin and his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He lived there for the rest of his life. He worked as a carpenter during the day. At night, he would write his poems. If an idea came to him at work, he would quickly write it down during his lunch break.
His Amazing Poetry
Esselin's poems often explored themes that might seem a bit sad. These included loneliness, guilt, and the struggles of poverty. These topics came directly from his own life experiences. His son, Joseph, once asked him why he chose such serious subjects. Esselin explained that when he started writing, he decided to write about what troubled him most. He wanted to write about these things to challenge them and overcome them.
In his second book, Unter der last, there is a very touching poem called malach guter (Gracious Angel). He dedicated this poem to his mentor, Moyshe-Leyb Halpern. In the poem, Esselin says that a great poet's spirit never truly dies. He believed that poetry creates a bridge. This bridge allows a "gracious angel" to bring the poet's spirit back to life through their words.
In 1969, a newspaper called The Forward published an article about Esselin. It celebrated his 80th birthday. The article described his career and the unique, bittersweet style of his poetry.
Earlier that year, another writer, Jacob Glatstein, praised Esselin's work. He was happy that Esselin's poems were translated into English. Esselin worked with his son, Joseph, on these translations. Glatstein felt this was a great way to honor Esselin's achievements.
Throughout his life, major Yiddish critics reviewed Esselin's work positively. Even after his death, he is still remembered. Thirty years after he passed away, Mikhail Krutikov wrote an article about him in The Forward. He looked back at Esselin's life and celebrated his special poetic voice.
Alter Esselin's Yiddish poems have been translated into English. His son, Joseph, and other translators have done this work.
Today, many of Alter Esselin's writings and papers are kept safe. They are part of the Alter Esselin Archive. You can find this collection in the Judaica Section of Harvard University's Widener Library.
