Peretz Smolenskin
Encyclopedia
Peretz Smolenskin , was a Russia
n Jewish novelist who wrote in Hebrew.
Peretz Smolenskin was born near Mogilev
(Russia). His family came from Smolensk
. His older brother was seized by the Czar's army and never returned. His father, falsely accused of a crime, was a fugitive for over two years and died when Peretz was eleven. At the age of 12, Smolenskin left home to study at a yeshiva for five years. He began reading secular books and learning Russian under the influence of the Haskalah
movement. He traveled through southern Russia and the Crimea, supporting himself by singing in choirs and preaching in synagogues. In 1862, he settled in Odessa where he studied music and languages. He worked there as a Hebrew teacher. In 1867, he published his first story. During his travels through Rumania, Germany and Bohemia, he acquired Turkish nationality. In Vienna he founded a Hebrew journal that became a literary platform for the Haskalah movement and the early Jewish nationalist movement. He was stricken with tuberculosis in 1883. His last novel, The Inheritance, was completed shortly before his death.
Smolenskin was a leader in the revolt of young Jews against medievalism and a proponent of Jewish nationalism. His Hebrew periodical, The Dawn (Ha-shahar השחר), was highly influential in these spheres. Shortly before his death he became deeply interested in schemes for the colonization of Palestine
, and was associated with Laurence Oliphant. Smolenskin was the first to dissociate Messianic ideals from theological concomitants.
His six novels create a kaleidoscope of Jewish life in which he rejects the notion of the westernized Jew.
.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Jewish novelist who wrote in Hebrew.
Peretz Smolenskin was born near Mogilev
Mogilev
Mogilev is a city in eastern Belarus, about 76 km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105 km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast. It has more than 367,788 inhabitants...
(Russia). His family came from Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
. His older brother was seized by the Czar's army and never returned. His father, falsely accused of a crime, was a fugitive for over two years and died when Peretz was eleven. At the age of 12, Smolenskin left home to study at a yeshiva for five years. He began reading secular books and learning Russian under the influence of the Haskalah
Haskalah
Haskalah , the Jewish Enlightenment, was a movement among European Jews in the 18th–19th centuries that advocated adopting enlightenment values, pressing for better integration into European society, and increasing education in secular studies, Hebrew language, and Jewish history...
movement. He traveled through southern Russia and the Crimea, supporting himself by singing in choirs and preaching in synagogues. In 1862, he settled in Odessa where he studied music and languages. He worked there as a Hebrew teacher. In 1867, he published his first story. During his travels through Rumania, Germany and Bohemia, he acquired Turkish nationality. In Vienna he founded a Hebrew journal that became a literary platform for the Haskalah movement and the early Jewish nationalist movement. He was stricken with tuberculosis in 1883. His last novel, The Inheritance, was completed shortly before his death.
Smolenskin was a leader in the revolt of young Jews against medievalism and a proponent of Jewish nationalism. His Hebrew periodical, The Dawn (Ha-shahar השחר), was highly influential in these spheres. Shortly before his death he became deeply interested in schemes for the colonization of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, and was associated with Laurence Oliphant. Smolenskin was the first to dissociate Messianic ideals from theological concomitants.
His six novels create a kaleidoscope of Jewish life in which he rejects the notion of the westernized Jew.
Published works
Smolenskin's novel A Wanderer on the Path of Life (Ha-toeh be-darkhe ha-Hayyim, התועה בדרכי החיים) is the story of an orphan, Joseph, and his life in the ghetto. Burial of the Ass (Kevurat Hamor קבורת חמור) appeared in 1874. A third novel, The Inheritance (Ha-yerushah הירושה), published in 1880-1881, depicts life in Odessa and RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.