Asch, Sholem

Asch, Sholem
(1880–1957)
   Yiddish novelist. Born in Kutno, Poland, Asch was the first Yiddish writer of international reputation. In achieving this he liberated Yiddish literature from its narrow confines and made it part of general Western culture.
   The son of an Orthodox family, Asch had a traditional schooling, and settled in Warsaw. Later he lived in France and the United States and at the end of his life, in Israel at Bat Yam, where his home became the Sholem Asch Museum after his death.
   His early work in Yiddish and Hebrew, such as the story Moyshele (1900), showed the wistful romanticism of a young man. In Warsaw, coming under strong foreign influence and seeing the poverty and yet the humour of town life, he developed the more realistic and genial style of A Shtetl (1904), and continued to write books of social realism Motke Ganev (‘Motke the Thief, 1917) was a typical example. Kiddush ha-Shem (1919; English, 1926), a tale of Jewish martyrdom in the 17 century, was a successful introduction of the historical novel into Yiddish literature. In America, Asch’s writing reflected the life of both gentile and Jew, portrayed in long, animated books such as Farn Mabul (‘Before the Flood’, 1929–31; English, 1933), and his trilogy on the beginnings of Christianity (1939– 49). This last work was attacked by the Jewish press, which accused him of encouraging heresy. He withdrew a little from Jewish life, but his writings remained vigorous and controversial until the end, drawing deeply on Jewish history and tradition, but also aware of the contemporary world.

Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament. . 2012.

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  • ASCH, SHOLEM — (1880–1957), Yiddish novelist and dramatist. Born in Kutno, Poland, to parents from scholarly Orthodox families, he was educated in traditional Jewish schools until the age of 17. He began to learn German with the aid of Moses Mendelssohn s… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Asch,Sholem — Asch (ăsh), Sholem or Shalom 1880 1957. Polish born American Yiddish writer who sought to reconcile Judaism and Christianity in his controversial novels, such as The Nazarene (1939). * * * …   Universalium

  • Asch, Sholem — born Nov. 1, 1880, Kutno, Pol., Russian Empire died July 10, 1957, London, Eng. Polish born U.S. novelist and playwright. Much of his writing concerns the experience of Jews in eastern European villages or as immigrants in the U.S. (to which he… …   Universalium

  • Asch, Sholem — (1880 1957)    Polish Yiddish author. He lived in the US, France and Israel. In short stories, novels and plays he depicted shtetl life in eastern Europe, as well as the American Jewish experience. His later novels deal with the Jewish Christian… …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Asch, Sholem — (1 nov. 1880, Kutno, Polonia, Imperio ruso–10 jul. 1957, Londres, Inglaterra). Novelista y dramaturgo estadounidense nacido en Polonia. La mayoría de sus escritos tratan sobre la experiencia de los judíos en los pueblos de la Europa oriental o… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Asch, Sholem —  (1880–1957) Polish born American novelist …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Sholem Asch — (en yiddish שלום אש) ou Shalom Asch (1880 1957) est un écrivain et journaliste yiddish, né en Pologne dans une famille juive traditionnelle. Il s’affranchit de la tradition et voyage dans le monde, devenant l’un des plus grands écrivains yiddish …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sholem Asch — born Szulim Asz ( yi. שלום אש), also written Shalom Asch(1 November, 1880, Kutno July 10, 1957, London) was a Polish born American novelist, dramatist, and essayist in the Yiddish language.Asch was born in Kutno, Poland, of Jewish heritage. He… …   Wikipedia

  • Sholem — (as used in expressions) Asch Sholem Sholem Aleichem Sholem Yakov Rabinowitz Sholem Yankev Abramovitsh * * * …   Universalium

  • Sholem — (as used in expressions) Asch, Sholem Sholem Yankev Abramovitsh Sholem Aleichem Sholem Yakov Rabinowitz …   Enciclopedia Universal

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