10 Facts About Shmuel Niger

Shmuel Niger was a Yiddish writer, literary critic and historian and was one of the leading figures of Yiddish cultural work and Yiddishism in pre-revolution Russia.

Shmuel Niger was born Shmuel Tsharni on 15 June 1883 in Dukora, a small village in Minsk Governorate, to Zev Volf and Brokhe Tsharni.

Shmuel Niger was preparing for rabbinic ordination when he instead moved into the secular and political world, having become attracted to secular culture and Zionism.

Shmuel Niger was imprisoned and tortured for his political activity several times in Minsk, Kiev, Warsaw, Daugavpils, Odessa, and Vilna, but he avoided execution after the intervention of family and friends.

Shmuel Niger edited Zalman Reisen's Leksikon fun der Yidisher Literatur un Prese.

Shmuel Niger became the leading critic of Yiddish literary life, writing weekly reviews of books and articles on literary trends for Tog.

Shmuel Niger co-edited the literary monthly Di Tsukunft from 1941 to 1947.

Shmuel Niger died in New York City on 24 December 1955, returning from a YIVO Executive Committee meeting.

Shmuel Niger's funeral was attended by well over 1,000 people and news of his death led to the publication in the Jewish press of hundreds of articles about him worldwide.

Shmuel Niger was buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens, New York.