Morris Winchevsky
Encyclopedia
Morris Winchevsky
Morris Winchevsky (Leopold Benzion Novokhovitch; Pseudonym
: Ben Netz (Hebrew: 'Son of Hawk'; 1856–1932) was a prominent Jewish socialist leader in London
and the United States in the late 19th century.
Born in Kovno, Poland
in 1856, Winchevsky later moved to London where, already a well known socialist, he founded the Dos Poilishe Yidl (The Little Polish Jew), one of the first Yiddish daily socialist newspapers; and the Arbeter Fraynd, the first Yiddish-language anarchist newspaper. A "secular humanist" Jewish supplementary school
in Toronto, Ontario was named after Winchevsky. The Morris Winchevsky School
is now part of Toronto's Secular Jewish Community School.
, Winchevsky joined with Abraham Cahan
and Louis Miller, to other prominent New York Jewish socialists, to found what would later become the largest Yiddish-language daily newspaper in the world, The Forward
in 1897. This got them kicked out of the Socialist Labor Party. They would later migrate to the Social Democracy of America
, the Social Democratic Party of America and the Socialist Party of America
.
Winchevsky was later selected as the representative of the Jewish Socialist Federation
to the American Jewish Congress
when the AJC met to select its delegates to the Paris Peace Conference
in 1919. At the meeting of the Congress, Winchevsky was publicly censured by the JSF for expressing Zionist sentiments.
He was subsequently associated with the Communist Party USA
and its Yiddish daily Morgen Freiheit
.
. Notably, he was a member of the Proletarian Poets. An association formed with Winchevsky, Morris Rosenfeld
and David Edelstadt
and Joseph Bovshover.
Morris Winchevsky (Leopold Benzion Novokhovitch; Pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
: Ben Netz (Hebrew: 'Son of Hawk'; 1856–1932) was a prominent Jewish socialist leader in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the United States in the late 19th century.
Born in Kovno, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1856, Winchevsky later moved to London where, already a well known socialist, he founded the Dos Poilishe Yidl (The Little Polish Jew), one of the first Yiddish daily socialist newspapers; and the Arbeter Fraynd, the first Yiddish-language anarchist newspaper. A "secular humanist" Jewish supplementary school
Morris Winchevsky School
The Morris Winchevsky School is a supplemental Jewish school in Toronto, Canada. The focus of the curriculum is on strengthening ties to Jewish culture and heritage within a secular humanist framework. Key focuses are Tikkun Olam and social justice...
in Toronto, Ontario was named after Winchevsky. The Morris Winchevsky School
Morris Winchevsky School
The Morris Winchevsky School is a supplemental Jewish school in Toronto, Canada. The focus of the curriculum is on strengthening ties to Jewish culture and heritage within a secular humanist framework. Key focuses are Tikkun Olam and social justice...
is now part of Toronto's Secular Jewish Community School.
In the US
After immigrating to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Winchevsky joined with Abraham Cahan
Abraham Cahan
Abraham "Abe" Cahan was a Lithuanian-born American socialist newspaper editor, novelist, and politician.-Early years:...
and Louis Miller, to other prominent New York Jewish socialists, to found what would later become the largest Yiddish-language daily newspaper in the world, The Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
in 1897. This got them kicked out of the Socialist Labor Party. They would later migrate to the Social Democracy of America
Social Democracy of America
The Social Democracy of America , later known as the Co-operative Brotherhood, was a short lived party in the United States that sought to combine the planting of an intentional community with political action in order to create a socialist society...
, the Social Democratic Party of America and the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
.
Winchevsky was later selected as the representative of the Jewish Socialist Federation
Jewish Socialist Federation
The Jewish Socialist Federation was a secular Jewish Yiddish-oriented organization founded in 1912 which acted as a language federation in the Socialist Party of America . Many of the founding members of the JSF had previously been members of the Bund in Eastern Europe and sought to bring Bundist...
to the American Jewish Congress
American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....
when the AJC met to select its delegates to the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
in 1919. At the meeting of the Congress, Winchevsky was publicly censured by the JSF for expressing Zionist sentiments.
He was subsequently associated with the Communist Party USA
Communist Party USA
The Communist Party USA is a Marxist political party in the United States, established in 1919. It has a long, complex history that is closely related to the histories of similar communist parties worldwide and the U.S. labor movement....
and its Yiddish daily Morgen Freiheit
Morgen Freiheit
The New York city-based Morgen Freiheit was a daily Yiddish language newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party, USA, founded by Moissaye Olgin in 1922. After the end of World War II the paper's editors developed criticisms of the Soviet Union and thereby clashed with the leaders of the...
.
Poetry
Winchevsky is also well known for his role in the development of Yiddish poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. Notably, he was a member of the Proletarian Poets. An association formed with Winchevsky, Morris Rosenfeld
Morris Rosenfeld
Morris Rosenfeld was a Yiddish poet....
and David Edelstadt
David Edelstadt
David Edelstadt was a Jewish-Russian-American anarchist poet of Yiddish language.- Biography :...
and Joseph Bovshover.