Gitsis, Moyshe
October 29, 1894–1986
He was born in Chotín, Bessarabia. In 1908 he graduated from a Russian public school. In 1910, at age sixteen, he left on his own for the United States. He worked for a year in a sweatshop. He then returned home and took up studying pharmacy.
He served in the Russian army during WWI, later continuing his studies and becoming an assistant pharmacist. In 1922 he returned to the United States and settled in Chicago.
He began writing at a very young age, largely dramatical works. In 1927 his first publication appeared in Fraye Arbeter Shtime (Free Voice of Labor): a series of stories drawn from the Russian Revolution. He later contributed to: Shikago (Chicago), Di Feder (The Pen), Oyfkum (Arise), Brikn (Bridges), Shikager Kuryer (Chicago Courier), Idishe Velt (Jewish World) in Philadelphia, Der Shpigl (The Mirror), Meksikaner Shtime (Voice of Mexico), Meksikaner Shriftn (Mexican Writings), Havaner Lebn (Havana Life), Heftn (Notebooks), Der Hamer (The Hammer), Di Frayhayt (Freedom), Literarishe Bleter (Literary Newspaper) in Warsaw, Inzikh (Introspective), Tsukunft (Future), Yidishe Kultur (Jewish Culture), Zamlbikher (Anthologies), and Literarishe Zamlungen (Literary Collections), among others.
Among his books: Glokn (Clocks), a dramatical poem (New York, 1927), 98 pp.; Noveln (Novellas) (Chicago, 1932), 260 pp.; Di Zun in Mizrekh, Novelodrama (The Sun in the East, a Novel-Drama) (Chicago, 1936), 150 pp.; Bitokhn (Confidence), a one-act play (Chicago, 1939), 144 pp.; Der Veg Tsum Barg (The Road to the Mountain) (Chicago, 1943), 250 pp.; Mame Erd (Mother Earth), stories (Chicago, 1947), 210 pp.; Motivn (Motifs) (Chicago, 1968), 119 pp.; Nekome (Revenge), a play (Chicago, 1969), unpaginated; Ikh un Mayn Alter Ego, Literarishe Zamlungen (Me and My Alter Ego, Literary Collections) (Chicago, 1979), 517 pp.; Fun Mentsh tsu Mentsh (Person to Person) (Moscow: Sovetski Pisatel, 1983), 63 pp.
During the years 1943-1948, he edited Literarishe Zamlungen in Chicago. Several of his plays were staged by amateur clubs in Chicago and New York. He also made a film in color about Jewish writers in America.
Sources: Y. Botoshanski, in Di Prese (Buenos Aires) (October 12, 1932 and January 15, 1936); Shmuel Niger, in Tog (New York) (October 23, 1932 and October 25, 1936); Dr. A. Mukdoni, in Morgn-Zhurnal (New York) (January 29, 1936); Y. N. Gotlin, in Kender Odler (Montreal) (June 3, 1936); Sh. Slutski, Avrom Reyzen Biblyografye (Avrom Reyzen’s Bibliography) (New York, 1956), nos. 4643, 5298.
Bitokhn (Confidence), a one-act play (Chicago, 1939), 144 pp. includes 3 more dramatic pieces :
1. יהודא Yehuda
2. ״ראפסאדיא אמעריקאנא״ "Rapsodia amerikana"
3. די קרעטשמע Di kretshme
Mame erd (Mother earth), stories (Chicago, 1947), 210 pp. include the following 8 ones :
1. מאמע ערד Mame Erd
2. עראס דער אלמעכטיקער Eros der almekhtiker
3. ״אלקאזאר״ "Alkazar"
4. דער בורר Der borer
5. אמניבוס װיטא Omnibus "Vita"
6. אילוזיע Iluzie
7. מיסטער לעהן Mister Lehn
8. ״פאטום נאסטרום״ ״פאטום נאסטרום״
Noveln (Novellas) (Chicago, 1932), 260 pp. include the following 15 ones :
1. אין שאטן פון הימלקראצערס In shotn fun hilmkratsers
2. זריע אפן װינט Zrie afn vint
3. אפגעזונגענע לידער Opgezungene lider
4. כאװער לעשניק Khaver Leshnik
5. בורלעסק Burlesk
6. מיסטער בלעקסטאן Mister Blekston
7. שמולעװיטש Shmulevitsh
8. אפן בריק Afn brik
9. בעסי Besi
10. אײן זײט לעװאנע Eyn zayt levone
11. אין װאגאן In vagon
12. דער טולופ Der tulup
13. הענט Hent
14. סאניא Sonya
15. ראסטוס Rastus
Additional information :
Fun mentsh tsu mentsh (Person to person) (Moscow: Sovetski pisatel, 1983), 63 pp. was published as a suppliment #5 to the periodical Sovetish Heymland. (Serie : Bibliotek fun Sovetish Heymland)