Kreitman, Esther
1891-June 13, 1954
The author of stories and novels, she was born in Bilgoraj, Poland. She was the older sister of Y. Y. Zinger (Israel Joshua Singer) and Y. Bashevis-Zinger (Isaac Bashevis Singer), and the daughter of a rabbi. She lived in Warsaw, Antwerp, Paris, and London.
She published stories in London’s Dos Fraye Vort (The Free Word), Vaytshepl Lebn (Whitechapel Life), and Loshn un Lebn (Language and Life), among other serials.
Her works include: Der Sheydim-Tants (The Devils’ Dance) (Warsaw: Kh. Bzshoza, 1936), 295 pp., English translation by Maurice Carr as Deborah; Brilyantn (Diamonds) (London: Foyle’s Hebrew Department, 1944), 301 pp., translated into English by Heather Valencia; Yikhes (Pedigree), stories and sketches (London: Narod Press, 1950), 129 pp.; Relikvye (Relic), stories.
Her translations: Charles Dickens, Vaynakht (Christmas) [original: A Christmas Carol]) (Warsaw: Helios, 1929), 117 pp.; George Bernard Shaw, Di Froy in Sotsyalizm un Kapitalizm (The Woman in Socialism and Capitalism [original: The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism]) (Warsaw: Sh. Goldfarb, 1930), 2 vols.
An English translation by Anita Norich of Kreitman's work, including previously unpublished material: The Collected Works of Esther Kreitman (Jerusalem: The Library of the Jewish People - Koren Publishers, March 10, 2026.), 881 pp.
She died in London.
Sources: Meylekh Ravitsh, Mayn Leksikon (My Lexicon), vol. 3 (Montreal, 1958); M. Kreytman, in Loshn un Lebn (London) (June 1954); Y. Botoshanski, in Di Prese (Buenos Aires) (August 20, 1954); M. Grusman, in Davar (Tel Aviv) (Kislev 15 [= December 10], 1954); Y. Varshavski (Bashevis), in Forverts (New York) (May 7, 1955); Yeshurin archive, YIVO (New York).