Jacob Milch

Born Jacob Zoyermilkh in Warsaw, Jacob Milch (as he later shortened his name) left his religious education at the age of twelve following his father’s death. While working as a woodcarver’s apprentice, Milch began reading Haskalah literature. During his service in the Russian army, starting in 1886, he learned Russian, encountered Russian literature, and at some point moved toward socialist ideas. Milch immigrated in 1891 to New York City, there starting his career as a writer. Among the many papers to which he contributed was, notably, Dos ovent-blat arbayter tsaytung, the Socialist Labor Party of America’s primary organ, which eventually splintered to become the Forverts. He published his writing in English-language socialist papers as well, including International Socialist Review. In addition to his journalistic work, Milch translated several literary and philosophical works into Yiddish.