Author. Born Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich in Voronko, Russia, he became to be considered one of the great Yiddish writers, being best known for his humorous tales of life among the poverty-ridden and oppressed Russian Jews of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works include five novels, many plays, and some 300 short stories. In the last years of his life he lived in the United States; he died in New York City, New York where he helped to found the Yiddish Art Theater. Many of his works have been adapted for the stage, most notably the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” (bio by: Eamonn)