Yosef Tunkel (1881 – August 9, 1949) was a

Jew Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...

ish–Belarusian–American writer of poetry and humorous prose in

Yiddish Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ver ...

commonly known by the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

Der Tunkeler or 'The dark one' in Yiddish.

Biography

Born into the family of a poor teacher in

Babruysk Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk ( be, Бабруйск , Łacinka: , rus, Бобруйск, Bobrujsk, bɐˈbruɪ̯s̪k, yi, באָברויסק ) is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina River. , its population was 209 ...

(in

Belarus Belarus,, , ; alternatively and formerly known as Byelorussia (from Russian ). officially the Republic of Belarus,; rus, Республика Беларусь, Respublika Belarus. is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by R ...

, then part of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...

), Tunkel was a sickly child whose drawing ability prompted charitable members of the community to send him to art school in

Vilno Vilnius ( , ; see also #Etymology and other names, other names) is the capital and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the munic ...

. He finished his studies in 1899 and, too short sighted to be a painter, turned to writing. His poetry was first published in ''Der yud'' (

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

) in 1901 and from then on his poems,

satire Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming ...

s, drama and children's stories appeared in Yiddish publications throughout Europe and North America. Between 1906 and 1910 he travelled to the United States where he started the humorous journal ''Der kibitser'' (continued for two decades under the title '' Der Groyser Kundes''). Moving to

in 1911 he wrote for ''Der moment'', editing its humour pages, ''Der krumer spiegel'', or ''The Crooked Mirror''. He spent

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in Ukraine, mainly in

Kiev Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

and

Odessa Odesa (also spelled Odessa) is the third most populous city and municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern shore of the Black Sea. The city is also the administrativ ...

. In the early twenties, he adapted several works of German poet

Wilhelm Busch Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Busch (14 April 1832 – 9 January 1908) was a German humorist, poet, illustrator, and painter. He published wildly innovative illustrated tales that remain influential to this day. Busch drew on the tropes of f ...

. When the Warsaw cabaret

Azazel In the Bible, the name Azazel (; he, עֲזָאזֵל ''ʿAzāʾzēl''; ar, عزازيل, ʿAzāzīl) appears in association with the scapegoat rite; the name represents a desolate place where a scapegoat bearing the sins of the Jews during Y ...

opened in 1925, Der Tunkeler's writings were part of the repertoire; his works were staged in Łódź and the Warsaw cabaret theater ''Sambatyon'' (which opened in 1927) as well.Yechiel Szeintuch, YIVO encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe
/ref> In 1931 he visited what was then the

British Mandate of Palestine British Mandate of Palestine or Palestine Mandate most often refers to: * Mandate for Palestine: a League of Nations mandate under which the British controlled an area which included Mandatory Palestine and the Emirate of Transjordan. * Mandatory P ...

. The outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

found him in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

from which he escaped into

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

only to be arrested by the

Vichy Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais. It is a Spa town, spa and resort town and in World ...

authorities. Escaping in 1941 he managed to find his way to the US once more, where he wrote for the major New York Yiddish daily ''

The Jewish Daily Forward ''The Forward'' ( yi, פֿאָרווערטס, Forverts), formerly known as ''The Jewish Daily Forward'', is an American news media organization for a Jewish American audience. Founded in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily socialist newspaper, '' ...

'' despite failing health. He died there in 1949. Throughout his life, numerous collections of his work were published in Warsaw, Kiev and New York. He is remembered as one of the Yiddish language's outstanding humorists to this day.

"Der Tunkeler" (Iosef Tunkel) bibliography

Published by ''Roman Tunkel'', distant relatives of Tunkeler. Each statement of article is supported by photo-copy of corresponding document. A more detailed and accurate Russian version of "Дер Тункелер" biography is located at: :ru:Тункель, Иосиф.

Chronology

1878 ''Iosel Tunkel'' is born in

. He was born into a poor family and his father was a poor Melamed. As a child he suffers from illnesses and is lame. At age fifteen, he travels to

Vilnius Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...

where he studies at the Trutnevs Art School. 1899 Completes his education at the Vilnius Trutnevs Art School. 1899-1901 Due to extreme near-sightedness, he abandons a career in art and instead devotes himself to literature. He wanders from city to city pawning his stories and returns occasionally to Babruysk. Publishes his first poems in Joseph Luria's Yiddish newspaper ''Der Yud'' (The Jew). 1906-1910 Travels to the United States and lives in New York. Founds two successful and long-lasting humor magazines - ''Der Kibbitzer'' (The Kibbitzer) and '' Di Groyser Kundes'' (The Big Stick). 1910 Returns to

due to family emergency. 1911 Moves to

. Becomes a regular contributor to the magazine ''Der Moment''. Starts using the pseudonyms "Khoshekh" and "Der Tunkeler". Eventually ''Iosef Tunkel'' becomes the editor of the weekly humor supplement called ''Der Kromer Shpigel'' (The Bent Mirror). 1914-1918 During

, ''Iosef Tunkel'' returns to

and from there to

and

where he publishes several short works. Returns to independent Poland after the war. Returns to ''Der Moment'', while occasionally writing for other newspapers such as ''Der Haynt'' and the ''Folkszeitung'' (People's Paper) under the pseudonym Androginus. 1920s Publishes numerous books, plays, feuilletons, parodies and humorous articles. Often personally acts out his works on stage as he travels around the country. Travels to

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. Is feted by the Hebrew Writers Union and Khaim Nakhman Bialik, who declares himself as a great admirer of ''Der Tunkeler's'' works. He subsequently writes his first travel narrative based on his experiences in the

Holy Land The Holy Land; Arabic: or is an area roughly located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Eastern Bank of the Jordan River, traditionally synonymous both with the biblical Land of Israel and with the region of Palestine. The term "Holy ...

. 1932–33 ''Iosef Tunkel'' travels to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

to visit his brothers and old friends as well as to gather material for a travel narrative. He stays in Springfield where his brother Alex and sister-in-law Rose live. 1934? Travels to the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

to gather material for a subsequently published travel narrative. Lives in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

for some time. 1939 Travels to

to collect material for another travel narrative when the Germans invade

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

and

breaks out. Illegally crosses the border into

with a group of Jewish refugees. Due to his lame leg, he is captured by the French police and sent to a detention center for foreign Jews in

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

. In the camp, he befriends the Parisian novelist W. Wowiorka. Miraculously escapes the camp and somehow finds his way to the

in April 1941. He resides permanently in New York and quickly finds employment with ''Der Forverts'', the

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Yiddish daily newspaper. 1943 Publishes the autobiographical work ''Goles: Ksovim von a Flichtling'' (Exile - The Writings of an Exile) about his experiences in

and

in an attempt to shed light on the plight of European Jewry. 1948 ''Tunkel'' publishes his last book ''Der Groyser Genits Oder a Nudner Tag in Nyu York'' (''The Great Genius or an Annoying Day in New York''). His last work of literature is an article for the Lithuanian Yizkor Book Lite "The Chapter of Vilna in my Life" which is published posthumously in 1951. His physical health shattered by his experiences in the French camps, he spends the last several years of his life ill and nearly blind. 1949 On August 9, 1949 (14 Av, 5709) ''Iosef Tunkel'' dies and is interred in the New Mount Carmel cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens,

Collections

''Humoristishe Bibliotek'', 5 Vol., (Vol. 1: ''Gelechter un a Zat'', Vol. 2: ''Ich Lach fun Aych'', Vol. 3: ''Miten Kop Aroyp'', Vol. 4: ''Oyf-tsu-cloymersht'', Vol. 5: ''Das Freiliki Teater''), (Vol 3 and 4 printed at Wilna). (HUC)

Articles

* "Dos Kapital Vilna In Mein Leben" in Lite, Dr. Mendel Sudarsk and Uriah Katzenelenbogen eds., Volume 1, 1951, pp 1279–1289. * "Zikhrones" in Bobruisk: Sefer-Zikharon Lekehilat Bobruisk u Venoteah, Yehuda Slutzky, ed. Volume 2, 1967, p 538–9.

Translations

* Busch, Wilhelm, 1832 - 1908. Notl un Motl, Farlag Levin-Epstein Bros. and Partners, Warsaw, 1928 (First edition, 1920). 74 pp. Illus. (NYPL) (LNYL) * Busch, Wilhelm, 1832 - 1908. Di Papirene Shlang, Farlag Levin-Epstein Bros. and Partners, Warsaw, 1921. (2nd edition 1928) 22 pp. Illus. (NYPL) (LNYL) * Busch, Wilhelm, 1832 - 1908. Kopel un di Genz, Farlag Levin-Epstein Bros. and Partners, Warsaw, 1921. 14 pp. Illus. (NYPL) * Mann, Thomas, Jacob un Esau.

Newspapers and journals

* Der Kibitzer: Monatlikher Illustirter Zhurnal Far Humor, Vits un Kibets, Vol 1-8, New York (1908–1914). Illus. (HUC) (NYPL) (H) (YLLP) * Der Groyser Kundes: A Zhurnal fir Humor, Vits un Satire, 12/15/1908 - 9/9/1927, New York. (H) (YLLP) * Der Kromer Shpigel, Editor of the weekly humor supplement for the magazine Der Moment.

References to Iosef Tunkel

* "Der Tunkeler" in Ravitch, Melekh, Mayn Leksikon (My Dictionary), Vol. II, Northern Printing un Stashonery, Montreal, Canada, 1945., pp 101 – 3. * "Tunkeler, Der" in Zylbercweig, Zalman, Leksikon fon Yidishe Teatr, (Dictionary of Yiddish Theater) Vol. II, Libris Publishers, Warsaw, 1934, pp 865 – 866. * "Tunkel, Iosef 'Der Tunkeler"" in Raskin, Shaul, Leksikon fun der Nayer Yidisher Literatur (Dictionary of the New Yiddish Literature), Vol. I, Marstin Press, New York, 1961, pp 47 - 51. * "Tunkel Iosef" in Encyclopaedia Judaica, p 1451. * "Tunkel, Iosef 'Der Tunkeler'" in Landman, Isaac, ed. ''

The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Isaac Landman (October 24, 1880 – September 4, 1946) was an American Reform rabbi, author and anti-Zionist activist. He was editor of the ten volume ''Universal Jewish Encyclopedia''. Biography Landman was born in Russia on October 4, 1880, to Ad ...

'', Vol 10, Ktav Publishing House, Inc., New York, 1969, pp 324 – 5. * Roback, A. A., Curiosities of Yiddish Literature, Sci - Art Publishers, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1933, p 62, 192. "Der Tunkeler (J. Tunkel) ranks as the best parodist in Yiddish.", p 62. * Roback, A. A., The Story of Yiddish Literature, Yiddish Scientific Institute, New York, 1940, p 353. * Feinsilver, Mermin Lillian, The Taste of Yiddish, South Brunswick Publishers, New York, 1970, p 53, 187. * Liptzin, Sol, A History of Yiddish Literature, Jonathan David Publishers, New York, 1972, p 274. * Sadan, Dov, Ke'arot Egozim o Elef Bdikha ve Bdikha, (Nut Bowl or 1001 Jokes), M. Neuman Publishers, Tel Aviv, 1953 (5713), p 213 - 4. * Gold, David L., "Towards a Critical Edition of Yoysef Tunkl's Notl Un Motl”, Jewish Linguistic Studies, 1989, pp 165 – 173. * Sheintukh, Yekhiel, "HaBikoret, HaKhevratit-Tarbutit BiKhtavav HaHumoristi'im shel 'Der Tunkeler'" (The Socio-Cultural Criticism in Der Tunkeler's Humorous Writings), The 9th World Congress for Jewish Studies, 1985, pp 457 – 460. * Sheintukh, Yekhiel, "An Areinfir tsu der Sugiya - Humor in der Yidisher Literatur un der Tunkeler", in Kabakoff, Jacob, Jewish Book Annual, Vol 44, New York, 1986 - 1987 (5747) * Gotthelf, Yehuda, HaItonut HaYehudit SheHaitah (The Jewish Press That Was), HaIgud HaOlami shel HaItonim HaYehudim, Tel Aviv, 1973, pp. 86, 88, 91, 95, 111, 117, 123, 163, 195, 226, 232, 343. * Davidon, Yakov, "Lapitch VeTil Oylenshpigel" in Bobruisk Yizkor Book, Tel Aviv, pp 773 – 80 (see pp 775, 779) * Dluzhshnavsky, M., "Yosef Tunkel (Der Tunkeler): Zayne Letzte Yaren in Nyu York", (Joseph Tunkel (Der Tunkeler): His Last Years in New York), A"Ts, 326,2 (1969) 36 - 39.

Bibliography

* Yo Hasone Haben, Nit Hasone Haben, 19?? * Der Kromer Spiegel: Parodien, Shorushen, und Nacahemungen, Warsaw, 1911. 58 pp. (NUC1) (NYPL) * Fleder Mayz ... Filietonen, Lieder un Parodien, Verlag A Gittlin, Warsaw, 1912. 71 pp. (HUC) (NYPL,1) * Der Griner Papugai: A Zamlung fon Monologen, Satiren, un Parodien, Published by Y. Halter, Warsaw, 1912. 72 pp. (NUC1) * Der Goldener Aeroplan Oder Haim-Yankel Der Hanig Kvetsher, Lewin-Epstein Publishers, Warsaw, 1914. 96 pp. Illus. (NYPL) * Di Royte Hagada, N. Halperin, Odessa, 1917. 16 pp. (LYS) * Di Bolshevistishe Hagada, fun Tunkelen Mit ... Masiyos un Meshalim. Mit Perushim un Dinim Wegen Bdikat Khametz un Biur Hametz un Seder-Preven ... M. Goldfein Publishers, Kiev, 1918. 16 pp. (HUC) * Idishisten, Kiev?, 1918? 15 pp. (NYPL1) * Molines - in Pensionet, Kiev?, 1918? 15 pp. (NYPL1) * Zomer-Leb, Kiev, 1918. 15 pp. (LNYL) * Der Purim-Ber, Odessa, Blimeloch, Odessa, 1919. 22 pp. (LYS) * Der Humorist. A Shpas in ein Akt, Farlag Levin-Epstein Bros. and Partners, Warsaw, 1920. 28 pp. (NUC1) * Masa'ot Benyamin HaRevii (Funem Ukrainishe Caos), Farlag "Mizrah un Maarav", New York, 1920. 91 pp. (NUC1) * Der Hasan, A Shpas in ein Akt, Farlag Levin-Epstein Bros. and Partners, Warsaw, 1920. 26 pp. (NYPL) * Vikhne-Dvoshe Fort Kayn America, Farlag Humoristishe Bibliotek, Warsaw, 1921. 91 pp. (NUC1) (HUC) * Kopel un di Genz, Warsaw, 1921 (2nd edition, 1928). 14 pp. Illus. (LNYL) * Der Regenboygen, Warsaw, 1922. 267 pp. (LNYL) * Haim Getzel Der Reformator Mit Zaynen 25 Reformen, Farlag "Humoristishes Bibliotek", Warsaw, 1922. 74 pp. Illus. (HUC) (NYPL) * Katoves, Warsaw, 1923, 134 pp. (LNYL) * Mit di Fis Aroyf: Neue Humoreskes, Stzenkes un Parodiyes, Achisepher Publishers, Warsaw, 1926?. 211 pp. (NUC1) (NYPL) * Mitn Kop Arop: Parodiyes, Farlag "Tsentral", Warsaw, 1924 (2nd edition, Wilno, 1931). 189 p. (NUC1,2) (NYPL) (HUC) * Oyf-tsu-cloymersht: Humoreskes fon Der Tunkeler, B. Klatzkin Publishers, Warsaw and Wilno, 1931. 216 pp. (NUC1,2) (NYPL) (HUC) * Ikh Lakh fun Aykh: Humoresken, Stzenkes, Gramen, Bucher, Warsaw, 1931. 212 pp. (HUC) (NYPL) * A Gelechter on a Zayt. Satireskes, Humoreskes, Stzenkes, Achisefer, 1931. 95 pp. (LNYL says 193? pp) (HUC) * Das Freylike Teater: Eynakters, Stzenkes, Declamatziyes, Bucher Publishers, Warsaw, 1931. 246 pp. (HUC) (NYPL) * Fort a Yid Kein Eretz Yisroel: "A Reise-Beschreibung", M. Nomberg Publishers, 1932. 278 pp. Illus. (HUC) (NYPL) * In Gutn Mut: A Zamlung fon Homoreskes, Satires, Groteskes, Parodiyes, and Stzenkes, Kultur Buch, Warsaw, 1936. 222 pp. (NUC1) (NYPL) * On Gal: Humoreskishes Skitzen, Ferun un Gramen, Warsaw, 1939. 188 pp. (HUC) * Goles: Ksovim fun a Flichtling, Schreiber Farlag, New York,1943. 95 pp. (NUC1,2) (NYPL) (HUC) * Der Groyser Genits: Oder a Nudner Tag in Nyu York, A Humoristishe Dertsaylung fon Tunkel, Schreiber Farlag, New York, 1948, 63 pp. (NUC1,2) (NYPL)

References

External links

*
“A litvak always manages”
Bio and short story

Memoir

at ''Di velt fun yiddish''

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Yosef Tunkls Yerushalayim
(Yiddish) {{DEFAULTSORT:Tunkel, Yosef 1881 births 1949 deaths Jewish cabaret performers People from Babruysk Jewish poets American people of Belarusian-Jewish descent American satirists Polish cabaret performers Jews from the Russian Empire 20th-century American poets Jewish American writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers Yiddish-language satirists Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States 20th-century pseudonymous writers