Isaac Bashevis Singer (1903 – July 24, 1991) was a Polish-born Jewish-American novelist, short-story writer, and essayist. Writing primarily in Yiddish, he later translated many of his works into English with editorial assistance. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1978 and became a leading figure in Yiddish literature. His notable works include The Family Moskat, Enemies, A Love Story, and Gimpel the Fool.
Born near Warsaw, Singer came from a religious Jewish family. His father was a rabbi, and his mother’s family had a strong literary tradition. After working as a proofreader in Warsaw, he emigrated to the U.S. in 1935, escaping the rising threat of Nazi Germany. Settling in New York, he became a journalist for The Jewish Daily Forward, which serialized many of his novels.
Singer’s writing explored themes of faith, exile, and morality, often blending realism with Jewish folklore and mysticism. His works depicted shtetl life, existential dilemmas, and the challenges of assimilation. He was also a passionate advocate of vegetarianism and believed in the power of literature to preserve Yiddish culture.
He passed away in 1991 in Florida. Despite his complex relationship with Judaism and Zionism, his legacy endures as one of the most influential Jewish writers of the 20th century.