 The Odessa literary group in 1916; from left to right:Yehoshua Hana Rawnitzki,Shloyme Ansky,Mendele M. Sforim,Hayim N. Bialik, Simon Frug. | |
| Born | Simeon Samuel Grigoryevich Frug (1860-11-15)15 November 1860 Bobrovy-Kut,Kherson Governorate,Russian Empire |
| Died | 22 September 1916(1916-09-22) (aged 55) Odessa |
| Occupation | Poet, lyricist and author |
| Language | Yiddish, Russian, Hebrew |
| Nationality | Russian |
Simon Frug (Russian:Семён Григо́рьевич Фру́г,IPA:[sʲɪˈmʲɵnɡrʲɪˈɡorʲjɪvʲɪtɕˈfruk]ⓘ also known asShimen Shmuel Frug;[1] 15 November 1860 – 22 September 1916) was a multi-lingualRussian andYiddish poet, lyricist and author.
He was born inUkraine at theJewish agricultural colony ofBobrovy-Kut, in theKherson Governorate of theRussian Empire.[2] During his youth he received religious training at his native village.[3] At the age of 16 he began writing Russian poetry and was first published in 1880 in the Russophone Jewish magazineRazsvet (ru) ("Dawn").[4] The following year he moved toSt. Petersburg, where he became a prominent literary figure[5] and began publishing regularly, albeit often under a pseudonym. His 1882Legend of the Goblet won an important prize and, when translated into Yiddish byIsaac Leib Peretz, the song reached an international audience.[2]
Shaken by thepogroms of 1881–1882, he joined theHibbat Zion (Love of Zion) movement, and his poemJewish Melody became an anthem to Russians seeking a Jewish state in what is nowIsrael.[2] In 1885 his first volume of poetry was released. His collected Yiddish poems were published in 1886 asLider un Gedanken. Additional volumes followed in 1890 and 1897. Some time after 1898 his fablePalma became available. HisZionistic songs were published in 1902.[4]
Frug wrote in Yiddish, Russian and Hebrew. For a period of time, followers of his work came to regard him as the national Jewish poet of Russia. He preferred folk themes and used light verses to express the suffering of people[6] and the tragedy of Jewish homelessness. He died inOdessa at the age of 56 after a brief illness,[4] and 100,000 people attended his funeral march.[2]
Various cities inIsrael have commemorated Frug by naming a street for him, includingTel Aviv,Haifa,Holon,Kfar Saba,Ramat Gan andNetanya.
