Chaim Grade
Chaim Grade was one of the leading Yiddish writers of the twentieth century. Born in Vilnius, Lithuania in 1910, he grew up in a traditional Jewish environment, but later embraced secular studies and literature. Grade's early poetry and his subsequent novels and short stories reflect the intense conflicts between religious and secular life in Eastern European Jewish society.
During World War II, Grade fled the Nazi invasion of Vilnius and survived the Holocaust by escaping to the Soviet Union. Most of his family and his wife were killed during the war. These tragic experiences deeply influenced his post-war literary output, which often explored themes of loss, faith, and the moral challenges of the post-Holocaust world.
After the war, Grade settled in the United States, where he continued to write prolifically in Yiddish. His major works include the novels 'The Yeshiva' and 'The Agunah' which delve into the complexities of religious life and ethical dilemmas. Grade's works are highly esteemed for their deep psychological insight and detailed portrayal of Eastern European Jewish life. He passed away in New York City in 1982.