Abraham Abba Rakowski | |
---|---|
Born | November or December 1854[1] Mariampol, Austrian Galicia |
Died | 1921 (aged 66–67) |
Pen name | |
Language | Hebrew |
Relatives |
|
Abraham Abba Rakowski (Hebrew: אברהם אבא ראַקאָװסקי, romanized: Avraham Aba Rakovski; November or December 1854 – 1921) was a Galician Hebrew writer, journalist, and translator.
Rakowski was born in Mariampol, Austrian Galicia, the son of Rabbi Azriel Arye Leib Rakowski of Plotzk.[6] He studied Talmud under his father, and was educated privately in Hebrew and modern languages.[1] From 1872 onward he was a frequent contributor to Hebrew journals, especially Ha-Tzfira.[7]
Among Rakowski's publications were Nidḥe Israel (Warsaw, 1875), a translation of Philippson's novel on the Marranos; Ḥoter mi-geza Ishai (Warsaw, 1880), a translation of Disraeli's romance The Wondrous Tale of Alroy; Ha-nekamah (Warsaw, 1883), a historical narrative; and Masekhet shetarot (1894), a Talmudic parody. He also published numerous works in Naḥum Sokolow's yearly journal Ha-Asif, including Nispe belo mishpat, a historical novel; Leil hitkadesh ḥag ha-Pesaḥ, a story of the Prague ghetto; Ta'alumot ha-mikroskop, a humorous story; Dibrei ḥakhamim, a collection of pithy sayings and citations from world literature; Min ha-metzar, a translation of a story by Auerbach on the Prague ghetto; Ha-kesef, a history of the development of money and of its influence upon culture, political economy, and commerce; Devar Eloheinu yakum le-olam, an epitome of the history of Semitic nations during the Biblical ages; Zaken ve-yeled, a translation from the Polish of Okanski; and Al admat nekhar, a translation of Orzeszkowa's Mirtala.[8]
By 1895 Rakowski had become a prosperous merchant at Zambrov, Russian Poland.[7]