Throwback Thursday: Moscow’s Yiddish Stage Star
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By Chana Pollack November 21, 2013
Welcome to Throwback Thursday, a weekly photo feature in which we sift 116 years of Forward history to find snapshots of women’s lives.
Born in 1897 to an artistic Jewish family in Warsaw, Yokheved-Yudes Minkova, garnered fame as part of the beloved Moscow State Jewish Theater troupe, known by the acronym GOSET and headed by Solomon Mikhoels. Known by her stage name Justina Minkova, she graduated from a specialized Jewish dramatic arts studio program in Moscow, and debuted with GOSET in a celebration of Sholem Aleichem in 1921. She is pictured here in 1924 in costume for her role as a prostitute in I.L. Peretz’s surrealist play, “At Night In The Old Marketplace.” Minkova also appeared in the 1925 Yiddish film “Yidishe Glikn” (“Jewish Luck”) and traveled throughout Europe in the 1930’s with GOSET. The troupe was destroyed under Stalin, and leader Mikhoels was murdered.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
