Lubarsky, Abraham Elijah

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LUBARSKY, ABRAHAM ELIJAH

LUBARSKY, ABRAHAM ELIJAH (1856–1920), early member of Ḥovevei Zion (*Hibat Zion) in Russia. Born in Balta, Ukraine, Lubarsky was engaged in business. From 1893 he was agent for Wissotsky Tea in Odessa and traveled throughout the large communities in Russia, making connections with the prominent figures in Hebrew and Yiddish literature in the late 19th century. He was especially close with *Aḥad Ha-Am, whom he stimulated to write his famous first essay, Lo Zeh ha-Derekh. Lubarsky was one of the first members of the secret society *Benei Moshe and influenced K.Z. *Wissotsky to support the Hebrew monthly Ha-Shilo'aḥ. He contributed to the Hebrew press throughout this period. In 1903 he immigrated to the United States, where he became the moving spirit of the Hebrew movement. Lubarsky was a founder there of the Histadrut Ivrit and its newspaper, Ha-Toren.

bibliography:

P. Friedman, in: Haaretz (Oct. 21, 1920); Epstein, ibid. (Oct. 9, 1931); Sefer ha-Congress (19502), 374–5.

[Yehuda Slutsky]