Shimshon Dunsky 1899-1982 |
Originally from Jasinowka, Poland, Shimshon Dunsky dedicated his life to education the
promotion of Hebrew and Yiddish. Dunsky was educated in a traditional yeshiva and
started teaching school in Poland shortly before immigrating to Canada in 1922.
In 1923, Dunsky joined the staff of the secular Jewish People's School and by 1927
was the vice-principal of the institution. He remained in this role until his
retirement in 1969 and is no doubt remembered by countless students of the Montreal
Jewish community.
Dunsky was dedicated to both the Hebrew and Yiddish languages and his writings varied in topic and form.
His works included children's plays, poetry as well as published essays and articles on the Jewish
community, history and pedagogy. Additionally, Dunsky was the author of a Hebrew exercise grammar
book,
Imunei Dikduk (Montreal, 1951), which was used by students across Canada. His largest
undertaking was his translation of the
Midrash for the five books of the Megilot from the original
Hebrew and Aramaic into Yiddish. The translations and publications spanned a total of seventeen
years beginning with Lamentations (1956), Esther (1962), Ruth (1967), Ecclesiastics (1967) and
Song of Songs (1973). All were published in Montreal. Dunsky employed strict methodology in his
translations setting a high standard for this type of work and garnering high praise for his accomplishments.
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 Shimshon Dunsky |
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