Born in 1902 in Radom, Poland, to Chasidic parents. His father, a merchant, passed away at an early age, and he left a widow with eight children. At the age of eighteen, he immigrated with his older brother, who took the name of Mazov, to Toronto, Canada, to his sister who was married to the journalist and showman H. M. Kirshenbaum. For a short time he worked as an errand boy in the local newspaper "Der idisher zhurnal". In 1922, he attended the local Yiddish "Standard Theatre", and he began there to rewrite roles, and at the same time was the stage manager, and he also acted from time to time in small roles with the guest-stars from New York, was observed by Jacob Ben-Ami, and was encouraged by him to come to New York.

In the Fall of 1923 M. who took on the family name of "Mandel", was engaged in Brooklyn's "Liberty Theatre", and since then has remained on both the Yiddish stage as a chorister-actor, but also quite admired as a talented stage director.

In 1937 M. acted on the English stage in the role of a Russian soldier in the play "Rus soyrvis".

During the Second World War, M. joined the American army, where he served until the end of the war, acting then for several seasons in Chicago, and in other cities, also including the "Yiddish Art Theatre". In the 1961-62 season, he toured with the troupe of the "Jewish National Labor Union".