M. was born on 10 May 1903 in Ribintshik, Vitebsk Gubernia, Latvia. His father was a yeshuvnik, neaar Grush -- a teacher and during the World War he became a carter.

At the age of thirteen he went away from his family to Kharkov, and here le learned a half-year [shteperey], and then three classes in the Yiddish trade school. Later M. worked by day as a locksmith in a [tshvekes] factory, and in the evening he learned in the politechnium.

In 1920 M. voluntarily entered into the Red Army and then completed three courses in a mechanical [boyerishn] technicum.

Earlier he participated in a dramatic circle, and M. traveled in 1923 to Moscow in the White Russia Yiddish State studio, debuting in February 1924 and 1926, automatically going over to "Vim't".
 

Sh. E.

B. Orshansky -- "Teater-shlakhtn", 1931, pp. 160, 175-6, 189, 194, 300.