Born in 1893 in Ostilia (Ustilig), Vilna Gubernia, Poland, into an orthodox family. In 1900 he settled with his family in Kiev, and here he learned in a cheder. In 1907 he immigrated with his family to Eretz Yisrael and settled in the colony Petakh Tikvah, where P. learned further in a cheder. Being in the Old City, he  became a choir boy for a cantor; here he tried to stage with the choir boys his "play" about a Jewish hero Motele Pozharnik during the Odessa pogrom [1905-6].

In 1909 his family returned to Russia, settling in Odessa, and P. was sent away to a goldsmith. He participated later as a chorister and stand-in for Fishzon. P. organized a group of amateurs who earlier acted in one-acters in private houses, then entire plays in theatrical buildings.

Due to the first World War, he withdrew from his activities, vert der krayz nokh the February Revolution, returning oyfgelebt.

Through Betty Kenig he entered into the professional theatre that had [under the leadership of Khlivner] performed one-acters. In the summer of 1918 P. entered into the troupe "Mogilov podolsk" (with Meyerson, Epstein), then in Odessa's miniature theatre under the leadership of David Keyzerovitsh. In 1919 he acted in the first Yiddish state theatre in Odessa. 1920-21 -- he toured with a collective, itinerant troupe across Volin and Podol. 1922-23 -- he returned to Odessa, earlier in the miniature theatre "Kometa",