Sholem Aleichem

Sholem Aleichem (Solomon Rabinovitz; 1859–1916), Russian-born Yiddish humorous writer. His pseudonymous first name is Hebrew for “Peace be unto you.” He was an immensely prolific and popular author, and his novels, short stories, and plays tell of the serious and absurd aspects of Jewish life in Eastern Europe. His works include The Old Country and Tevye's Daughters (1894; the basis for the musical Fiddler on the Roof, 1964).