Prilutski, Noyakh (Prylucki, Noah)

(1882-1941)

   Polish Yiddish scholar and political leader. He was born in Berdichev, and grew up in Kremenetz. He was an activist in the campaign for Jewish access to higher education. In 1909 he set up a private law practice in Warsaw and founded a Yiddish daily newspaper. The following year he was elected to the Warsaw city council, and later he served as a member of the Polish parliament. He helped establish Yiddish-speaking schools in Poland, organized the country's first Yiddish cultural conference, and helped to set up schools and libraries in rural areas. He published various works on Yiddish scholarship. He later became professor of Yiddish at the University of Vilna.