Menahem Mendel Slatkine (1875–1965) was a Russian-Swiss Hebrew bibliographer and the founder of the Slatkine publishing house in Geneva.
Early life
Menahem Mendel Slatkine was born in Rostov-on-Don, close to the modern-day Russia–Ukraine border. His father, Moisei Zlatkin, was a rabbi at the city's main synagogue and a member of the local society for the study and promotion of the Hebrew language. His mother, Emilia (Etke) Spitznadel, was born in Ludza, modern-day Latvia. He studied at the Volozhin Yeshiva.[1]
Work
After finishing his studies, Slatkine returned to Rostov-on-Don and started a marine insurance business. In 1903, he published his first article on Hebrew bibliography in the Russian-Jewish daily newspaper HaMelitz. In 1905, he moved to Geneva, Switzerland, fleeing pogroms. There, he opened a bookstore and, later, a publishing house which operates to this day under the name Slatkine and is owned by his descendenats.[2]
While living in Geneva, he continued his bibliographical research and wrote several books, including Shemot ha-Sefarim ha-Ivrim on titles of Hebrew books and Bikkurei ha-Bibliografyah ba-Safrut ha-Ivrit on Shabbethai Bass, the first Hebrew bibliographer. He also published Mi-Sefer ha-Zikhronot shel Rav Litai, featuring "selected chapters" from the "memoirs" of Lithuanian rabbis, which some believe to be a mystification entirely written by Slatkine himself.[3]
Family
Menahem Mendel's great-grandson, Ivan Slatkine, was a member of the Grand Council of Geneva and the head of the Federation of Romande Enterprises. He is currently a co-owner of the Slatkine publishing house and bookstore.[4]
