Miriam Bernstein-Cohen
Encyclopedia
Miriam Bernstein-Cohen 1895-1991, was an Israeli actress, director, poet and translator.
, on 14 December 1895. Some archival sources say that the family moved to Kharkov in 1901 due to the father's involvement with the Social-Revolutionary Party
(he was investigated in 1903 over his involvement with the party's clandestine typography in Odessa
). In Kharkov in 1902, Jacob Bernstein-Cohen (1859—1929, biography) — a Zionist leader and a practicing physician, — was elected as representative of the I and II Jewish prayer societies of the city (but not confirmed by the Kharkov governor) and also elected to the I and II State Duma through the Social Democrat party list. However, in an interview that she gave for the Israel Broadcasting Authority
documentary, Pillar of Fire
, she spoke of her experience during the Kishinev pogrom
that broke out in 1903. In any case, she attended the German Gymnasium in Kharkov, and appeared in school productions. She was introduced to theater at an early age.
The family (parents and two daughters) lived in Palestine from 1907 to 1910. Bernstein-Cohen attended The Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium in Jaffa
and appeared in Hebrew and French plays produced by Dr. Haim Harari.
In 1910, the family returned to Kishinev, where she completed high school. She left for Kharkov to study medicine, attended drama school as well.
During World War I, Bernstein-Cohen worked as a nurse in a military hospital. After completing her medical studies she worked as a physician, and also acted in local theater companies. In 1917 she married for the first time, but the marriage was short-lived.
In 1918, she traveled to Moscow, where she studied with Constantin Stanislavsky. In Moscow she met Nahum Zemach and Menahem Gnessin, who were among the founders of the HaBima Theater and who invited her to join the new theater company. She rejected the invitation and continued her studies with Stanislavsky, remaining faithful to his method throughout her career. She then returned to Kishinev (now in Moldova
) and began her theatrical career under the stage name Maria Alexandrova.
Bernstein-Cohen travelled to Palestine via Italy in 1921. In Italy, she married her second husband, Aaron Hirsch (Kipper), a fellow-actor from Kishinev, and gave birth to her son, David.
In Palestine, she joined the newly established Hebrew Theater in Tel Aviv
, the first professional theater company in Palestine, directed by David Davidow. It was here that she met her future husband, Michael Gur. She also worked as an instructor at the drama club at the Herzliya Gymnasium. The members of the Hebrew Theater performed plays under Bernstein-Cohen’s direction. In 1922 they signed a contract with the owners of the Eden cinema in Tel Aviv, to mount a new production every two weeks.
Eventually, Bernstein-Cohen left to study in Berlin with other members of the group (including Michael Gur). The purpose of the trip was to raise the professional level of acting. Bernstein-Cohen took care of the organizational aspects, raising funds and planning the curriculum. The group asked Menahem Gnessin, who had left Habimah, to be their manager and director. They called themselves the Eretz Israeli theater. Their first production, Belshazzar, was a success. As a result, Bernstein-Cohen appeared in three German films. The group returned to Palestine, but disbanded in 1926. That same year she divorced.
In 1925 Bernstein-Cohen founded and edited a periodical, Te’atron ve-Omanut (Theater and Art) the first Hebrew-language publication in Palestine on the topic.
Bernstein-Cohen married Michael Gur in approximately 1929. Their daughter, Aviva, was born in Riga
in 1933. They returned to Palestine, and settled down in a house on Bilu street in Tel Aviv, where they lived for many years. However tense relations with HaBima theatre caused her not to be accepted in the theater. She attempted to found her own theater company, but many problems plagued the company, and it never achieved success.
For many years she coached theater, appeared in Europe, published essays, and was a member of Hatzohar
, Ze'ev Jabotinsky's revisionist political party. In 1948, in Israel
's war of independence, she spent time performing for soldiers of the new army.
In 1952, she joined the Cameri Theater
, and help parts in many plays until retiring in 1964. After her retirement, she moved to her son's kibbutz
, Palmachim
, where she lived until moving to a retirement home in Ramat Efal.
Bernstein-Cohen died 4 April 1991.
Her sister Elena (Елена Яковлевна Коган-Бернштейн) was Vladimir Nabokov
's treating physician and family friend in Paris. Her cousins are Russian revolutionary and political activist Matvey Kogan-Bernshtein (1886—1918, biography) and Soviet economist and geographer Sergei Bernshtein-Kogan (1886—1951, biography). Her uncle — Russian revolutionary Lev Kogan-Bernshtein (1862—1889, biography).
Biography
Bernstein-Cohen was born in Kishinev, Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, on 14 December 1895. Some archival sources say that the family moved to Kharkov in 1901 due to the father's involvement with the Social-Revolutionary Party
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
(he was investigated in 1903 over his involvement with the party's clandestine typography in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
). In Kharkov in 1902, Jacob Bernstein-Cohen (1859—1929, biography) — a Zionist leader and a practicing physician, — was elected as representative of the I and II Jewish prayer societies of the city (but not confirmed by the Kharkov governor) and also elected to the I and II State Duma through the Social Democrat party list. However, in an interview that she gave for the Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority
Israel Broadcasting Authority is Israel's state broadcasting network.It grew out of the radio station Kol Yisrael, which made its first broadcast as an independent station on . The name of the organisation operating Kol Yisrael was changed to Israel Broadcasting Service in 1951...
documentary, Pillar of Fire
Pillar of Fire (documentary)
Pillar of Fire is a mini series documentary of the Israel Broadcasting Authority , named after the Pillar of Fire, the biblical phenomena which led the ancient Israelites to the Promised Land during their exodus from Egypt...
, she spoke of her experience during the Kishinev pogrom
Kishinev pogrom
The Kishinev pogrom was an anti-Jewish riot that took place in Chişinău, then the capital of the Bessarabia province of the Russian Empire on April 6-7, 1903.-First pogrom:...
that broke out in 1903. In any case, she attended the German Gymnasium in Kharkov, and appeared in school productions. She was introduced to theater at an early age.
The family (parents and two daughters) lived in Palestine from 1907 to 1910. Bernstein-Cohen attended The Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium in Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
and appeared in Hebrew and French plays produced by Dr. Haim Harari.
In 1910, the family returned to Kishinev, where she completed high school. She left for Kharkov to study medicine, attended drama school as well.
During World War I, Bernstein-Cohen worked as a nurse in a military hospital. After completing her medical studies she worked as a physician, and also acted in local theater companies. In 1917 she married for the first time, but the marriage was short-lived.
In 1918, she traveled to Moscow, where she studied with Constantin Stanislavsky. In Moscow she met Nahum Zemach and Menahem Gnessin, who were among the founders of the HaBima Theater and who invited her to join the new theater company. She rejected the invitation and continued her studies with Stanislavsky, remaining faithful to his method throughout her career. She then returned to Kishinev (now in Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
) and began her theatrical career under the stage name Maria Alexandrova.
Bernstein-Cohen travelled to Palestine via Italy in 1921. In Italy, she married her second husband, Aaron Hirsch (Kipper), a fellow-actor from Kishinev, and gave birth to her son, David.
In Palestine, she joined the newly established Hebrew Theater in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, the first professional theater company in Palestine, directed by David Davidow. It was here that she met her future husband, Michael Gur. She also worked as an instructor at the drama club at the Herzliya Gymnasium. The members of the Hebrew Theater performed plays under Bernstein-Cohen’s direction. In 1922 they signed a contract with the owners of the Eden cinema in Tel Aviv, to mount a new production every two weeks.
Eventually, Bernstein-Cohen left to study in Berlin with other members of the group (including Michael Gur). The purpose of the trip was to raise the professional level of acting. Bernstein-Cohen took care of the organizational aspects, raising funds and planning the curriculum. The group asked Menahem Gnessin, who had left Habimah, to be their manager and director. They called themselves the Eretz Israeli theater. Their first production, Belshazzar, was a success. As a result, Bernstein-Cohen appeared in three German films. The group returned to Palestine, but disbanded in 1926. That same year she divorced.
In 1925 Bernstein-Cohen founded and edited a periodical, Te’atron ve-Omanut (Theater and Art) the first Hebrew-language publication in Palestine on the topic.
Bernstein-Cohen married Michael Gur in approximately 1929. Their daughter, Aviva, was born in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
in 1933. They returned to Palestine, and settled down in a house on Bilu street in Tel Aviv, where they lived for many years. However tense relations with HaBima theatre caused her not to be accepted in the theater. She attempted to found her own theater company, but many problems plagued the company, and it never achieved success.
For many years she coached theater, appeared in Europe, published essays, and was a member of Hatzohar
Hatzohar
Hatzohar , officially Brit HaTzionim HaRevizionistim was a Revisionist Zionist organisation and political party in Mandate Palestine and newly-independent Israel.-Background:...
, Ze'ev Jabotinsky's revisionist political party. In 1948, in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's war of independence, she spent time performing for soldiers of the new army.
In 1952, she joined the Cameri Theater
Cameri Theater
The Cameri Theater , established in 1944 in Tel Aviv, is one of the leading theaters in Israel, and is housed at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center....
, and help parts in many plays until retiring in 1964. After her retirement, she moved to her son's kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
, Palmachim
Palmachim
Palmachim is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located about ten kilometers south of the Tel Aviv area along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, among the sand dunes, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gan Raveh Regional Council...
, where she lived until moving to a retirement home in Ramat Efal.
Bernstein-Cohen died 4 April 1991.
Her sister Elena (Елена Яковлевна Коган-Бернштейн) was Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov was a multilingual Russian novelist and short story writer. Nabokov wrote his first nine novels in Russian, then rose to international prominence as a master English prose stylist...
's treating physician and family friend in Paris. Her cousins are Russian revolutionary and political activist Matvey Kogan-Bernshtein (1886—1918, biography) and Soviet economist and geographer Sergei Bernshtein-Kogan (1886—1951, biography). Her uncle — Russian revolutionary Lev Kogan-Bernshtein (1862—1889, biography).