Feldkhun Avrakham (1915-2009)

Feldkhun Avrakham (26.10.1915, Riga — 26.02.2009, Riga) — classical philologist, translator. Born into the family of merchant Raphael Feldkhun (b. 1885, killed in Riga during the German occupation) and Gita Feldkhun (Gelbard), a teacher (1890–1920). In 1924, enrolled at the 9th Riga German primary school; from 1929 to 1933, studied at the Riga State German Classical Gymnasium. Studied piano at the studio of Yury Mayevsky. In 1933, enrolled at the classical philology section of the philology faculty of the University of Latvia. Participated in international athletics competitions at sprinting distances (100 and 200 metres) for the Latvian national team in March 1933 in Palestine and in August 1939 at the World Student Olympics in Monaco. In 1935, participated in the 2nd Maccabiah in Tel Aviv. From February 1937 to July 1938, performed mandatory military service in the Latvian Army in the Valmiera Infantry Regiment. From August 1940 — assistant editor of the newspaper “Sarkanais Sports” and literary contributor to the newspaper “Jaunais Komunārs.” In 1941–45, was in evacuation in Bukhara, Uzbek SSR, working as a teacher at a school and then at a pedagogical technical college. In 1943 — personnel department staff member at a construction organisation. In November 1944, fought on the Courland Front in the 357th Rifle Regiment (section commander, senior sergeant). In 1945–58 — editor and head of the dictionary editorial section at the Latvian State Publishing House. In 1948, graduated with distinction from the University of Latvia with his thesis “Political Invectives in the Comedies of Aristophanes.” Candidate of Philological Sciences (1956). In 1958–76 — associate professor and head of the foreign languages department at the Riga Polytechnic Institute. In 1993, defended a doctoral dissertation. F.'s translation work occupies a significant place in Latvia's literary life. Awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Philological Sciences of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (1993), the title of Honoured Worker of Science of Latvia (1998), and is a Knight of the Order of the Three Stars (2001).
Translations from Ancient Greek into Latvian: Longs “Dafniss un Hloja” (1974); Ēzops “Fabulas” (1978); Lukiāns “Dievu, mirušo un hetēru sarunas” (1980); Līsijs, Tiesas runas. Izlase (1984); Euripīds, Traģēdijas. Izlase (1984); “Afrodīte mirdzošā tronī…” VII–V gs. ēpiskā un liriskā dzeja (1994); Aischils “Oresteja” (1975), “Persieši” (2006); Platona dialogi. 5 sējumi (1997–2006); Sofokls “Ajants” (2008). Translations from Latin: Plauts, Terencijs. Komēdijas. Izlase (1979); Seneka. Traģēdijas. Izlase (1989), “Vēstules Lucīlijam par ētiku” (1996), Dialogi. Izlase (2001); “Indriķa hronika” (1993, awarded the Cultural Foundation prize).
Translation from German: B. Brehts “Trīsgrašu romāns” (1958). Daughters: Larisa Bulava, professor at the Latvian Academy of Music; Gita Feldkhun, lawyer and interpreter at the EU Court; Irena Feldkhun, philologist.

J. Weinberg

Mark Ioffe