Shats-Anin Maks Uryevich (22.06.1885, Friedrichstadt, Courland Governorate, now Jaunjelgava, Aizkraukle District — 10.01.1975, Riga) — legal scholar, professor, prominent figure of the Jewish labour movement and culture, publicist, historian, philosopher, literary scholar, teacher. Creative pseudonyms and cryptonyms: Avinov, D.Aladin, A-n, M.Anin, M.Borin, Dirut, Ditis, M-A, M-N, M.Nairin, Nal, O-I, Osekov, Rutkis, Urielev, Uriel, Fanetti, A.Shanin, Shvartsior, Shin, Emsha, Ya-S, Janus, Janus-Junior. Born into the family of a pharmacist; graduated from the Mitau (Jelgava) Gymnasium. In 1906, while a student at the law faculty of St Petersburg University, was arrested and expelled from Russia for participating in student unrest and publishing the pamphlet “Who Needs Pogroms?”
Continued his education at the University of Bern, graduating in 1908, where he also defended his doctoral dissertation on “National Problems of the Present.” Lived in Paris, Berlin and Vienna; returned to Russia in 1911. During the First World War, worked in organisations providing aid to refugees; in 1917 — member of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, one of the leaders of the United Jewish Socialist Workers' Party (OESRP). As a representative of this party, participated in the activities of the Ukrainian Central Rada in Kyiv. At the end of 1919, returned to Latvia; became the founder and leader of a number of cultural organisations and publications for Jewish workers. In 1921, was arrested for active participation in the left trade union movement; lost sight in one eye while in prison, and in the second half of the 1920s lost his sight entirely; nevertheless continued full professional activity (as a lawyer) and creative work. Taught at higher legal educational institutions in Almaty, Moscow and Riga; received the title of professor.
During the Great Patriotic War, while in the rear, engaged in scientific and teaching activity; was a member of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee. After the war, returned to Riga, continued writing and lecturing; became one of the initiators of the revival of Jewish culture in post-war Latvia. Member of the Union of Soviet Writers of Latvia from 1941; member of the CPSU from 1944. Awarded medals “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945” and “For Valiant Labour to Mark the 100th Anniversary of V.I. Lenin's Birth.” In February 1953, was arrested together with his wife in the “case of the Jewish nationalist centre”; released after Stalin's death. M. Shats-Anin's wife, Frekha Samuilovna, was for more than thirty years his indispensable assistant and secretary. After M. Shats-Anin's death, his literary and personal archive was transferred for safekeeping to the National Library of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Works: Who Needs Pogroms? St Petersburg, 1905; Temporalism: An Essay on the Philosophy of Jewish Culture. Riga, 1919; 2nd ed. Riga, 2005; Jews in Latvia. Riga, 1924 (in Yiddish); Social Opposition in the History of the Jews. Riga, 1927; Das Nationalproblem der Gegenwart. Riga, 1910.
Lit.: Shats-Maryash R.M. Reality, Truth and Dream: A Book About My Father. Riga, 1995; Max Shats-Anin: Life. Legacy. Fate: Materials of a Scientific Conference. Riga, 1998.
Compiled by I. Bazhul