Joseph Baskin

[1] The son of a poor elementary school teacher, Baskin was raised by his father's second wife following the death of his biological mother.

He also studied Russian and secular subjects, and under the influence of his older brother Avrom, who left the Yeshiva to become a laborer, he became a socialist supporter by the age of fifteen.

[2] He initially engaged in cultural activities among workers and lectured women cigarette makers in secret, illegal meetings.

He then returned to Vilna and became founder and publisher of the Bund's Yiddish daily Folks Zeitung.

He also edited its publication The Friend until 1924 to 1952, organized the educational, medical, and social services department, and established a home for the aged as well as elementary and intermediate Yiddish schools.