David Shapiro

David Shapiro was a founder of the New York Yiddish daily, Der tog (The Day).  He was also a financial backer of the Kurt Weill opera-oratorio, Der Weg der Verheissung (The Eternal Road), which premiered in New York in 1937.  Born in Lida, Poland, on March 20, 1872, Shapiro immigrated to the United States in 1888.  From 1888-1894 he worked in a metal factory, after which he established a lighting fixtures partnership with Meyer Aaronson, under the name of Shapiro and Aaronson.  In 1914, under the urging of Dr. Judah L. Magnes, Herman Bernstein, and Bernard Semel, he founded the Yiddish newspaper, Der tog (The Day).

The daily paper, which first appeared on November 5, 1914, was founded as an intellectually-minded, independent, non-partisan, and literary publication.  It featured many noted writers, including Ossip Dymow, Chaim Zhitlowsky, Yehoash, and Tsivyon.  By 1950, Der tog had merged with Der tog-morgn zhurnal (The Day-Morning Journal) and was later dissolved in 1971.

Shapiro was also active in several charities, including the Brooklyn Hebrew Home and Hospital for the Aged; the Israel Zion Hospital; the Jewish Education Committee of New York; the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum; the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society of Denver; the Brooklyn Jewish Center; and Keren Hayesod.

He died in New York on November 2, 1940.