Nathan Chanin

Chanin was born in Khalopenichy, Belarus and was educated at a cheder and a Talmud Torah in Borisov.^[1] Chanin became active in the Jewish Labor Bund.^[2] Due to his political activities, he was sentenced to eight years in Siberia.^[3]

Chanin escaped from Siberia in 1912 and immigrated to America.^[4] In America, Chanin supported himself as a hat maker, which led to his involvement in the Cap and Millinery Union.^[5] After several years, he became the vice-president of the Cap and Millinery Union.^[6]

Following the Jewish Socialist Federation's decision to leave the Socialist Party in 1921, Chanin helped create the Jewish Socialist Verband, which opposed Communism.^[7] Chanin was described by Louis Harap as part of the "spearhead of anti-Sovietism in the United States".^[8] In 1954, Chanin attacked Communism, arguing that Americans were "completely unaware of the destructive nature of world communism", and defending the Workmen's Circle's efforts to aid Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union.^[9] As a result of these efforts, Earl Browder accused him of secretly contributing money to anti-Communist conspiracies within the Soviet Union.^[10]

Chanin served as the educational director of the Workmen's Circle from 1936 until 1952.^[11] In 1952, he was elected as the Workmen's Circle's General Secretary, replacing Joseph Baskin.^[12] He retired from the position of General Secretary in 1963.^[13]