Born October 1888 in Mush, Minsk Gubernia, Poland. 

His father was a craftsman, lived in America for thirty years but because of piety returned to Poland. N. studied at a cheder, at a Slonim yeshiva and later on his own. N. learned Hebrew and Russian privately and then at a kreyz school. Later he settled in Vilna.

Around 1908 he was active (together with Asro, Schneur, Rivkina and Frida Blumenthal) in Pirozhenikov’s literary dramatic circles, etc. While playing in Sholem Aleichem’s  “Scattered and Dispersed” (in the presence of the author), he attracted the attention of the local press (“Hazman”). However, since he had to absent himself from Vilna due to business, he could only participate in the plays on occasion.

At the beginning of the World War he often travelled around in the nearest province to Vilna, giving recitations and readings of the works of Yiddish writers.

In 1916, while remaining in Vilna, N. managed a large business, having been drawn by Azro into the newly founded  FAD’A society (later to become the Vilna Troupe) in which he acted using the name Nachbush (“Noah Bush”) in Poland, and when touring over Europe.  Here, among other roles, N. created the role of “Hatze” in Kobrin’s  “The Country Boy” and “Meshulah” in Anski’s “ The Dybbuk”.