Malka Riten was born in 1889 in Lublin, Poland to Chasidic parents.  She obtained, as she wrote in her autobiography, the education of a religious boy.

Until age fifteen, she davened and benched, made Kiddush, and each time she expressed herself, God was listening closely to whatever she felt, and thus she always spoke the truth.  She had a tremendous urge to preach morality and that people should live in peace. 

By chance Malka became acquainted with an "amateur" group, and since she was a “scholar” with regard to reading Yiddish, she was inspired that she might [soflern; audition?] a presentation. The [soflern] of are the members of the group came to the decision, so she was able to play the role of “Tabeleh” in the court play “Hertzeleh mioches” (Privileged Hertzeleh).

In 1906, she crossed over to the professional stage, into a troupe directed by Moshe German with direction by Weishof, committing that she would only perform dramas, not party.

In 1907, she performed with Julius Adler, then with Meerson, Zolskawski et al. Naturally, she had to follow her highest principle of not participating in parties.