Background
Max Radin was born in March 29, 1880 Kempen, Poland (now Germany); he was the second of three sons of Adolph Moses Radin and Johanna (Theodor) Radin, of German origin. His father, born in Neustadt-Schirwindt (now Lithuania), was a rabbi, and, upon his immigration to the United States, first lived in Elmira, New York, and then in New York City. His father's main interests and achievements were in the area of prison reform. Max, who was brought to this country at the age of four, owed to his father his early knowledge of German, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin; his love for classic literature; his interest in history; and his respect for religious tradition. He was said to be one of the few people still able to converse in Latin.