 Norwitch akaberekerwa muOdessa, Russia yava kunzi Ukraine muna 1894 uye akatamira kuUnited States nemhuri yake achiri mwana. Pakutanga achigara muBaltimore, Norwitch akaenda kunoshanda mufekitori yezvipfeko kubva pazera remakore gumi nematatu. Akaroora Mae Schreiber munenge muna 1917; vaive nevana vaviri, Mildred naBernard. Norwitch akabatana nesangano reAmalgamated Clothing Workers uye akatamira kuPhiladelphia muna 1926 kunoshanda semumiriri webhizinesi weJoint Board Cutters uye Trimmers Local 110. Basa rake musangano rakamuunza mune zvematongerwe enyika omunzvimbomo, uye akava anoshingaira muNonpartisan League, boka rezvematongerwe enyika, muna 1934. Akabatana neDemocratic Party uye akashanda senhume kuDemocratic National Convention muna 1948muPhiladelphia, umo Mutungamiri Harry S. Truman akasarudzwa nokuda kweimwe nguva. 