Can you figure out who our rhyming riddle refers to?

He was born Soloman Rabinovitz on February 18, 1859 and first wrote in Russian and Hebrew,

He eventually turned to Yiddish and began using a pseudonym translated roughly as “Peace Be With You”,

He created many famous characters including a remarkable milkman full of wisdom sage,

Who years later was the basis for a hit musical performed upon the Broadway stage.