ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 113826 - Translation - Tombstone - New York City - Spindell


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 3/1/2026 2:15 PM
Family Surname: Spindell
Town: New York City
Date of Image: 1938

Click the picture to enlarge

Hi! Would someone be willing to translate the Hebrew for me on this tombstone?

Thank you!
Danielle

Response

3/1/2026 5:01 PM

Here lies
My hausband and our dear father
Yakov Moshe
son of Pinchas the Levite
Died 15 Cheshvan 5699
May his soul be bound up in the bond of life. (acronym)

The title of Levite passes from father to son. You can search net and find several websites that detail the history of the Levites.

3/1/2026 8:07 PM

Here lies

my dear husband and our dear father

Reb Yaakov Moshe

son of Reb Pinchas the Levite

He passed away 15 Cheshvan 5699

May his soul be bound up in the bond of life.
-------------------------------------------------
'Reb' is an honorific; it does not mean rabbi.

Yaakov [YAH-ah-cove] is Hebrew for Jacob.

Moshe [MOE-sheh] is Moses. (His middle initial MIGHT stand for Morris).

Pinchas [PIN-chahss, with the ch as in Chanukah or Bach] is a Biblical name. In English, it is rendered as Phineas, although this name is very unusual nowadays.

The deceased and his father were Levites, descended from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Levites had specific functions in the Temples, and still receive special recognition -- and have special obligations – today. Levite is a designation passed from father to son.

The image of the pitcher at the top of the stone is an indication of a Levite, as one of the functions of Levites was (and still is) to wash the hands of the Cohanim (priests) before they bless the congregation.

ViewMate Posting VM 113826

Submitted by Danielle Leonhard Spark

Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself!

Search millions of records from around the globe, including more than 4 million records related to the Holocaust, and more than 4.2 million burial records. Records are continually added each month - check back often for new information!

Discover your ancestral town, explore geographic/regional based sections of the JewishGen site (Research Divisions), and explore what daily life was like for your ancestors - and what we can learn from them today.

Enhance your research with online classes and dozens of helpful articles. University students can apply for the Bennett & Robin Greenspan L'dor V'dor Legacy Program, and those "out of school" can help preserve Jewish Heritage in Poland with unique study & volunteer experiences.

Connect with tens of thousands of other JewishGen members via the Family Finder, Discussion Group, Facebook Group, and ViewMate. It's a great way to share success, ask questions, and stay informed of the happenings throughout the Jewish genealogical community.

The JewishGen site is offered as a free public resource. However, it costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our services. If you are in a position to do so, please consider a contribution today - your support will make a difference!

ViewMate Posting VM 113826

Submitted by Danielle Leonhard Spark