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1/25/2026 3:01 PM
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Here lies
an unblemished and honest man,
lo, he is the Torah scholar, our teacher, the rabbi,
TZVI HIRSH, son of the Torah scholar, our teacher, the rabbi, Avraham "Segel"
He passed away 11 Adar I
of the year 5597. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life.
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The deceased and his father are both described as "our teacher, the rabbi". While this phrase can simply be a title of honor, given the age of the stone I believe that they were both rabbis.
In addition, they were both Levites, descended from the biblical tribe of Levi; this tribe had special significance and religious duties. This is a designation passed from father to son. While the Levite status is often indicated by the phrase "the Levite", here it is indicated by "Segel", which is an abbreviation for S'gan Leviyah, which means a Levite. Some Levites have the family name of Segel or similar.
The image of the pitcher at the top of the stone is an additional 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.
The deceased had a ‘double’ Hebrew name: Tzvi (which is Hebrew) and Hirsh (which is Yiddish); both words mean deer. Some men with either of these names have a secular name that sounds similar to Hirsh, such as Harry, Harold, Herbert, etc. (or whatever would be similar in Poland).
Avraham is Abraham.
The date of death occurred in the month of "Adar I". In a Jewish leap year, the standard 12th month -- Adar -- is replaced by two months, Adar I and Adar II.
The 11th of Adar I, 5597, corresponds to February 15/16, 1837.
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