ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 113976 - Translation - Tombstone


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 3/18/2026 2:48 PM
Family Surname: Goldberg

Click the picture to enlarge

Can someone translate this headstone?

Response

3/18/2026 4:40 PM

Here lies

our dear mother SARAH ZELDA daughter of Reb Ze'ev

She passed away 28 days into the month of Shvat of the year

5699

May her soul be bound up in the bond of life.
------------------------------------------------
The name Zelda actually looks more like "Zelva", which seems to have been the name of a town in Lithuania. The engraver did make a number of letters narrower than usual, so I am leaning towards "Zelda"; the width of the letter is between a V and a D.

Reb is an honorific; it does not mean rabbi.

Ze'ev [zeh-AYV] is Hebrew for wolf. Her father's secular name MIGHT have been something similar, such as Wolf, Wolfgang, William, etc. Please keep in mind that there are no rules for 'matching' religious and secular names, so these are only guesses based on pairings that I have encountered.

The 28th of Shvat, 5699, began at sunset on February 16th, 1939, and ended at sunset on the 17th.

3/19/2026 5:49 PM

Hello Robert,

The given name could possibly be Sarah ZELZAH. While I do not recognize it as a Hebrew or Yiddish given name, it does have a biblical connection. Per google, it would be a very rare given name.

I'd suggest that you consider it as a possibility and check it out further on the Internet or Given Name sources....Jo

3/19/2026 5:54 PM

Robert,

Additional Info from Google
AI Overview

Zelzah is a rare Hebrew given name primarily known as a biblical place name rather than a common personal name. It is typically used for girls and is often selected for its unique sound and biblical origins.
Origins and Meaning
Biblical Location: Zelzah (Hebrew: צֵלצַח, Tseltsach) is mentioned in 1 Samuel 10:2 as a place on the border of Benjamin, near Rachel's sepulchre.
Etymology: The name is thought to mean "shadow from the sun," "clear shade," or "noontide" (a combination of tsel, meaning shadow, and tsach, meaning sunny/dazzling).
Metaphysical Meaning: Some interpretations suggest it signifies "bright shining of the inner discernment" or "protection from dazzling brightness".
Usage as a Name
Gender: Primarily used as a feminine given name.
Significance: It is chosen for its biblical roots, rarity, and connection to a location of comfort ("shade").
Variations/Confusion: It is distinct from, but sometimes confused with, the Hebrew name Zelah (meaning side). It is also entirely unrelated to the Yiddish name Zelda (which comes from Zelig, meaning blessed).
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
+4
Context in Scripture
In 1 Samuel 10:2, Samuel tells Saul he will find two men near "Rachel’s sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin, at Zelzah". The location is meant to confirm Saul's kingship.
McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online
McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online
+2
Zelzah - Search results provided by BiblicalTraining
Zelzah * ZELZAH (zĕl'za, Heb. tseltsah). A town on the southern border of Benjamin near Rachel's tomb (1Sam. 10.2). * Two men were...

Biblical Training Org
Girls Name - Zelzah
Girls Name - Zelzah (Downloadable birth chart) ... Description. Zelzah is a girls name with Biblical origin meaning 'Noontide. Non...

www.baby-girls-names.co.uk

Metaphysical meaning of Zelzah (mbd) | Fillmore Faith - TruthUnity
Saul, too, represents the will; here, it had not yet come into dominion, but was on the way to rulership. Saul was of the tribe of...

TruthUnity
Show all

3/22/2026 11:30 PM

Zelda or Zelda.

ViewMate Posting VM 113976

Submitted by Robert Gilbert

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 113976

Submitted by Robert Gilbert