ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114145 - Translation - Tombstone - USA - Philadelphia, Pennsylvani


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 4/8/2026 4:01 PM
Family Surname: Silverberg
Country: USA
Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvani

Click the picture to enlarge

Please help with translation. The grave stone is my grandfathers older brother. The last Hebrew word is partially covered by a small branch and some leaves. Samuel was the son of Beryl (in Yiddish), Ber Dov on my grandfather’s grave.
Thanks very much for any assistance.
Bruce Silverberg

Response

4/8/2026 7:25 PM

In Hebrew it is not written Shmuel but Shimon ben Beril haLevi - meaning from the tribe of Levi
Interestingly, in English they do write Shmuel

4/9/2026 11:39 PM

This stone is an example of something that I have mentioned in the past: there are no rules for 'matching' secular and religious names.

His religious name was Shimon [SHIM-own], which is Hebrew for Simon. SHIMON was one of the 12 sons of Jacob, and one of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

The Yiddish name Beril means little bear. Some men with this name -- or the similar Ber -- or the Hebrew version, Dov -- have secular names that are reminiscent of bear, such as Bernard, Barry, etc.

The deceased and his father were Levites, descended from the original tribe of Levi. This is a designation passed from father to son.

ViewMate Posting VM 114145

Submitted by Bruce Jonathan Silverberg

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 114145

Submitted by Bruce Jonathan Silverberg