ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114195 - Translation - Tombstone


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 4/15/2026 4:05 PM
Family Surname: Caplan

Click the picture to enlarge

This is my 2nd great grandfather's tombstone. I was wondering if the hebrew might shed light on his parents' names. His name was Jekuthial "Jay" David Caplan. Originally from "Russia" (per his response to the US census).

Response

4/15/2026 4:20 PM

YEKUSIEL son of Reb David the Cohen

He passed away 20 Tevet 5700

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

You say that his secular name was Jay David. This is a bit unusual, since his father's name was David. Did his father perhaps die before Jay was born?

The deceased and his father were Cohanim (plural of Cohen). A Cohen is a member of the priestly tribe. The first priest was Aaron, Moses' brother, and this designation is passed down from father to son. Cohanim had specific functions in the Temples, and still receive special recognition -- and have special obligations -- today.

The 20th of Tevet, 5700, began at sunset on December 31st, 1939, and ended at sunset on January 1st, 1940. (Note that there is a slight chance that the date in Tevet was the 2nd, which would make the corresponding secular date December 13/14, 1939.

4/15/2026 4:59 PM

Thank you! That is interesting (and, as you say, unusual). Many sources refer to him as "Jekuthial D. Caplan" and his obituary says his name was "Jekuthial David Caplan."

Maybe they did not follow the practice of not naming children after living relatives--Jekuthial went by "Jay" and named his own son "Samuel Jay Caplan."

ViewMate Posting VM 114195

Submitted by Julie Wohlgemuth Burrage

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 114195

Submitted by Julie Wohlgemuth Burrage