ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114212 - Translation - Tombstone - USA - Flushing, NY


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 4/15/2026 4:08 PM
Family Surname: Goidel
Country: USA
Town: Flushing, NY

Click the picture to enlarge

I would like to know the translation of the Hebrew on the headstone, hopefully providing parents' names and any other information. This image was taken from Findagrave.com; Jacob Goidel is buried in Mt. Hebron Cemetery in Flushing, Queens, NY.

Response

4/15/2026 4:27 PM

Here lies

an unblemished and honest man, Reb

Yaakov Eliezer

son of Reb Avraham Tzvi the Levite

He passed away 8 Elul 5701

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. Eliezer is pronounced eh-lee-EH-zer.

Avraham is Abraham. Tzvi is Hebrew for deer. The Yiddish word for deer is Hirsh. Because of this, some men with Tzvi as part of their Hebrew name have a secular name that sounds similar to Hirsh, such as Harry, Harold, Herbert, etc.

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 at the top of the stone is eroded. It MIGHT be a pitcher, which is a common image found on the stones of Levites, 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 114212

Submitted by Lewis Goidell

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 114212

Submitted by Lewis Goidell