ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114411 - Translation - Tombstone - USA - Glendale, Queens, NY - SPECTOR


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 5/6/2026 4:21 PM
Family Surname: SPECTOR
Country: USA
Town: Glendale, Queens, NY
Date of Image: April 2026

Click the picture to enlarge

Source: Mount Carmel Cemetery, staff photograph

Tombstone of my great grandmother Ida Spector, who arrived in 1893 from Meserich, Poland

Requesting a transcription of the Hebrew letters (for cut & paste into a document) and a translation of the inscriptions into English. You can ignore the closing blessing.

Apologies in advance for the early morning shadows cast by the raised relief inscriptions.

Response

5/6/2026 5:18 PM

אלון בכות למשפחת ספעקטאר

פ'נ'

אמנו היקרה

אשתי אהובה ואמנו היקרה

האשה הצנועה והחשובה

מרת חיה נעכע בת ר

מיכאל ז"ל

נפטרה ביום ב' ר'ח שבט שנת ת'ר'פ'ד
=============================================

(In the arch at the top):

An oak tree of weeping, for the Spector family

Here lies

Our dear mother

My beloved wife and our precious mother

The modest and respected woman

Mrs. CHAYA NECHEH daughter of Reb

Michael of blessed memory

She passed away on the second day [of the Jewish week] Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat of the year 5684

May her soul be bound up in the bond of life.

=============================

CHAYA [CHAH-yah, with the ch as in Chanukah or Bach] is a Hebrew name that means “alive”. Necheh [NEH-cheh] is a Yiddish name, possibly derived from the Hebrew Nechama, which means comforting.

Reb is an honorific; it does not mean rabbi.

Michael [mee-CHAH-ayl] is Hebrew for Michael.

'Rosh Chodesh', literally the "head of the month", also known as the 'New Moon', marks the start of a new Hebrew month. While sometimes a two-day event, in this case it was one day only, and coincided with the first day of the month of Sh’vat. The “second day” of a Jewish week begins at sunset on Sunday and ends at sunset on Monday.

The 1st day of Sh’vat, 5684, corresponds to January 6th/7th, 1924

5/7/2026 6:35 PM

I could tell from reading the stone that your great grandmother was a special and devout woman. I like to add some necessary nuance that is clearly reflected in the text, but not in the translation.

The Phrase אלון בכות (Alon Bachut- Tree of tears) is a direct quote from Bereishis (Genesis 35:8) describing the grave site of a special woman, Devorah who was the wet-nurse who nurtured our Jewish Matriarch, Rivka, wife of Yitzchak. Alon Bachut - is literally what Yaakov (Jacob) named the burial ground.
In Jewish tradition, the source for a Jewish woman's modesty is a verse in the previous chapter describing Rivka herself (Genesis 24:65). The word צנועה - Modesty is quoted from the Prophet Michah (6:8) - walk modestly with G-d.
In our tradition for centuries, the words " אשה חשובה ishah chashuvah" used to describe her, don't just mean "prominent (respected) woman," it implies that others held her in high esteem due to her piety, observance of the mitzvos (commandments) and/or her communal good deeds. This lofty status for a devout woman is discussed in the Talmud in a few places.

She merited passing away on Rosh Chodesh.
According to Jewish Kabalistic tradition, the Gates of Gehenom-hell are closed on Rosh Chodesh thus anyone who dies, their souls enter directly into Gan Eden (Garden of Eden).

The five bottom letters are an acronym for a verse "May his/her soul be bound in the bundle of life,"
A direct quote from the Book of the Prophet Samuel / Shmuel A, 25: 29, that is traditionally engraved on Jewish tombstones.

These biblical/ talmudic quotes are not generally used for the average woman. She indeed was special and known to be so. Be proud.

ViewMate Posting VM 114411

Submitted by James Harrison

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 114411

Submitted by James Harrison