ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 114955 - Translation - Hebrew - USA - n/a - Segil


	The Genealogical Research Division of

About Mission Our Team Get Involved Learn more about our organizational leadership, mission, and values. There are numerous opportunities to get involved yourself! Research Search All Records Country & Topical Databases Holocaust Database Burial Registry (JOWBR) Cemetery Discovery Project Memorial & Plaques Database Shul Records America Family Trees (FTJP) Sephardic Text Search 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 Blog Town Finder (Communities Database) Yizkor Books KehilaLinks Regional/Topical Research Divisions JewishGen Press Publications 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. Learn Online Classes Search Methodologies & Research Advice Student Program in Poland Study & Service Tour of Poland Peter and Mary Kalikow Center 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 Family Finder Discussion Group Jewish Genealogy Portal ViewMate Success Stories Yahrzeit reminders 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. Donate General Support Specific Projects Planned Giving Wall of Honor 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!

Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Hebrew
Approval Date: 7/19/2026 4:04 PM
Family Surname: Segil
Country: USA
Town: n/a
Date of Image: 1899

Click the picture to enlarge

I understand this is the note written in the family bible when my g.g.grandfather Aaron Segil passed away Dec 16 1899. I would appreciate help translating the Hebrew (or maybe it's Yiddish?), to identify whether it reveals any information *beyond* the English that is also on the page. In particular, I haven't been able to find Aaron's parent's names, so would like to know if there is any indication of that in the document.

This is image 1 of 2 that I will upload with this question, as I have two similar pages.

Thank you so much!
Rahel

Response

7/19/2026 6:41 PM

This is written in the script form of Hebrew.

Unfortunately, not only are the names of his parents not mentioned, his own name is not mentioned either.

This is what it says:

And my father died on the Sabbath of Parshat Vayechi, 14 days into the month of Tevet of the year 5660. (And he lived fifty-five years.)
_______________________________________________________
And he was buried on the second day of Parshat Shemot, the 16th of the month of Tevet (Yohrzeit)
==================================================
Hebrew dates are not only identified by calendar days (month, day, year), but are often also given in terms of their relationship to the Torah portion that will be read in Synagogue on the following Sabbath (or that was read on that day, if the day happened to fall on the Sabbath); the year is also given. (The "second day of Parshat Shemot" means the Monday preceding the Sabbath on which the Torah reading would be the portion known as Shemot).

The 14th of Tevet was indeed a Sabbath, beginning at sunset on Friday, December 15th, 1899, and ending at sunset on the 16th.

There is an error in the statement that the Yohrzeit [anniversary of the date of death] was on the date of burial. In rare circumstances, the first (and only first) anniversary of the date of death is observed on the date of burial; in all cases, the Yohrzeits from years two and on are observed on the day of death, which would be the 14th day of the month of Tevet.
==================================================
For completeness, here is the translation of the mother's date of death. There is a bit of an inconsistency in the dates.

The Hebrew reads:

And Basheh Segel died on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tevet 5653.

"Rosh Chodesh", which begins a new month, is either a one-day or two-day event, depending upon the number of days in the previous month. A date that is the "first day of Rosh Chodesh" always means that it is the 30th day of the previous month; therefore the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tevet would be the 30th day of the month called Tishrei.

December 15th, 1933, was indeed a Friday. However, the corresponding Hebrew date was the 27th of Kislev, and the Hebrew year was 5694 (not 5693).

The date of burial, December 18th, was indeed the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tevet. Again, it seems obvious that whoever wrote this had been incorrectly told that the Yahrzeit depended upon the date of burial. As I wrote above, it depends upon the date of death, and would correctly be observed on the 27th day of Kislev. (By the way, this corresponds to the third day of Chanukah).

As mentioned, the Hebrew year was actually 5694. For most of the secular year, the last digit of the secular year and Jewish year are the same. However, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish year increases by one. Many people forget this, and that is probably why the writer recorded the Hebrew year as 5693 rather than 5694.

ViewMate Posting VM 114955

Submitted by Rahel Smith

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 114955

Submitted by Rahel Smith