ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 115121 - Translation - Hebrew - Belarus - Kobryn - Novickowski


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Hebrew
Approval Date: 8/12/2026 7:57 PM
Family Surname: Novickowski
Country: Belarus
Town: Kobryn
Date of Image: early 1900s

Click the picture to enlarge

Our family would be grateful for any help in translating the Hebrew cursive script in the blanks of this 100-year-old ketubah.

Response

8/12/2026 10:08 PM

The wedding took place on the sixth day (of the Jewish week), the 10th day of the month of Cheshvan of the year 5681, in Kobrin.

The "sixth day of the Jewish week" goes from sunset Thursday to sunset Friday (in this case, from sunset on Thursday, October 21st, 1920, to sunset, October 22nd.)

The above information is contained in the top two lines. The remainder of the handwriting consists of repetitions of the bride's and groom's names.

The bride's name was Bracha (which means blessing); her father was Yitzchak (Hebrew for Isaac); he was a Levite.

The groom's name is a bit more difficult to decipher, as it appears slightly differently each time he is named. The clearest rendition is five lines from the bottom, where he identified as Michael [mee-chah-el] son of Moshe [Moses]. The first appearance of his name is on the third line from the top, where his name seems to be preceded by the word "Moreinu", which translates to "our teacher". This makes me wonder whether he might have been a rabbi or, at least, a scholarly person in the community.

This "Moreinu" appears once more in the Ketuba. In other places, his name appears simply as Michael. His father's name is included only in the first and last appearances of his name.

The name of the bride's father also appears only in the first and last appearances of her name.

The two last lines are the signatures of the witnesses. Unfortunately, the combination of an obviously leaky pen and poor handwriting make it difficult to decipher everything.

The first part of the name of the first witness MIGHT be Eliezer or Eliyahu. This is followed by two illegible words, the first of which might be the second part of a double name, and the second of which might be the family name. His father had the double name of Moshe Binyamin (Moses Benjamin).

The second witness had a double name; I cannot make out the first part; the second part was Avigdor. His father's name begins with Mordechai. This is followed by what might be the second part of a double name, followed by a short family name, or by what might be a very long family name.

8/13/2026 2:41 AM

Suggested names for the witnesses:
1. Elkana ---- son of R' Moshe Binaymin
2. Yiskhak [=Isaac] Avigdor son of R' Mordechai ---- may the memory of the is righteous man be a blessing [abbreviated as זצ"ל]

ViewMate Posting VM 115121

Submitted by Richard Lebovitz

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 115121

Submitted by Richard Lebovitz