ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 94470 - Translation - Tombstone


	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 - Tombstone
Approval Date: 7/25/2021 12:44 PM
Family Surname: Grodensky aka Groden

Click the picture to enlarge

Could someone please translate the Hebrew on the headstone of my great great grandfather?
Thanks.

Response

7/18/2021 2:56 PM

Here lies

a simple and honest man

Reb ARYEH LAYB, son of the Tzadik [righteous man]

Reuven Yaakov Grodensky,

grandson of the Gaon [genius], the pious,

R' Alexander Viskind/Ziskind,

who composed the book "Yesod v'Shoresh ha'Avodah" ["the basis and root of the service"]

We, his wife, and his [substitute?] children

pray to Him who created his soul,

who constantly was busy with His Torah.

May he find rest in Paradise.

He passed away on Sunday, 28 of the month of Adar I

of the year 5668

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

==================================================
'Reb' is an honorific; it does not mean rabbi.

His father is called a "Tzadik"; this might indicate that he was a rabbi, although this is not made clear. Also, his grandfather is called a "Gaon"; this term usually indicates that the person was a rabbi.

It is also not clear whether the deceased was the person who wrote the book that is mentioned, or if it was the grandfather. I would presume that it was the grandfather, and this is the reason that his name was included. The first letter of the grandfather's last name is faded, which is why I have given two possible readings. I have come across the name Zizkind in the past, so I imagine that this is the correct reading.

There is an expression on this stone that I have not seen before. The mourners are said to be his wife and his "substitute" children. This seems to imply that he had no biological children; the children mentioned might have been stepchildren (if his wife had been married before) or adopted children.

He passed away in the month of "Adar I". In a Hebrew leap year -- which the year 5668 was -- the standard 12th month, Adar, is replaced by two months, Adar I and Adar II.

The 28th day of Adar I of the year 5668 began at sunset on February 29th, 1908, and ended at sunset on March 1st.

7/18/2021 7:15 PM

Here Lies
A pious and upright man
Reb Arie Leib son of the tzaddik (righteous)
Reuven Yakov Grodensky
Descendant of the learned chassid
Reb Alexander Ziskind
author of the book Yesod VeShoresh HaAhvoda (see below)
We, his wife, and children ___?____
pray to the Creator of his soul
who always occupied himself with His Torah
in Gan Aden should be his rest
[He] passed away the first day (of the week) 28 (or 25) of the month Adar 1
the year 5668 (or 5665)
May his soul be bound in the binding of life

https://hebrewbooks.org/41680
Available at: https://www.eichlers.com/isvd-vwvrw-hebvdh-mnvqd-mvsr-2-krkim-hs5502.html

7/18/2021 8:53 PM

There is a picture of this tombstone and also a newspaper obituary on this link:
http://kevarim.vohost.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Lifschitz-Avroham-Abba-Bio.pdf

7/21/2021 12:56 PM

The last two helpers provided some interesting additional information.

Based on the link to the book that was written, it is clear that it was the grandfather, Alexander Zizkind, who wrote this book, and that it must be an important book, as it is still available for purchase.

And in the long article that includes photos of several tombstones, it is the last one that matches this particular stone. The article itself is about the death of a different rabbi, but mentions that that rabbi was buried between two other illustrious rabbis, one of whom was your great-great-grandfather. The small newspaper article has details about the funeral, which had begun in Brooklyn, New York.

7/22/2021 12:29 AM

Hello Sue Ann,

When I see the words "Tzadik" and "Gaon", they imply some very important rabbinic connections from the old shtetels of Europe. The reference to this important book may have some clues to offer as well. A mere translation of this tombstone, which by itself does not give you a complete picture nor history, needs some additional insight.

I might suggest that you check out this image with a Chabad Center in your area. They would be quite qualified to give you some important answers that might possibly be hidden in the words of the inscription.

Jo

7/24/2021 8:45 AM

The sentence that caused the first tranlators to use a question mark should be read as follows:

"We, his wife and son, for him
we pray to the creator of his soul"

The syntax and choice of the unusual word for "for him" come because they wanted the lines to rhyme. The four expressive [as opposed to informative] lines end with to sound "to" [as in the first syllable of the word "totem"].

7/24/2021 8:54 AM

I see only one son mentioned, and I see the word grandson before R' Alexander Ziskind's name.

ViewMate Posting VM 94470

Submitted by Sue Ann Kahn

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 94470

Submitted by Sue Ann Kahn