ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 95028 - Translation - Tombstone - Kopyczyńce


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 8/25/2021 1:23 PM
Family Surname: Rothman
Town: Kopyczyńce

Click the picture to enlarge

Hello there! Kindly translate to English. Thanks!

Response

8/25/2021 3:24 PM

In the Star of David at the top: Deep Sorrow

Here is interred

A simple man, and one who loved [the People of] Israel,

who walk in innocence [or: who are honest/trustworthy].

Our teacher, the rabbi, DOV MOSHE son of Reb Chayim

He was afflicted and was gathered to his people

with a good name [reputation]

24 days to the month of Iyar 5674

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

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

The deceased is described with the adjective 'tam'. This word has many translations, of which I prefer 'simple'. This is not derogatory, but means that he was a 'regular person' who did not put on airs. The word 'tam' was also used to describe our forefather Jacob.

His name is preceded by an abbreviation representing the words "our teacher, the rabbi". This designation was given to men who had received rabbinical ordination. It does not necessarily mean that he was the rabbi of a congregation.

In contrast, the title 'Reb' that precedes his father's name is an honorific; it does not mean rabbi.

The connection between the first parts of his names, Dov and Berel, is that Dov is Hebrew for bear, and Berel means little bear in Yiddish.

The expression "was gathered unto his people" is Biblical in origin, is a euphemism for "he died", and was used to describe the deaths of important or holy people.

This expression is preceded by a word that I do not remember having encountered on a tombstone before: "nagu'ah", which means that he was afflicted. This probably indicates that he died of an illness. It may have been an illness that came upon him suddenly and severely, because the text seems to imply that he was "struck" and died on the same day.

8/25/2021 8:15 PM

The two words within the star - Heavy mourning

Here is buried
a pious man and [who] loved [the people of] Israel
[who] walked in wholesomeness/righteousness
our teacher (this abbreviation is often an honorific)
Dov Moshe son of Reb (an honorific) Chaim
[He] died and was gathered onto his nation
with a good name
24 days in the month of Iyar [5]674
May his soul be bound in the binding of life (abbreviated)
See further -
A note on the word "tam," translated above as "pious": We try to get into the mindset of whoever composed the wording to be engraved on a loved-one's tombstone. Which of the several meanings for the word "tam" was their intention? Logically, a person wouldn't summarize a departed loved one to have been a "simple" person. We therefore move on to the "other" Hebrew-English dictionary translations of the word "tam" to see which fits: complete, wholesome, integrity, pious, innocent. Your guess would be as good as mine, or, in fact, any translator's.

8/26/2021 12:02 PM

It looks like "NAGUA" (He was affected) but I have no doubt it is the slightly unusual "NIGVA" -- A passive of he died (the root being ג-ו-ע. Hebrew has no vowels so the mistake is understandable, that was my first reading too, for a split second.

It can't be "nagua" because that word has far too many negative connotations.

8/30/2021 7:22 AM

According to the Talmud (Baba Batra 16b) "GEVIAH" which is the root of the word "NIGVA" is only used in the bible for righteous people (tzadik). so it may be possible that the word was used to on the tombstone to connote his righteousness.

ViewMate Posting VM 95028

Submitted by Steven J Schutzman

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 95028

Submitted by Steven J Schutzman