28 October 2014

Tombstone Tuesday: Unknown who died 5 October 1900, Labun Jewish cemetery

In June of 2013 I had the pleasure of visiting Ukraine and Labun (now Yurovshchina; once called Lubin in Yiddish), my paternal grandparents' community. We were able to visit the old Jewish cemetery, which I discussed in an earlier post. Over the next several Tuesdays I will post photos and translations (as I am able to decipher) of tombstones from that cemetery. Most do not feature surnames.
 

In this photo one may get an idea of the clay slope on which much of this cemetery lies. It is no wonder that many of the stones have fallen.

On this tombstone the name of the deceased is completely worn away. The date however is visible starting at the end of the first readable line (I cannot make out the first two words of the line).
..... 12
Tishri 5661
May his/her soul be bound in eternal life 

The twelfth day of the month of Tishri, year 5661 translates to 5 October 1900 in our Gregorian calendar and 22 September 1900 in the Julian calendar.

This is the earliest stone I've found in the Labun Jewish cemetery thus far. Jewish people have been noted in Labun since 1705. And by 1847 the Jewish population was reportedly 1,192.[1] I wonder if early markers were wood and, therefore, long gone.

It's certainly unfortunate that the name is no longer available.

Notes:
1. Shmuel Spector and Geoffrey Wigoder, editors, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, vol. 2 (New York University Press and Yad Vashem: New York and Jerusalem, 2001), p. 698. 

2 comments:

  1. Not much point in speculating about the line leading up to the yod-bet. If the white were not there, it wuld probably be easier.

    The two individual candles at the top are usually indicative of a woman. The five-part candelabrum may or may not be significant. Maybe she had five children.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Of course! I should have noted the candelabrum, as well. Good catch, Israel.

    ReplyDelete

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