ViewMate - Image Archive, Image 115238 - Translation - Tombstone - Austria - Mielnica - Waltzer


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Information

Picture

Question

Category: Translation - Tombstone
Approval Date: 8/30/2026 8:14 PM
Family Surname: Waltzer
Country: Austria
Town: Mielnica
Date of Image: 1931

Click the picture to enlarge

Looking for an English translation. Also, I wish to determine whether the Hebrew death date can be read precisely, as that may help independently confirm the accuracy of the English death date. Also, in English we know the person who died in English as Nathan, but this suggests the Hebrew name as Abraham with a second name of Nathan. Would love to confirm this as well.

Response

8/30/2026 9:08 PM

Here lies

our dear father

an honest man, our teacher the rabbi

NATEH son of Reb Yerucham Fishel the Levite

He passed away 21 Iyar 5691

May his soul be bound up in the bond of life.
==============================================
The name of the deceased is preceded by an abbreviation that represents the words “our teacher, the rabbi”. This normally indicates that the person had rabbinical ordination, not necessarily that he was the rabbi of a synagogue or community. I need to point out that this abbreviation occasionally appears in error (or, sometimes, simply as words of praise to indicate that the person was scholarly), so I would suggest trying to get confirmation of his rabbinical status – if any – from a second source.

"Nateh" [NAH-teh] is a Yiddish name derived from the Hebrew name Natan. (By the way, there is no "Abraham" here. Were you trying to use AI? It's notoriously AWFUL at reading gravestones.)

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

Yerucham [yeh-RU-chahm, with the U similar in pronunciation to the oo in 'good' and the ch as in Chanukah or Bach] is a Biblical name that means "he will be shown compassion". Fishel is a Yiddish name.

The deceased and his father were Levites, descended from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Levites had specific functions in the Temples, and still receive special recognition -- and have special obligations – today. Levite is a designation passed from father to son.
The image of the pitcher at the top of the stone is an indication of a Levite, as one of the functions of Levites was (and still is) to wash the hands of the Cohanim (priests) before they bless the congregation.

The 21st of Iyar, 5691, began at sunset on May 7th and ended at sunset on May 8th, 1931.

9/1/2026 6:57 AM

כ''א אייר תרצ''א
The Hebrew date
---21 Iyar 5691---
corresponds to
---Friday, May 8, 1931---
on the Gregorian calendar

9/2/2026 9:52 PM

Hello Jeffrey,

The translation is as follows:

"Here lies our beloved father, an honest/upright man, our
teacher and rabbi, Noteh son of Yeruchem Fischel, the Levite. He died on the 21st day of Iyar (followed by the Hebrew year 5691). May his soul be bound to bonds of life."

I've checked a date coversion calendar, and the Hebrew and secular dates coincide and are correct.

** Noteh is a shortened version of the name Nossen/Noten, and the secular name would be Nathan

** Ben = son of

** Reb is a title of honor preceding a Jewish man's given name. It does NOT imply rabbi.

Jo

ViewMate Posting VM 115238

Submitted by Jeffrey A Miller

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 115238

Submitted by Jeffrey A Miller