Joseph Henry Halberstein (1917 - 1977)

Joseph Henry Halberstein, born Josef Heinrich, is the husband of Estelle Rose Levinson, my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Levinson family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Joshua Halberstein (1877 - 1947) and Chaya Rosshandler (1886 - 1958)

Born: 6 November 1917 in Vienna, Austria

Details of Joseph's birth in Vienna, Austria on 6 November 1917

Hebrew name: Joseph Tzvi son of Yehoshua

Sibling

• Dr Daniel Halberstein (1913 - 1982) married Sara Rutman (1922 - 2000) in Jerusalem, Palestine on 11 March 1947

MARRIAGES. HALBERSTEIN-RUTMAN.

The marriage took place at Mr. Rutmen's temporary residence. Talbich, Jerusalem, on March 11, 1947, between Dr. Daniel Halberstein, son of the late Yehoshua and Haya Halberstein, of Vierna and Sarah, daughter of Nissan and Tova Rutman of Hedera (Palestine Post 12 March 1947, p. 2)

Occupation: Electrical engineer and naval physicist for the US Navy at Dahlgren, Virginia, USA

Married

Estelle Rose Levinson, on 9 June 1959 in London, England. Joseph was 41 and Estelle age 33

Children

Their first child was born in 1960 when Joseph was 42 and Estelle 34. Their last child was born in 1962 when Joseph was 44 and Estelle 36 

• Vivien Rachelle Halberstein 1960 -
• Mark Joshua Halberstein 1961 -
• Daniel Martin Halberstein 1962 -

Emigration to the USA

Estelle and Joseph came to the USA on 16 December 1959. Estelle had British citizenship and Joseph Israeli

Citizenship

Joseph became a USA citizen on 12 April 1965

Article

A conference paper published in 1972

Patent

A patent awarded to Joseph

Biography

Josef Heinrich (Joseph Henry)

Halberstein

Born on: November 6, 1917

Place of Birth: Vienna

Category: Diploma Program

Residence Permit: Vienna (Wien), Austria

Citizenship: Austria

Josef Heinrich Halberstein was the younger son of Chaya (or Rachel) and the commercial clerk Osias (or Oskar, Joshua, or Jehoschua) Halberstein

He was enrolled at the University of World Trade for five semesters between the winter semesters of 1935/36 and 1937/38. He took his final exams in June and October 1937. He was unable to attend the final semester of the diploma program. After the Anschluss of Austria, he had to leave the university without a diploma because of his Jewish ancestry. He left his apartment at Marktgasse 3/3/3 (9th district of Vienna), where he had been registered since 1935, on July 16, 1938, to emigrate to Jerusalem, as stated in the registration documents of the City of Vienna

Whether he came to Palestine during the Nazi era is unknown. It is documented that Halberstein married Estelle Rose Levinson (December 15, 1925 – February 9, 2012) on June 9, 1959, in her hometown of Liverpool, Great Britain. This marriage produced three children. Halberstein later emigrated to the USA with his family. Here, he Americanized his first name to Joseph Henry. He also adopted the Hebrew temple name Zvi. He was granted American citizenship in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 12, 1965; at that time, he was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He held a civil service position in Dahlgren, Virginia

His parents and his brother Daniel (January 1, 1913 to September 10, 1992) also survived the Second World War. They died and were buried in Israel in 1947, 1958, and 1992, respectively.

Joseph Henry Halberstein died on October 23, 1977, at the age of 59, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was buried there in Oak Hill Cemetery. On the gravestone, next to his name in Latin letters and his dates of birth and death, is the Star of David, his name in Hebrew characters (Joseph Zvi ben Johushua), and the phrase from his relatives: "Clean hands and a pure heart." His widow was buried in the same cemetery in February 2012.

Author: Johannes Koll

Research assistance: Barbara Timmermann and Christa Prokisch

Death

23 October 1977 at Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA from a heart attack at age 59. He was buried on 24 October 1977 in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA, Beth Shalom Section (Q-1)

Tombstone for Joseph Halberstein: "Joseph Henry Halberstein 1917 - 1977. Clean hands and a pure heart"

Hebrew translation "Joseph Tzvi ben Yehoshua"

Death certificate

Death certificate for Joseph Halberstein

Residences

When Joseph was born in 1917 the family were living at 121 Liechtensteinstrasse, Vienna, Austria

An envelope addressed to Mr. Josef Halberstein, Jerusalem, Schehimat-Habucharim Schaare - Pinah Beth Levi opposite Hotel Galil - sent from Vienna on February 15, 1939

In the USA the family lived at Framingham, Massachusetts  and Fredericksburg, Virginia

At the time of his death Joseph was living at 1900f Lafayette Blvd, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA. The house no longer exists, having been replaced by a new subdivision

Estelle Rose Levinson (1925 - 2012)

Estelle Rose Levinson is my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Levinson family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Maxwell Levinson (1895 - 1960) and Minnie Glynn (1898 - 1980)

Tombstones for Alan's parents. They are both buried in the Broadgreen Cemetery in Liverpool, England

Born: 15 December 1925 in Liverpool, England

LEVINSON. On the 15th of December, the wife of Max Levinson (née Minnie Glynn), the gift of a daughter.-35, Kelvin-grove, Liverpool. (Jewish Chronicle, December 1925)

Hebrew name: Esther Reizel the daughter of Menachem

Siblings

• Alan Cecil Levinson (1924 - 2011) married 1) Cecile Joan Charlotte Fox (1928 - 2003) in London, England on 29 July 1950 and 2) Sandra E Louland (Nee Hayler) in May 1988 in London, England
• Eric Leon (Hershel) Levinson (1928 - 2019) married 1) Lea (Lair) Stern (1933 - 2020) on 22 January 1957 in Israel and 2) Maureen Maughan (1929 - 2000) in (January to March) 1969 in Liverpool, England
• Marlene Viva Levinson (1933 - 2021) married Oskar Dover (1929 - 2020) on 26 February 1958 in Liverpool, England

L-R: Estelle, Hershel and Alan Levinson, Liverpool, around 1929

Estelle's brother Herschel Levinson at back. L-R, Annie Gould (Nee Glynn / Glembovsky), Minnie Levinson (Nee Glynn), Estelle Levinson

Married

Joseph Henry Halberstein, on 9 June 1959 in London, England. Joseph was 41 and Estelle age 33

Children

Their first child was born in 1960 when Joseph was 42 and Estelle 34. Their last child was born in 1962 when Joseph was 44 and Estelle 36 

• Vivien Rachelle Halberstein 1960 -
• Mark Joshua Halberstein 1961 -
• Daniel Martin Halberstein 1962 -

Emigration to the USA

Estelle and Joseph came to the USA on 16 December 1959

Telegram

A telegram dated 9 July 1955 from the Levinson family to my parents after announcing their engagement

Death

9 February 2012 at Alexandria Inova Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia, USA at age 86. She was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA, Beth Shalom Section (Q-1) on 12 February 2012

Estelle suffered a catastrophic stroke in July, 2010 and her son Dan and his wife Lo moved her from her home in New Jersey to a nearby nursing home in Virginia in March of 2011 when it became clear she was not going to have a good recovery. They produced a blog documenting Estelle's final year which is available HERE

Tombstone for Estelle Halberstein "Estelle Halberstein Dec 15 1925 - Feb 9 2012. Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister"

Hebrew translation "Esther Reizel daughter of Menachem"

Death notice

HALBERSTEIN. Estelle (née Levinson). Formerly of Liverpool. Passed away peacefully after a long illness on February 9, in the USA. She will be sorely missed by her American children and grandchildren, her brother Hershel and sister Marlene Dover of Liverpool. (Jewish Chronicle)

Obituary

Estelle Rose Halberstein, 86 of Alexandria formerly of Fredericksburg, passed away at INOVA Alexandria Hospital on Thursday, February 9, 2012. She was a member of Beth Sholom Temple.

She is survived by her three children, Vivian Brodsky of Passaic, NJ, Mark Halberstein of Framingham, MA, and Dan Halberstein of Alexandria; sister, Marlene Dover; brother, Hershel Levinson both of Liverpool, England; and three grandchildren, Lea, Yosef Hersh, and Rivka Sarah.

A service will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in her name to Beth Sholom Temple, Building Fund, 805 Lyons Blvd. Fredericksburg, VA 22406. (Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 11, 2012.)

My mother remembers her as being very intelligent. She went to Oxford or Cambridge University

Residences

In 1930 the family are living at 35 Kelvin Grove, Liverpool, England

In the 1939 register the family are living at 40 Emmanuel Road, Southport, England

In the 1940s and 1950s the Levinson family lived at 3 Lancaster Avenue, Liverpool, England

In the USA the family lived at Framingham Massachusetts, Freehold and Matawan New Jersey and Fredericksburg and Alexandria, Virginia

Michael Jonathan Victor Levinson (1953 - 1993)

Michael Jonathan Victor Levinson, known as Mike, is my 3rd cousin. Levinson family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Alan Cecil Levinson (1924 - 2011) and Cecile Joan Charlotte Fox, known as Joan, (1928 - 2003)

Tombstones for Michael's parents. Alan is buried in buried in the Waltham Abbey Jewish Cemetery, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England and Cecile in the Bushey Jewish Cemetery, Hertfordshire, England,

Born: 1 July 1953 in London, England

Hebrew name: Moshe Yaakov son of  Avraham Simcha

Occupation: Accountant

Death

29 November 1993 in London, England age 40. He was buried in the Bushey Jewish Cemetery, Hertfordshire, England, Section ZM, plot 6, row 25 on 1st December 1993

Tombstone for Michael Levinson "In loving memory of Michael (Mike) Levinson 1st July 1953 - 30th November 1993. Beloved only son of Joan and Alan and brother of Judith and Naomi. Sadly missed by his loving relatives and friends. Remembered with happiness"

Hebrew translation "Here lies Moshe Yaakov, son of Avraham Simcha. Shalom"

Probate

LEVINSON, MICHAEL JONATHAN VICTOR OF 23 RAGLAN COURT EMPIRE WAY MIDDX DIED 29 NOVEMBER 1993 PROBATE LONDON 17 MAY £167,618 9451106977H

Residences

Michael grew up at 40 Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, London, England

At the time of his death Michael was listed as living at 23 Raglan Court, Empire Way, London, England

Gladys Lightman (1901 - 1983)

Gladys Lightman, known as Gwladys in her later years, is the mother-in-law of Alan Cecil Levinson, my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Levinson family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Victor Lightman (Likhtmakker) (1860 - 1928) and Rebecca Levi (1863 - 1941)

Tombstone for Gladys's parents. They are buried in the United Hebrew Congregation Cemetery in Leeds, England

Biography for Victor Lightman

Victor Lightman (1859-1928)

Victor Lightman built up a reputation as a supporter of a range of Leeds charities, by no means confined to Jewish organisations. A quiet man of firm views, he was the acknowledged lay leader of the Leeds Jewish community for some twenty years from 1908 as President of the Leeds Board of Guardians in succession to Paul Hirsch. He was the second Jewish magistrate in Leeds, appointed in September 1909.

With his mother, his younger brother Louis, and three sisters he came to Leeds from Vilnius, Lithuania, in 1880, just before the assassination of Tsar Alexander. His obituary states that he came to Leeds by accident:

He had arranged to sail for America, but meeting another emigrant on the boat bound for Leeds, he changed his mind and eventually found work in the city as journeyman cabinet maker at 8d an hour.

The furniture trade was very much a minority occupation among immigrants in Leeds, yet clearly Victor was both a skilled cabinet maker and businessman, as by 1888 he had his own business in the Leylands. Lightman's great innovation was to develop a wholesale furniture trade. At the time, most furniture was bespoke to order and poorer people had to buy secondhand. Lightman developed the machinery to supply furniture in bulk. By 1899, he had opened a factory in Hunslet to meet orders placed by retailers. His development of the trade in Leeds led to him becoming a nationally recognised figure in the furniture industry.

Lightman was a dedicated Liberal and an office holder at the local level. He was a financial mainstay of the Leeds party at many levels and was an active member of the Leeds and County Liberal Club in Quebec Street. Curiously, he never stood for public office, though his nephew, Harold Lightman, contested the Bramley ward unsuccessfully in 1927 at the tender age of 21. Victor was also an active Freemason and a generous donor to a number of Jewish, civic and Christian charities. One successful innovative charitable project he established in 1923 was the 'Victor Lightman Loans Fund'. Through this fund, small interest-free loans were made to those in need, to be repaid in weekly instalments.

His leadership within the Jewish community began when he became President of the main Belgrave Street Synagogue, for which he made and presented a pulpit. In 1908, he became President of the Leeds Jewish Board of Guardians and thus de facto became the lay leader of the community. He was a popular leader and it was a surprise when, in 1914, he was challenged for the post by Abe Frais. The election was keenly fought and, although Victor Lightman won by 190 votes to 154, the strength of the vote against him was a surprise. He then suddenly resigned the post just one month later, ostensibly on the grounds of ill-health; however, when his successor, Abraham Feldman, resigned following his removal to London a bare year later, Victor was prevailed upon to take up the post again - which suggests that there was more to his resignation than health grounds. Victor continued in the post for a further thirteen years, until his death in 1928.

A key event in Leeds during his leadership was the riot in June 1917 when Gentile youths attacked the Jewish community in their Leylands neighbourhood. The local papers were clear that the Jews were the innocent party and one notes that there were no Jewish names among those arrested. It was a serious disturbance, but it was a unique occasion, never repeated. Victor played a key role in calming the community and his perception of the situation was demonstrated when he congratulated the police on their handling of it.

At his death he left a wife, two sons and six daughters. It is some indication of his reputation that the company that bought the furniture business on his death maintained it as Victor Lightman Limited through to the 1950s. (Fraser, Derek, ed. Leeds and it's Jewish Community: a History, 2019, pp. 271-2)

Born: 31 December 1901 in Leeds, England

Married

Isaac Solomon Sydney Fox on 16 June 1927 at the Belgrave Street Synagogue in Leeds, England. Isaac was 30 and Gwaladys age 25

Children

Their first child was born in 1928 when Isaac was 31 and Gwaladys 26. Their last child was born in 1936 when Isaac was 39 and Gwaladys 34 

• Cecile Joan Charlotte Fox, known as Joan, 1928 - 2003
• Victor Murray Fox 1931 - 2014
• Alfred Mervyn Fox, known as Mervyn, 1936 - 2013

Census

1911

In the 1911 Census Gladys age 9 and her sister Evelyn age 11 are listed as being boarders at Minerva College, a Jewish boarding school at 153 Folkstone Road, Dover, England

1921

In the 1921 census Gladys is living at "The Towers", Ladywood Road, Leeds, England in a 13 room house. Her father Victor is age 62 and a wholesale furniture manufacturer, her mother Beatrice is age 60. The children are Stanley age 33, Miriam age 27, Alexander age 25. Gladys age 19 and whose occupation is listed as home duties

1939

I am unable to locate Gladys in the 1939 register, suggesting that she was not in the country that evening

Death

17 December 1983 in Totteridge., Middlesex, England age 81. She was buried in the Bushey Jewish Cemetery, Hertfordshire, England, section 10, Row L, plot 221 on 20 December 1983

What is left of Isaac and Gwaladys's joint tombstone in the Bushey Jewish cemetery in Hertfordshire, England

Probate

FOX, Gwladys of Ellern Mede Nursing Home 31 Totteridge Common Totteridge Herts died 17 December 1983 Probate London 23 May (1984) £78126 8451108127V

Leeds Database

Entry in the Leeds database for Gladys Fox

Residences

In the 1921 census Gladys is listed as living with her family at Lady Wood Road, Leeds, England

Isaac, Gwaladys and the children lived in London at 40 Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, London, England before they retired to Brighton

Isaac Solomon Sidney Fox (1896 - 1971)

Isaac Solomon Sidney Fox, born Fuchs, is the father-in-law of Alan Cecil Levinson, my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Levinson family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Dr Jacob Samuel Fox (Fuchs) (1868 - 1938) and Rose Trenner (1869 -1947)

Biography for Isaac's father, Jacob Fox

FOX (Fuchs ), JACOB SAMUEL (1868–1938), journalist and educator. Born in Bialystok, Russia, he obtained his rabbinical diploma at the Berlin Rabbinical Seminary and pursued his secular studies at Berlin and Berne. Turning to journalism, he edited Ha-Maggid he-Ḥadash (1891–98) and (together with A. Guenzig) Ha-Eshkol (1898–1912). A research trip prompted his final move to England in 1902, after which Fox decided to foster Jewish education in Liverpool by founding a Hebrew higher grade school. He supported the establishment of the British Mizrachi and became principal of Aria College in Brighton. He was author of a monograph on Judah *Ibn Bal'am. (Encyclopaedia Judaica)

Born: 25 November 1896 in Kraków, Poland

Birth certificate for Isaac Fox - his date of birth is listed as 2 March 1896 but in the 1939 register it is given as 25 November 1896

Migration: The family came to England in 1902 when Isaac was 5

Occupation: Reverend (Grimsby Hebrew Congregation - January 1916 to about 1920, returning briefly in 1923), Medical doctor, Mayor of Chester (1932 - 33) and Chairman of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland (1955 - 56)

Married

Gwaladys Lightman on 16 June 1927 at the Belgrave Street Synagogue in Leeds, England. Isaac was 30 and Gwaladys age 25

Children

Their first child was born in 1928 when Isaac was 31 and Gwaladys 26. Their last child was born in 1936 when Isaac was 39 and Gwaladys 34 

• Cecile Joan Charlotte Fox, known as Joan, 1928 - 2003
• Victor Murray Fox 1931 - 2014
• Alfred Mervyn Fox, known as Mervyn, 1936 - 2013

Census

1911

In 1911 Isaac, listed as Solomon, is living with his family at 40 West Derby Street, Liverpool, England. His father, Jacob is age 43 and the headmaster of a Hebrew School in Liverpool. His mother Rachel (Rose) is age 42. There are 5 children and Isaac is age 14

1921

In the 1921 census Isaac is living at 52 West Derby Street, Liverpool. He is a medical student age 24 years and 7 months and is living with his sister Salome, her husband Harry Ellenbogen and their son Saul

1939

In the 1939 register Isaac is listed (on the bottom line) as a physician and surgeon living at 40 Colney Hatch Lane, Hornsey, Middlesex, England

Medical career

Register of Medical and Dental students 1914. Isaac registered as a medical student at Liverpool University on 10 October 1914 age 17

Isaac's listing in the 1934 medical Register

FOX, Isaac Solomon, 10, Upper Northgate St., Chester (Tel. Chester 190)-M.B., Ch. B. Liverp. 1921; Med. Off. Brownlow Hill Inst. Liverp.; Certif. Fact. Surg.; Med. Off. Tarvin Area, Chesh. C.C.; Med. Off. Lead Works, Chester; Chairm. Pub. Health Comm.1933; Mem. B.M.A.; late Sen. Ho. Phys. Qu. Mary's Hosp. Stratford; Res. Cas. Off. Miller Gen. Hosp. Greenwich; Roy. South. Hosp. Liverp. Author, "Acute puerperal complete inversion of uterus: replacement-recovery," B.М.Л. 1924. (Entry for Isaac Fox in the 1935 Medical Directory)

Biography

Rev. (later Dr.) Isaac Solomon Fox

(c.1897 - April 1974)

Born in Cracow, Poland and raised in Liverpool, Rev. I.S. Fox was the son of Rev. Dr. Jacob Samuel Fox. He was minister to the Grimsby Hebrew Congregation (January 1916 to about 1920, returning briefly in 1923). He then pursued a medical career (having graduated in medicine from Liverpool University). He remained active in synagogue and public life and was Mayor of Chester in 1932 and president of the Chester Hebrew Congregation. By 1938 Dr Fox was living in London and became president of Muswell Hill Synagogue. In 1954 he was elected chairman of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, and advocated the teaching of modern Hebrew in Jewish schools. In c.1964 he retired to Brighton where he died (Isaac's JewishGen entry). He was also president of the Chester Hebrew Congregation from 1927 - 1929

Death

18 April 1971 in Hove, Sussex, England age 74. He was buried in the Bushey Jewish Cemetery, Hertfordshire, England, section 10, Row L, plot 221 on 20 April 1971

What is left of Isaac and Gwaladys's joint tombstone in the Bushey Jewish cemetery in Hertfordshire, England

Probate

FOX Isaac Solomon Sidney otherwise Isaac Solomon of 9c Bedford Tower Cavendish Pl Kings Rd Brighton died 18 April 1971 Probate London 26 October [1971]. £32,252.

Leeds Database

Entry in the Leeds database for Isaac Fox

Residences

In the 1911 census Isaac and his family were living at 40 West Derby Street, Liverpool, England. The property is now the site of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital

In the 1930s Isaac's address was given as 10 Upper Northgate Street, Chester, England

Isaac, Gwaladys and the children lived in London at 40 Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, London, England before retiring to Brighton