Herzl Theodore Helfet (1920 - 2002)

Herzl Theodore Helfet, known as Theo, is my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed. Helfet family HERE. When the family migrated to England he anglicised his name from Herzl to Theodore

Parents: Leon Helfet (1877 - 1945) and Sarah Ann Levin (1880 - 1953)

Tombstones for his parents Leon Helfet and Sarah Ann Levin. They are both buried in the Pinelands no 1 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa

Born: 29 January 1920, in Cape Town, South Africa

Hebrew name: Hertzel Teodor son of Yehudah Leib

Occupation: Engineer and in Leeds, England worked for Marks and Spencer in textiles

Married: Celia Sarah Polen on 22 September 1943 in Cape Town, South Africa. Herzl and Celia were both age 23

Marriage certificate for Herzl and Celia

Children

Their first child was born in 1949 when Herzl was 29 and Celia 28. Their last child was born in 1952 when Herzl was 32 and Celia 31

• Jonathan Leon Helfet 1949 -
•  Peter Roy Helfet 1952 - 2017

Back row: Cyril Helfet, Arthur Helfet. Front row. Herzl Helfet, Sara Helfet, Arnold Helfet. Herzl was an Air Force Sergeant

Arnold with his siblings and their spouses in Cape Town on 23 January 1960 

Back row: Cyril Helfet, Edna Helfet (Nee Landsman), Arnold Helfet, Herzl Helfet, Celia Helfet (Nee Polen), Arthur Helfet

Front row Girlie Meyers (Nee Helfet), Cynthia Helfet (Nee Bernstein), Nathalie Helfet (Nee Freedman) 

Biographical details

Theodore Herzl, born in 1920, took his B.Sc. Eng. at the U.C.T. as an instructor in the S.A. Airforce during the last war. Was Production Manager of a large group of S. A. Clothing Manufacturers until 1961, when he and his wife and 2 sons emigrated to England. He is in the clothing industry living in Leeds.  (Written by his brother Arthur Helfet)

Death

13 November 2002 in Leeds, England age 82 and is buried in the Sinai Cemetery there, Section U9, Row M, PLot 1700

Tombstone for Theodore and Celia

HELFET

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HERZL THEODORE

ר הרצל מיאורוד בן ר' יהודה ליב

1920 - 2002

AND 

CELIA SARAH

האשה שרה בת ר' יצחק ישראל

1920-2007

ALWAYS MISSED BY THEIR SONS JON AND PETER FAMILY AND FRIENDS

תנצבת

Hebrew translation: "[abbreviation] Here is buried/ Mr. Hertzel Teodor son of Mr. Yehudah Leib/ the woman Sarah daughter of Mr. Yitzchak Yisrael/ [abbreviation] May his/her soul be bound in the bond of life."

Residence

In Calvinia Herzl and his family lived at Carmel Villa in 19 Pastorie Street, which his father Leon had built. It is now a bed and breakfast establishment

Miriam Pearl Helfet (1915 - 1923)

Miriam Pearl Helfet is my 1st cousin 2x removed. Known as Pearl or Pearlie. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Leon Helfet (1877 - 1945) and Sarah Ann Levin (1880 - 1953)

Tombstones for her parents Leon Helfet and Sarah Ann Levin. They are both buried in the Pinelands no 1 Jewish Cemetery in Cape Town, South Africa

Born: December 1915 in Calvinia, South Africa

Death

6 August 1923 (24 Av 5683) in Calvinia, South Africa at age 7 years and 9 months, from diptheria. Some documents give her date as death as 5th August but I have gone with the date given on her tombstone. She is buried in the Jewish section of the Calvinia cemetery

Death notices

Death notices for Miriam. Her date of death is given as both 5th and 6th of August and her name is given as Miriam Pearl Helfet and also Pearl Miriam Helfet

Tombstone

Miriam's tombstone in the Calvinia cemetery.

Inscription: In loving memory of Miriam Pearl Helfet, departed this life 6th August 1923, age 7 years and 9 months. M.H.D.S.R.I.P.

Hebrew translation: To the memory of / the [young] girl Miriam Perl Helfet / died 24 Av 5683 / (abbr) May her soul be bound in the bond of life. The word צִיּוּן "Tziyun" at top inside the Star of David means "grave mark"

Newspaper death notice

HELFET-At Calvinia, Sunday, 5th inst., Pearl Miriam, dearly-beloved daughter of Leon and Mrs. Helfet, aged 7¾  years.

Residence

In Calvinia Miriam lived with her family at Carmel Villa in 19 Pastorie Street, which her father Leon had built. It is now a bed and breakfast establishment

Elliot Victor Galanti (1939 - 2017)

Elliot Victor Galanti is the husband of Pamela Meyers, my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Victor Galanti (1906 - 1975) and Fortunée Naim (1915 - 2003)

Fortunée and Victor on their wedding day. They were married in the Belgian Congo

Pictures of Fortunée and Victor 

Born: 6 June 1939 in Alexandria, Egypt. 

Migration: Elliot came to Rhodesia after completing his high school studies in Cairo in June 1956. He stayed with his uncle Alphonse (Al) Naim (1914 - 1998) (Fortunée's brother) in Salisbury. Gamal Nasser came into power in Egypt in June 1956 and after the Suez crisis in late 1956 began expelling many Jews from Egypt. Elliot was therefore unable to return and had to remain in Rhodesia. In 1960 Elliot was the youth mayor of Salisbury. He was a fluent in French and Arabic.

Hebrew name: Eliyahu son of Chaim

Elliot's Barmitzvah

Elliot's school id cards

Married: Pamela Meyers on 20 December 1964 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Pamela was 22 and Elliot 25

Elliot and Pamela's wedding

Children

Their first child was born in 1965 when Pamela was 23 and Elliot 26. Their last child was born in 1967 when Pamela was 24 and Elliot 28

• Gary Leonard Galanti 1965 -
• Sara Esther Galanti 1967 -

Elliot Galanti

Voter registration

Elliot's Rhodesian voter registration application for 1961

Elliot's Rhodesian voter registration application for 1966

Death

9 January 2017 (11 Tevet 5777) in Perth, Australia at age 77. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Australia on 7 October 2020, plot no FA 356

Tombstone for Elliot Galanti. A man of the world. Whoever met him became a friend

Residence

In 1961 Elliot was living at 25 Kent ave, Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)

Pamela Meyers (1942 - 2020)

Pamela Meyers is my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Isadore (Issie) Meyers (1906 - 1973) and Gertrude Leila (Girlie) Helfet (1914 - 1992)

Born: 16 October 1942 in Pretoria, South Africa

Hebrew name: Perl daughter of Yitzchak

Pamela

Married: Elliot Victor Galanti on 20 December 1964 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Pamela was 22 and Elliot 25

Elliot and Pamela's wedding on 20 December 1964 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia

Children

Their first child was born in 1965 when Pamela was 23 and Elliot 26. Their last child was born in 1967 when Pamela was 24 and Elliot 28

• Gary Leonard Galanti 1965 -
• Sara Esther Galanti 1967 -

Pictures

Pretoria about 1947, the three Meyers sisters, at left is Pamela, at right is Nola and in the pram is Leone

Pretoria 1959. L-R, Rosalie (Dinkie) Morris (Nee Wasserman) holding Clive Wasserman with his brother Anthony in front of him, Pamela Meyers, my mom Ruth, my sister Sarah-Nan getting a piggyback from my grandmother Zella Levin, and at the far right is Girlie Meyers. In the second photo Issie Meyers is added between my mother and Girlie Meyers; Leonie Meyers is at the back on the far right, and my grandfather Marcus Levin, smoking his habitual pipe, is now seated next to his wife Zella Levin. Seated on the far left is Ettie Morris and on the far right is Abe Morris

Death

5 October 2020 (17 Tishri 5781) in Perth, Australia at age 77. She was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Australia on 7 October 2020, plot no FA 355

Tombstone inscription: 

PAMELA GALANTI 06-10-1942-05-10-2020

SADLY MISSED BY HER CHILDREN GARY AND MICHÈLE, SARA AND ROBIN AND GRANDCHILDREN ILAN, CLAUDIA, BRADLEY AND MIA

M.H.D.S.R.I.P

Our matriarch. Loved her family, friends nature and life. She will be missed.

Hebrew translation: 

Here is buried Perl daughter of Yitzhaq
Died 17 Tishrei (5)781
In the 77th year of the days of her life
May her soul be bound up in the bond of (eternal) life

Residences

In Pretoria Pamela grew up at 75 Nicolson Street, Bailey`s Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa. I remember a giant cactus in one corner of the garden

At the time of her death Pamela was living at 19 Jessamine St, Dianella, Perth, Western Australia

Avril Nola Meyers (1938 - 2012)

Avril Nola Meyers, known as Nola is my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Isadore (Issie) Meyers (1906 - 973) and Gertrude Leila (Girlie) Helfet (1914 - 1992)

Born: 1938 in Pretoria, South Africa

Married: Raymond Newman

Pretoria about 1947, the three Meyers sisters, at left is Pamela, at right is Nola and in the pram is Leone

Nola at home in Pretoria in 1959 age 21. In the bottom picture she is with my mother Ruth and my grandparents Marcus and Zella Levin. Almost out of the picture at far left is her mother Girlie

Death

23 December 2012 at age 74 in Cape Town, South Africa. She was cremated

Residence

In Pretoria Nola grew up at 75 Nicolson Street, Bailey`s Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa. I remember a giant cactus in one corner of the garden