Dinah Rachel Morris (1879 - 1969)

Dinah Rachel Morris, born Dinah Dik, is the sister-in-law of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE.

The original name of the family was Dik (Dikiene in Lithuanian) and the family, while registered in Raguva, Lithuania, lived in what is now Panevėžys, Lithuania. However, when Dinah's eldest brother Jacob arrived in England the clerk did not understand Yiddish and since Jacob called himself Jacob "Monnes" (Menachem), the clerk thought he said Munes was his last name. This was not English enough so the clerk anglicized it to Morris. Later when Jacob brought out other members of his family they changed their name to Morris as well

Parents: Joseph Dik (1851 - 1924) and Golda Chaya (1846 - 1923)

Born: 1879 (probably in the 2nd half of that year), in Ponevezh, Kovno District, Russian Empire, now Panevėžys, Lithuania,  Ponevezh [Russian], Ponevezh [Yiddish], Poniewież [Polish], Ponewiesch [German], Panevēža [Latvian]

Hebrew name: Dina Raizel daughter of Tsvi Yosef

Siblings

• Jacob Morris (1870 - 1947) married Rachel Levin (1873 - 1952) in Liverpool, England in (October - December) 1892
• Rachel Morris (1874 - 1982) married Nochum Aaron Steckoll (1867 - 1933)
• Ely Morris (1880 - 1972) married Anne Katz (1888 - 1962) in Johannesburg, South Africa on 15 November 1911
• Michael Dik (1883 - ?)
• Tilly Morris (1886 - 1981) married Isaac Epstein (1884 - 1941)

According to AI searches there were several other children who were born in Panevėžys as well, but I have yet to corroborate this

Migration to England: In Lithuania, at that time, the eldest son was drafted to the Russian army when they reached the age of 18. Therefore, Dinah's eldest brother Jacob left Lithuania planning to travel to America but on arrival in Liverpool did not have enough money to complete the journey. The local Jewish Leadership offered help on condition that he marry a Jewish girl and settle in England.  Once settled in England he brought all his family to join him in Liverpool and all his siblings changed their name to Morris. Dinah must have arrived in Liverpool sometime in the 1890s and moved to South Africa sometime between 1908 and 1911

Married: Barnett Bryer, known as Barney, on 1 January 1903 in Liverpool, England. Barney was 24 and Dinah 23

Children

Their first child was born in 1904 when Barney was 25 and Dinah 24 or 25 years old. Their last child was born in 1919 when Barney was 40 and Dinah 39 or 40 years old 

• Michael Bryer (1904 - 1934)
• Nathan Bryer (1908 - 1990)
• Maurice Bryer (1911 - 1986)
• Leon Bryer (1919 - 1994)

Census

1901

In 1901 Dinah's brother Jacob and huis wife Rachel (Nee Levin) are married and living at 30 Fairclough Road, Liverpool, England. Jacob is 30, a butcher on his own account and working from home. Rachel is 26. The children are Elijah age 7, Gertrude age 4, Isaac age 2 and living with them is Jacob's sister Dinah age 22 and a machine knitter

Travel

1949

Dinah and Barney travelling to England aboard the Warwick Castle. They arrived there on 18 June 1949

Photo

Dinah and Barney on their 50th wedding anniversary in Bloemfontein, South Africa on 1st January 1953 (Hashomer, March 1953, p. 4)

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Golden Wedding Celebrations; Mr. and Mrs. Barney Bryer.

Golden Wedding anniversaries are not a frequent occurrence. It was, therefore, particularly gratifying to see the couple after fifty years of married life so well preserved and young-looking.

The celebrations which took place on January 1st at the Clarendon Hall drew a large gathering. Mr. and Mrs. Bryer were among the earliest Jewish settlers in Bloemfontein and well known amongst the community.

Mr. Bryer is one of the few surviving founder members of the Synagogue and has been identified with practically every Jewish communal stitution in the city. He is still a committee member of the Synagogue, Talmud Torah, Chevrah Kadisha and Gemillus Chasodim Societies.

Relatives and friends had come from many parts of the Union to attend the celebrations. These included their elder sons, Nathan and Maurice Bryer, their wives and families from Johannesburg, and their youngest son, Dr. Leon Bryer, to be present on this occasion.

The toast to the bride and groom was proposed by Mr. J. Lovius.

A presentation on behalf of the shool was made by Mr. H. Bradlow, President of the Hebrew Congregation, and on behalf of the Talmud Torah by its Chairman, Mr. S. C. Ostrofsky. Rev. Werner spoke on behalf of the relatives.

Mr. Barney Bryer very ably responded on behalf of his wife and himself.

Mr. Walter Bryer was master of ceremonies. (Hashomer, March 1953, p. 4)

Death

15 July 1969 (29 Tamuz 5729) in Johannesburg, South Africa age 90. She was buried on 17 July 1969 in the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg, grave block M, grave no 358

Tombstone for Dinah Bryer
Inscription: In loving memory of Dinah Bryer passed away on 15th July 1969. Deeply mourned by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. M.H.D.S.R.I.P.

Hebrew translation: A dear and respected woman, Dina Raizel the daughter of Reb Tzvi Yosef, passed away first of the month of Av, 5729. 'May her soul be bound up in the bonds of (Eternal) Life' (Abbr.).


Westpark Cemetery details for Dinah

Jewishgen Cemetery record for Dinah

Place of Birth

Dinah Morris was born in Panevėžys, Lithuania

PANEVEZYS (Panevezhis; Lith. Panevežys; Rus. Ponevezh), city in Lithuania. In 1766 the Jewish community numbered 254; in 1847, 1,447 Jews were registered, and in 1897, 6,627 Jews (50% of the total population) lived in Panevezys. An ancient Karaite community is also known to have existed there. A number of noted rabbis officiated in Panevezys, among them Isaac Jacob Rabinovich (Itzele Ponevezher), Joseph Kahaneman, and Jeroham Leibovich. The Hebrew poet Judah Leib Gordon served as a teacher in the city from 1853 to 1860. Naphtali Friedman, a noted advocate, served as delegate from Panevezys to the third Duma.

In May 1915, during World War I, the Jews of Panevezys were sent along with other Lithuanian Jews to the interior of Russia by the Russian military authorities. Most of them returned after the Russian Revolution. In 1923 there were 6,845 Jews living in Panevezys (35% of the total population), most of them occupied in small trade and crafts and some in larger business enterprises and industry.

The community had an active social and cultural life. Its educational institutions included Hebrew and Yiddish primary schools, two Hebrew secondary schools (one belonging to the Zionist-orientated Tarbut educational system and the other, for girls, to the religious Yavneh), a Jewish pro-gymnasium, and libraries.

The Panevezys Yeshivah, which had a high reputation, was founded by Liebe Miriam Gavronsky, daughter of K.Z. Wissotszky. When the Jews were expelled during World War I, the yeshivah was first moved to Ludza in Vitebsk province and then to Mariupol (Zhdanov) in the Ukraine. After World War I Rabbi Kahaneman founded the great Ohel Yiẓḥak yeshivah in Panevezys with about 200 students. In 1944 the yeshivah was reestablished by Rabbi Kahaneman in *Bene Berak, Israel.

Panevezys was occupied by the Germans in 1941 a few days after the outbreak of the German-Soviet war. A ghetto was established from which Jews were transported and murdered in September 1941. They were buried in 12 mass graves. In 1968 the Jewish cemetery at Panevezys was destroyed.

Woolf Stein (1898 - 1947)

Woolf Stein, known as Willie, is the wife of Eva Steckoll, the daughter of Nochum Aaron Steckoll, known as Aaron, the brother-in-law of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Levin family HERE. Steckoll family HERE.

Parents: Benjamin Stein (1863 - 1937) and Ida Katzenellenbogen (1869 - 1952)

Born: 1898 in the South African Republic (Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek or ZAR), nowadays Gauteng, South Africa

Hebrew name: Ze'ev son of Binyamin

Siblings

• Jesse Theresa Stein (1893 - 1943) married Jacob Grusd (1894 - 1966) in Benoni, South Africa on 7 October 1915
• Alexander Stein
• Rosie Stein (1897 - 1968) married Abel Hossy (1892 - 1960) in Germiston, South Africa on 14 December 1921
• Sarah Stein (1901 - 1979) married Barnett Mandel (1888 - 1951)
• Herbert Stein (1906 - 1981) married Hester Maria Isabella Buys (1917 - ?) in Bloemfontein on 13 May 1957

Occupation: Accountant and bookkeeper

Married:

Eva Steckoll in Ladybrand, Orange Free State, South Africa on 7 February 1929. Eva was 25 and Willie 30

Eva and Willie's marriage certificate. They were married on 7 February 1929 in Ladybrand, Orange Free State, South Africa. Eva was living in Ladybrand and Willie in Bloemfontein

Children

Their first child was born when Willie was 31/32 and Eva 27. Their second and final child was born in 1933 when Willie was 35/36 and Eva 33

• Ghita Stein (1930 - 2015)
• Sidney Stein (1933 - 1998)
• Arnold Stein (1935 - )
• Bernard Stein (1941 -)

Death

18 September 1947 in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa age 49 and he is buried in the Bloemfontein Memorial Cemetery, plot 3A:850

Death notification

Woolf committed suicide. He cut his wrists and then drowned himself in the stream in Springbok Park, Bloemfontein

Burial

Jewishgen Cemetery record for Woolf

Tombstone

In memory of my beloved husband and our devoted father Woolf Stein died 18th September 1947. Aged 49 years. May his dear soul rest in peace (Abbr.)

Hebrew translation: Here is buried my dear husband and our beloved father Ze’ev son of Binyamin Stein who passed away on 4 Tishrei 5708 in the 49th year of his life. May his soul be bound up in the bond of (eternal) life.

Notice

BEREAVEMENTS.

Condolences are extended to the bereaved relatives of the following whose death occurred recently. Mr. S. Gerber, Mr. W. Stein, Mrs. L. Adler and Mr. S Solomon (Hashomer, October 1947, p. 6)

Residence

At the time of his death in 1947 the family were living at 33 third avenue, Bloemfontein, South africa

Eva Steckoll (1903 - 1983)

Eva Steckoll is the daughter of Nochum Aaron Steckoll, known as Aaron, the brother-in-law of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Levin family HERE. Steckoll family HERE.

Parents: Nochum Aaron Steckoll (1867 - 1933) and Gittel Bucher (1870 - 1926)

Born: 7 April 1903 (Tuesday 10 Nissan 5663) in Varaklani, Latvia

Jewishgen Birth record for Eva. Her date of birth is given here as 25 March 1903. On her tombstone her date of birth is given as 7 April 1903 which corresponds with her Hebrew birth date of Tuesday, 10 Nissan 5663

Hebrew name: Chava daughter of Nachum Aharon

Siblings

• Simon Steckoll (1893 - 1935) married Fanny Esther Gould (1904 - 1987) in Senekal, Orange Free State, South Africa in 1923
• Jack Steckoll (1898 - 1989) married Lily Chaitow (1902 - 1980) in Johannesburg, South Africa on 7 July 1925
• Maurice Steckoll (1895 - 1948) married Golda Casper (1899 - 1939)

Married:

Woolf (Willie) Stein in Ladybrand, Orange Free State, South Africa on 7 February 1929. Eva was 25 and Willie 30

Eva and Willie's marriage certificate. They were married on 7 February 1929 in Ladybrand, Orange Free State, South Africa. Eva was living in Ladybrand and Willie in Bloemfontein

Children

Their first child was born when Willie was 31/32 and Eva 27. Their second and final child was born in 1933 when Willie was 35/36 and Eva 33

• Ghita Stein (1930 - 2015)
• Sidney Stein (1933 - 1998)
• Arnold Stein (1935 - )
• Bernard Stein (1941 -)

The family lived in Bloemfontein. Sometime after Willie's death in 1947, Eva moved to Pietersburg (now renamed Polokwane) in the northern Transvaal. She was treasurer of the Jewish Women's Guild there for 8 years and was made an honorary life member of the Pietersburg Zionist League

Death

30 May 1983 in Pietersburg, Transvaal, South Africa age 79 and she is buried in the Jewish section of the old cemetery there

Burial

Jewishgen Cemetery record for Eva

Place of Birth

Eva was born in Varaklani, Rezhitsa, Vitebsk, Latvia

The Jewish community in 

Varaklani

 officially began to form in the late 18th century, shortly after the region was annexed by the Russian Empire. While a few Jewish families may have lived in the area earlier, the community truly took root around 1780. By 1797, there were 413 Jewish residents recorded in the town, a number that grew steadily as Varaklani became an important trading post. Throughout the 19th century, the population expanded rapidly due to migration from nearby Lithuania and Belarus. By 1847, the number of Jewish residents had increased to 584 people, and religious life began to flourish under leaders like Rabbi Aharon Zelig Zioni, who headed the community during this mid-century growth.

The community reached its numerical peak in 1897, when a census recorded 1,357 Jews, which accounted for approximately 75% of the town's total population. During this era, the town was led by Rabbi Abraham bar Gabai, who served as the chief rabbi for five decades starting in 1873, and Rabbi Jacob Pollak, who served as the crown rabbi. This overwhelming majority meant that for several decades, Varaklani functioned almost entirely as a Jewish town where the rhythms of life were dictated by religious law and the Hebrew calendar.

The population began to fluctuate during the early 20th century due to the turmoil of World War I and the Russian Revolution. In 1920, the first census of the newly independent Republic of Latvia recorded 868 Jewish residents, a significant decline from the pre-war peak. However, the community remained the dominant group in the town, and by 1925, the number had climbed back up to 991 people. During this period of Latvian independence, Jewish citizens became deeply integrated into the town’s governance. Reuven Arsh achieved significant prominence as the town’s mayor, while Michael Kagan served as the deputy mayor.

By the eve of the Holocaust in 1935, the Jewish population stood at 952 people, making up roughly 57% of the town’s residents. This community was supported by a network of merchant families with surnames such as Zogut, Schneir, Chait, Kaplan, Morain, Matchevsky, Steiner, Boorenstein, Berzon, Kopolovitch, Kodish, Solevy, Shvalb, and Fingerhuts. These families maintained the town's shops, schools, and cultural institutions until the Nazi invasion in 1941.

The destruction of this community began shortly after German forces entered Varaklani in early July 1941. Immediate restrictions were placed on Jewish residents, and they were forced into a provisional ghetto established next to the Jewish cemetery. On August 4, 1941, a German SD unit known as the Arājs Commando, assisted by local Latvian self-defenders and police, carried out a mass execution. Approximately 540 Jews were taken to the cemetery and shot to death in pits they had been forced to dig themselves. Rabbi Eliezer-Yaakov Hacohen Grodsky, the final spiritual leader, was particularly mistreated during this event; he was dragged to the execution site with his beard tied to a horse’s tail. After the massacre, local peasants were forced to fill in the mass graves. Before their retreat in 1944, German authorities ordered the bodies to be burned to destroy evidence of the crime

Residence

At the time of Woolf's death in 1947 the family were living at 33 third avenue, Bloemfontein, South africa