Leah Epstein (1913 - 1985)

Leah Epstein is the daughter of Tilly Morris, born Tilly Dik, the sister-in-law of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE

Parents: Isaac Epstein (1884 - 1941) and Tilly Morris (1886 - 1981)

Tombstones for Leah's parents. Isaac is buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery in Liverpool, England and Tilly (Tova) in Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Born: 25 August 1913  in Liverpool, England. Her husband Oscar stated in his Shoah interview that Leah was born in 1922/3 but this does not accord with the 1921 census record or the 1939 register

Siblings

• Baruch Epstein (1911 - 1982) married Sarah Ritov (1911 - 2003) in 1950
• Naftali Epstein (1914 - 2000)
• Esther Epstein (1915 - 2013) married Marcel Aron Kindler (1908 - 1972) on 4 July 1943 in London, England
• Sarah Epstein (1920 - 2003) married Michael Avni (Marcus) (1920 - 1991) in Liverpool, England on (Apr - Jul) 1941
• Zahava Epstein (1927 - 2024) married Martin Dover (1925 - 1995) in Liverpool, England in (July - September ) 1950

Hebrew name: Chaya Leah daughter of Yitzhak

Occupation: Rabbi's wife

Leah Epstein age around 16 years circa 1929

Married: Oscar Marcus Werner on 10 June 1945 in Liverpool. England

Oscar and Leah and her mother Tilly on their wedding day, 10 June 1945

Children

Their first child was born in 1947 when Oscar was 25 and Leah 33. Their final child was born in 1953 when Oscar was 31 and Leah 40

• Sara Sharon Werner 1947 -
• Bernard Isaac Werner 1949 -
• Maxine Werner 1953 - 

Census

1921

In the 1921 census taken on 19 June 1921, Leah's parents Tilly and Isaac are living in a 6 room dwelling at 48 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. Isaac is age 37 years and four months and a travelling draper and clothier working from home. His place of birth is given as Wloclawek, Poland.Tilly is a housewife age 35 years and six months and born in Poneviezys, Lithuania. Their children are Boruch age 10 years and four months, Leah age 8 years and 10 months, Naphtali age 7 years and one month, Esther age 6 years and one month, Sarah age 1 year and one month

1939 Register

In 1939 the family are living at 99 Granby Street, Liverpool, England. Isaac is now a master butcher with his own business. Living with Isaac and Tilly are their children Leah and Esther who both work in the family butchery, and Sara. The family had moved to Palestine in the mid-1920s but had returned to Liverpool in the early to mid 1930s due to their poor financial situation. However Naftali remained in Palestine

Migration to South Africa

After going through the rigors of war, they looked at emigrating to greener pastures. Leah already had an uncle (Ely Morris) living in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Ely came to England in 1951 and offered to sponsor the family to come to South Africa. Oscar came to Bloemfontein, South Africa in August 1951 to have a look, and the family followed, with Oscar accepting a position as second cantor and shochet in Bloemfontein. In 1953 they moved to Bethlehem where he was the rabbi and from 1957 - 1970 lived in Kimberley where he was again the rabbi. In 1970 Oscar became rabbi of the Parkview / Greenside synagogue in Johannesburg and Leah and Oscar remained there until her death in 1985

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL, Welcome: O. M. Werner of Wallasey. Cheshire. England, has arrived to take up his duties as second Cantor and Shochet. (Hashomer October 1951, p. 10)

Kimberley, 1961/2. Rabbi Oscar Werner is 3rd row from the back 1st left and Leah is in the same row on the extreme right

Death

7 August 1985 (20 Av 5745) in Johannesburg, South Africa age 71. Leah was buried in the Westpark Cemetery there on 8 August 1985, grave block H 129. In 1995 her remains were transferred to Nahan Cemetery, Jerusalem, Israel

JewishGen burial record for Leah

Westpark Cemetery burial record for Leah

On 25 June (27 Sivan) 1995 Leah's remains were transferred from Johannesburg and interred in the Eretz HaChaim Cemetery, Mate Yehuda Regional Council, Jerusalem District, Israel, grave no 38

Residences

In the 1921 census the family are living at 48 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. The building no longer exists

In around 1936 until her marriage in 1945 Leah lived with her the family lived at 99 Granby Street, Liverpool, England

After her marriage in June 1945 until the family migrated to South Africa in 1951 the family lived at 160 Chatham Street, Liverpool, England

Sarah Ritov (1911 - 2003)

Sarah Ritov is the daughter-in-law of Tilly Morris, born Tilly Dik, the sister-in-law of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE

Parents: Benjamin Israel Ritov (1887 - 1941) and Hannah Rachel Factor (? - 1965)

Born: 14 May 1911 in Lithuania

Married: Baruch Epstein in 1950, probably in Israel

Child

Their only child was born in 1951 when Baruch and Sarah were both 40

• Benjamin Elizur Epstein 1951 -

Death

16 May 2003 age 92, in Israel

Baruch Epstein (1911 - 1982)

Baruch Epstein is the son of Tilly Morris, born Tilly Dik, the sister-in-law of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE

Parents: Isaac Epstein (1884 - 1941) and Tilly Morris (1886 - 1981)

Tombstones for Baruch's parents. Isaac is buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery in Liverpool, England and Tilly (Tova) in Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Born: 12 May 1911 in Liverpool, England

Siblings

• Leah Epstein (1913 - 1985) married Oscar Marcus Werner (1922 - 2008) in Liverpool, England on 10 June 1945
• Naftali Epstein (1914 - 2000)
• Esther Epstein (1915 - 2013) married Marcel Aron Kindler (1908 - 1972) on 4 July 1943 in London, England
• Sarah Epstein (1920 - 2003) married Michael Avni (Marcus) (1920 - 1991) in Liverpool, England on (Apr - Jul) 1941
• Zahava Epstein (1927 - 2024) married Martin Dover (1925 - 1995) in Liverpool, England in (July - September ) 1950

Hebrew name: Baruch son of Yitzhak

Occupation: Rabbi

Married: Sarah Ritov in 1950, probably in Israel

Child

Their only child was born in 1951 when Baruch and Sarah were both 40

• Benjamin Elizur Epstein 1951 -

Census

1911

In the 1911 census taken on 2 April that year, Baruch's parents Tilly and Isaac had been married for one year and are living in a 6 room dwelling at 15 Vine Street, Liverpool, England. Isaac is age 26 and a travelling draper and clothier on his own account and Tilly is a housewife age 24. Living with them is their infant son Baruch who was born on 12 March 1911. Also living there is a boarder, Milly Morris age 21 who is a dressmaker, and a domestic servant, Maggie Graley, age 15

1921

In the 1921 census taken on 19 June 1921, Tilly and Isaac are living in a 6 room dwelling at 48 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. Isaac is age 37 years and four months and a travelling draper and clothier working from home. His place of birth is given as Wloclawek, Poland.Tilly is a housewife age 35 years and six months and born in Poneviezys, Lithuania. Their children are Boruch age 10 years and four months, Leah age 8 years and 10 months, Naphtali age 7 years and one month, Esther age 6 years and one month, Sarah age 1 year and one month

Education

Baruch had a B.A. degree from Jews College and B.A. Hons and M.A. degrees from University College London. The degree subject was Hebrew

Baruch's University College London student registration card. It indicates he received his B.A. Hons. degree in 1935 nd his field of study (Heb.) was Hebrew

Another University College London student card for Baruch. He obtained his Honours degree in 1935 and was awarded the Hollier Scholarship in Hebrew in July 1936 while studying for his M.A. degree

This image shows an official, historical student academic registration document from the University of London, University College (UCL). It is a "Re-Entry Form" designed for matriculated students returning for consecutive academic terms.

Below is a breakdown of the key sections and details recorded on this form:

Administrative and Session Information

• Academic Session: The top right corner indicates this form applies to the 1936 – 1937 academic session.
• Document Status: The form is officially signed off and dated 15th July 1936, meaning it was filled out prior to the autumn term.
• Official Markings: There are administrative notations in the "For Office Use Only" grid on the upper right, along with a stamped reference number (998).

 Student and Family Profile

• Student's Name: The form is for a student named Baruch Epstein.
• Addresses:
  • While attending college: 29 Greenfield Gardens, N.W.2 (a London district code).
  • Home Address: 99 Granby St., Liverpool, 8.
• Date of First Entry: The student initially entered the college in October 1935, confirming that this re-entry form is for their second year of study.
• Parental Information: The form lists his father, Isaac Epstein, living at the same Liverpool address. A circled structural note indicates that the parent or guardian is held legally responsible for any outstanding college dues.

Academic Qualifications and Course of Study

• Scholarships: He was awarded a Hollier Hebrew Scholarship.
• Prior Degree: The text notes he previously passed a B.A. Honours in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac.
• Target Degree: The next examination in view is for an M.A. in May or December 1937.
• Department: The course of study falls under the Faculty of Arts.
• Timeline: The session is marked as beginning in October 1936 and ending in July 1937.

Course Selection and Fees

The centre table breaks down the classes chosen for the academic year:

• Subject 1: Hebrew for the M.A.
• Subject 2: Psychology 
• Class Index Letters: These classes are mapped to structural index system codes: H1 for the Hebrew track, and A.17 and A.11 for the Psychology modules.
• Financial Fees: The payable tuition fees are detailed in traditional pre-decimal British currency as 8 pounds and 8 shillings (written as 8 8 -).

Baruch receiving his B.A. Hons degree from University College London in 1935

Military

On 1 February 1942 Baruch was ordained a chaplain. His service no was 238537 (Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 September 1942, p. 3808)

Newspaper articles about Baruch

1942

CHAPLAIN 

CAPTAIN Baruch Epstein whose appointment as Chaplain to Jewish troops in the British Forces in Palestine and Syria was announced yesterday, has been educated in both England and Palestine English-born, he received his secondary education in the Tachkemoni trade school in Tel Aviv and, on leaving, in the "Hebron" Talmudical College in Jerusalem. Returning to London, he studied at Jews College and London University receiving the B.A. and M.A. Three years ago Captain Epstein come back to this country, and was admitted to the rabbinate by Chief Rabbi Herzog. Before joining the Army he was in Kvutzath Sdeh Ellahu and also conducted services in Tirath Zvi (The Palestine Post, 20 May 1942⁩)

1950

ENGLISH SPEAKING CIRCLE of HAPOEL HAMIZRAHI - Tel Aviv Branch.

Sunday, February 12, 1950. A lecture will be given by: MR. BARUCH EPSTEIN

on: "The "Structure of the Ministry of Interior" at 108 Ahad Haam St., 3rd floor, commencing at 8.15 p.m. Soldiers and friends cordially invited.

Death

12 January 1982 age 70, in Israel

Residence

In 1911 Tilly and Isaac and family are living at 15 Vine Street, Liverpool, England. The building no longer exists

In the 1921 census the family are living at 48 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. The building no longer exists