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.