Naphtali Epstein (1914 - 2000)

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

Born: 19 May 1914  in Liverpool, England

Siblings

• Baruch Epstein (1911 - 1982) married Sarah Ritov (1911 - 2003) in 1950
• Leah Epstein (1913 - 1985) married Oscar Marcus Werner (1922 - 2008) in Liverpool, England on 10 June 1945
• 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: Naftali son of Yitzhak

Occupation: Rabbi

Census

1921

In the 1921 census taken on 19 June 1921, Naphtali'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

Migration to Palestine

On 25 October 1924 the family departed Liverpool, England and sailed to Port Said, Egypt on the way to Palestine aboard the California. The family was headed by Sara Epstein age 24, a sales lady, who I can only assume was an unmarried sister of Naphtali's father Isaac. The children were Baruch age 13, Lilly (Leah) age 11, Naphtali age 10, Esther age 9 and Sarah age 4. The family struggled in Palestine and returned to Liverpool in the mid-1930s but Naphtali remained behind.

According to a cousin, David Morris, during the Second World War Naftali served in the British forces, including service in Iraq with the British Air Force. This is supported in part by the Kfar Menahem archive, which lists him among the kibbutz members mobilised during the war and records his promotion to corporal in the British Army in January 1945. His name is given as אפשטיין נפתלי — Epstein, Naftali. HIs promotion to corporal is listed as נפתלי אפשטיין הועלה לדרגת קורפורל בצבא הבריטי. הקיבוץ מאחל לו הצלחה, literally: “Naftali Epstein was promoted to the rank of corporal in the British Army. The kibbutz wishes him success.” He then returned to Liverpool after the war. 

Electoral Register

In both the 1946 and 1948 electoral registers Naphtali is listed as living at 99 Granby Street, Liverpool, England along with his mother Tilly and sister Zahava

Death

1 November 2000 in London, England age 86

Residences

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

Until at least 1948 Naphtali lived with his family at 99 Granby Street, Liverpool, England