Esther Reizel Levin (1877 - 1921)

Esther Reizel Levin is my 2x great aunt. Levin family HERE. Glynn family HERE

Parents: Aaron Levin (1844 - 1910) and Gertrude

Tombstones for her father Aaron Levin and her step-mother Annie Isabella Levin (Nee Broude). They are both buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England

Born: March 1877 in Sislowitz, Grodno, Belarus

Hebrew name: Ester Reizel daughter of Aharon

Siblings

• Simon Bernard Levin (1869 - 1936) married Julia Rosenthal (1872 - 1957) in (July to September) 1896 in Leeds, England
• Jacob Levin (1873 - 1917) married Hannah Baum (1878 - 1938) on 27 February 1898 in Manchester, England
• Rachel Levin (1873 - 1952) married Jacob Morris (1870 - 1947) in (October - December) 1892 in Liverpool, England
• Sarah Ann Levin (1880 - 1953) married Leon Helfet (1877 - 1945) on 22 January 1905 in Cape Town, South Africa
• Leah Lilian Levin (1888 - 1972) married Harry Ark (1889 - 1966) on 4 September 1961 in Liverpool, England
• Abraham Levine (1891 - 1954) married Henrietta Glass (1892 - 1984) in (October - December) 1919 in Swansea, Wales

Migration: The family came to Liverpool, England in 1884 when Esther was about 7 years old

Naturalization:

Esther Levin, along with her family, became a naturalised British citizen in March 1893. The family were living at 93 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England at the time

Married: Simon Bernard Glynn in (January - March) 1898 in Liverpool, England. Simon was 23 and Esther 20

Children

Their first child was born in 1898 when Simon was 24 and Esther 21. Their last child was born in 1903 when Simon was 29 and Esther 26 

• Minnie Glynn 1896 - 1980
• Gertrude Glynn 1900 - 1901
• Freda Glynn 1901 - 1903
• Leah (Lily) Glynn 1903 - 1981

Esther and Simon's two daughters who reached adulthood, Lily (on left) and Minnie Glynn in around 1910

Census details

1891

The Levin family is at 88 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England. Esther's parents are Aaron age 48, a furniture broker and Isabella age 33. The children are Jacob, age 19, born in Russia and a draper, Rachel age 17 and a shopkeeper, Esther age 13, Sarah age 11, Leah age 4 and Abraham age 1 month, There are also 3 boarders; Isaac Broady age 48 and a commercial traveller (also a distant cousin of Isabella), Nap Finestone age 32, Judah Rapmorly age 26 and a sick nurse, Sarah Menca age 40

1901

Esther and Simon are married and the family are living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 26 and working at home on his own account as a clothier shop keeper. Esther is age 24 and their daughter Minnie is age 2

1911

The family are living in a 6 room house at 48 Erskine street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 35 and a tailor's cutter working from home on his own account. Esther is age 34 and the two children, Minnie age 12 and Leah age 7 are both at school

1921

The family in the 1921 census taken on 21 June are living at 6 Cairns street, Liverpool, England. Simon is age 46 years and 9 months and a wholesale clothing manufacturer and merchant. He is an employer with his premises at 1 Islington Square, Liverpool. Esther is age 44 years and 3 months and the two children are Minnie age 22 years and 7 months and Lily age 17 years and 11 months. Also living with them is Elizabeth Brown, a domestic servant age 57 years and 4 months

Death

23 November 1921 in Liverpool, England at age 44 / 45 from a stroke. She is buried in the Rice Lane cemetery, Liverpool, England plot no c-17-01

Tombstone for Esther. In loving memory of Esther Glynn, who died 23rd November 1921, aged 45 years. Deeply mourned by her dear husband and daughters

Hebrew translation: Esther Reizel daughter of Aharon. First letter of each row makes it Ester R. Died on the 22 Marcheshvan (Cheshvan) 5682

Death certificate

Death certificate for Esther. She died on 23 November 1921 in her house at 6 Cairns street, Liverpool, England at age 45. Cause of death was heart disease and a stroke

Obituary

GLYNN.-On the 23rd of November, at 6, Cairns-street, Princes Park, Liverpool, after a long illness, Esther, the dearly beloved wife of Simon Glynn. Deeply mourned by her husband, daughters, Minnie and Lily, sisters, and brothers. (Jewish Chronicle, November 1921)

Place of Birth

Esther Levin was born in Sislowitz in the Grodno Province of Belarus

SVISLOCH (Pol. Swisłocz ), town in Grodno district, Belarus; within Poland before 1795 and between the two world wars. A number of Jews settled there at the beginning of the 18th century on the invitation of the owners of the locality, the princes of Tyszkiewicz. In 1752 the Council of Lithuania imposed a poll tax of 215 zlotys on the Svisloch community, which numbered 220 in 1766. Until the middle of the 19th century the Jews of Svisloch earned their livelihood mainly from trade in timber and grain, shopkeeping, and crafts; they later also engaged in innkeeping and the lease of public houses. After a great fire, in which most of the Jewish shops were destroyed, the fairs were no longer held in Svisloch and the Jews were deprived of their principal sources of livelihood. Around 1870 Jews began to pioneer in the tanning industry and improved methods of manufacture with the assistance of German experts whom they invited. By the end of the 19th century a number of tanneries had been established in Svisloch, which employed hundreds of workers. Many Jews from the surrounding areas went there in search of employment. As early as the middle of the 19th century Jewish craftsmen in Svisloch attempted to organize themselves into guilds. At the beginning of the 20th century the Bund Movement developed in Svisloch and it embraced the whole of the Jewish working populace (tanners, tailors, shoemakers, carpenters. smiths, and bakers), who organized strikes for the amelioration of working conditions in tanneries and factories. In 1905 the workers' organization was established for Jewish self-defense against pogroms.

Residences

In the 1891 census the family was listed as living at 88 Richmond Row, Liverpool, England and by the time they were naturalised in 1893 the family had moved to 93 Richmond Row. Both properties no longer exist

In the 1901 census Esther and Simon and their daughter Minnie are living at 79 Soho Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In the 1911 census Esther and Simon and their children are living at 48 Erskine Street, Liverpool, England. The property no longer exists

In the 1921 census the family are living at 6 Cairns Street, Liverpool, England. Simon's factory at 1 Islington square, Liverpool no longer exists. Liverpool University now has a building on the site

Peter Roy Helfet (1952 - 2017)

Peter Roy Helfet is my 2nd cousin 1x removed. Helfet family HERE 

Parents: Herzl Theodore Helfet (1920 - 2002) and Celia Sarah Polen (1920 - 2007)

Born: 11 July 1952 in Cape Town, South Africa

Peter Helfet

Education: Masters Degree, Natural Sciences with First Class Honours at the University of Cambridge 1971 - 1974

Married: 

• Jennifer Lee Sank in (July - September) 1981 in Weybridge, Surrey England. Peter was 29 and Jennifer 31. They were divorced in London, England in December 2003
• Marianne Marquis on 13 July 2014 in Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Children

• Gemma Ruth Helfet 1983 -
• Alexander James Helfet 1987

Work

Peter's work experience as described by him on his Linkedin page

Patents

Peter had several patents granted in the USA, UK and Belgium. Here are two of them

International Patents, 1890-2020

Inventor: Peter Roy Helfet

Residence Place: London Nw4 1sd, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Patent Date: 11 Nov 1983

Patent Country: European Patent Office

Publication Date: 19 Jun 1985

Publication Number: EP0145279A2

Patent Description: Optical data storage

Original Application:

https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6d/cb/99/396d040d3d77df/EP0145279A2.pdf

Abstract: A method of optical data storage is disclosed which comprises encoding data into a code of order M, where M is an integer of 3 or greater, and writing the encoded data onto a receptive optical data storage medium using a laser system capable of generating (M-1) distinguishable pits in the surface of the receptive optical data storage medium. With such a method, the resultant data storage medium contains M different states, these being the lands together with the (M-1) pit states. The invention may be practiced using a plurality of lasers in order to generate the (M-1) pit states; alternatively, a single adjustable laser may be employed, e.g. one in which the intensity and/or wavelength and/or polarisation state of the laser beam may be modulated.

Real-time Fourier transforming transducer and applications thereof

Death

26 July 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA at age 65. He died of myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer and his ashes are buried in Craufurdland Woodland Cemetery near Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland

Residences

Peter grew up at 8 Kingsway, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa

In Maryland Peter lived at 1619 Coolidge Avenue, Severn, Maryland, USA

Celia Sarah Polen (1920 - 2007)

Celia Sarah Polen is the wife of Herzl Theodore Helfet, known as Theo, my maternal 1st cousin 2x removed. Helfet family HERE. 

Parents: Isaac Joseph Polen (Polonetsky) (1895 - 1966) and Rose Israel (1894 - 1988)

Born: 19 August 1920, in Johannesburg, South Africa

Hebrew name: Sarah daughter of Yitzchak Yisrael

Married: Herzl Theo Helfet 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

Cape Town, 27 February 1954, Left to right: Marcus Levin, Herzl and Celia Helfet, Zella Levin, Cynthia and Cyril Helfet and their children Barbara and Leon

The Helfet 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) 

Correspondence

A letter from Celia to my mom dated 13 July 1955 congratulating my parents on their engagement

A letter from Celia to my mom dated 11 October 1956 

A postcard from Celia to my grandparents posted Cape Town, 15 October 1969

Death

15 March 2007 in Leeds, England age 86 and is buried in the Sinai Cemetery there, Section U9, Row M, PLot 1701

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 1955 the family were living at 8 Kingsway, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa

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

Cape Town, about 1921. Sarah Helfet with her 3 youngest children. At left is Girlie Helfet, at the back is Miriam Pearl Helfet and on the right is Theodore Herzl Helfet

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

Cape Town, 27 February 1954, Left to right: Marcus Levin, Herzl and Celia Helfet, Zella Levin, Cynthia and Cyril Helfet and their children Barbara and Leon

Herzl 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."

Residences

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

In 1955 the family were living at 8 Kingsway, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa

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: November 1915 in Calvinia, South Africa

Cape Town, about 1921. Sarah Helfet with her 3 youngest children. At left is Girlie Helfet, at the back is Miriam Pearl Helfet and on the right is Theodore Herzl Helfet

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