Inscriptions on Jewish Tombstones in Poland Prior to World War II

Just as the symbols differe depending on the gender of the deceased, the standard epitaphs written on Jewish Tombstones in Poland prior to World War II differ greatly depending on whether a man or a woman is buried there. The tombstone shown bears a fairly normal inscription for a man - it mentions his status and occupation and gives his exact age. Sometimes the inscriptions will refer to the deceased man as righteous and respected, perhaps god-fearing or scholarly. Occasionally the inscriptions will be particularly elaborate and include some sort of word play or a poem. Regardless, a Polish-Jewish man's family will almost commission a tombstone that mentions the man's position and status in society, occasionally even his political beliefs. These epitaphs stand in stark contrast to those found on the graves of Polish-Jewish women prior to the Second World War. 

"Aaron Goldblatt, a senior mailing official, Polish Army officer (...) passed away 11 October, 1935. To the most beloved husband and the best father - from wife and daughter. May his respectable soul rest in peace. Honor to his noble memory."

Another example of a male epitaph on a Jewish tombstone. Again, it lists his profession, and his standing in the Polish Army. The rest of the inscription was illegible, as is indicated by the elipses. 

In tombstone inscriptions, women are primarily remembered as daugthers or mothers. The tombstone here refers to Chawa only as a virtuous women and, while it gives the date of her death, it does not tell us when she was born. Generally, the standard epitaph for women reflects only the ideal Jewish woman. They are remembered as being clean, diligent in performing religious duties, generous and respected. However, their exact age is almost never mentioned. Sometimes an inscription will refer to them as old, or young, but they are rarely more specific to that. Motherhood is also rarely mentioned on Jewish tombstones. The few times a woman is refered to as a mother, it is almost always because she died during childbirth or soon after.  

"Here rests the old, respected, virtuous, righteous woman, the woman of valor and of generous heart, Miriam, daughter of Yehuda, may his memory be blessed, wife of Moses Tzvi, peace on him, Huppert. She passed away on Rosh Hodesh Adar year 698, at 88 year of her age. May her soul be bound in the bundle of life."

This example of female epitaph is somewhat unusual in that it mentions Miriam's specific age, but is standard in its description of her virtue and righteousness. Furthermore, it describes her as the daughter of Yehuda and the wife of Moses Tzvi and commemorates both of them on her tombstone as well.