Memorial Plaque

Question

Person’s memorial plaque shows Oct 1, 1947 as date of death.
The Hebrew year is 5708.

It shows a letter (which is cut off; it might be BET)
This is followed by a space and then

דחוה׳מ סוכות

Please explain what these words mean?

What is the Hebrew date in Tishrei that this person died?

0

Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Wednesday October 1st 1947 was the 17th of Tishrei 5708. The letters “דחוה׳מ סוכות” mean Chol Hamoed Sukkot and, as you surmised, the the cut-off letter is a Bet (2), as it was the second day of Chol Hamoed.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team

  2. ev ba
    October 28, 2019 at 10:49 pm

    I agree that Oct 1, 1947 = 17 Tishrei 5708.  However,
    if the death occurred after sunset, the Hebrew date would be 18 Tishrei 5708.
    That is why the Chol Hamoed words are very important to determine
    whether the date is the 17th or the 18th of Tishrei.

    In the Diaspora (I am in the U.S.),
    Tishrei 17 = Sukkot day3 and Chol Hamoed Sukkot day1
    Tishrei 18 = Sukkot day4 and Chol Hamoed Sukkot day2

    I know that Bet relates to 2 and Dalet relates to 4.

    דחוה׳מ
    What words do each of the letters in this word represent?

  3. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team
    October 29, 2019 at 6:55 am

    You are absolutely correct. The chances are that it was after nightfall which would have made it the second day of (yom bet) Chol Hamoed outside of Israel.

    The letters “דחוה׳מ” are a truncated version of “d’Chol Hamoed”.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team