Most Ancient Tombstones

Newly exhibited for the first time on this website

These tombstones were neglected for decades until 1997 when they were restored to a dignified manner. Some of these tombstones are broken and therefore are not easy to read. In any case, we feel it is best to present them here in order for people to appreciate them as a genealogical resource. They are located in the area of the cemetery shown in the photo below:

Image	Name	Hebrew Date	Date	Translation
	Alhadeff, Esther	5637	1877
	Alhadeff, Giamila	5622	1862
	Alhadeff, Gracia	5607	1847	Blessed He who judges in truth. The voice of all is heard with broken hips and Shumuel screamed, woe, as fire came down from heaven, on my youthful wife with hard and bitter torture, in her few years she left with children. Stormy poor, she is the woman, Mrs. Gracia Tamar, the wife of the wise, Shumuel Alhadeff, may God protect him, and she died on the 3rd day of Passover, the year 5607 (1847), to the days of the world. Her her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Alhadeff, Lea Mazaltov	5613	1853
	Alhadeff, Mordehai		1853
	Alhadeff, Shemtov	5578	1818	Translation: A burial stone of the learned young man, Shemtov Alhadeff, his soul in Eden, was taken to the house of his world on the 8th day of the month of Iyar of the year 5578 (1818) since creation. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Alhadeff, Samuel	5617	1857
	Alhadeff, Yahiel	5633	1873
	Alhadeff, Yahiel	5633	1873
	Alhadeff, Yosef		1873
	Alhadeff, Dinar	5426	1666	The burial stone, woman of valor, Mrs. Dinar, wife of Shemtov Alhadeff, of blessed memory, departed the 1st of the month Menahem (Av), the year 5426 ... since creation.
	Alhadeff, Azariah	5550	1790	Blessed be the judge of truth. Burial stone of the wise, his soul in paradise, the departed and distinguished, Azariah Alhadeff, he was taken to the house of eternity the 9th day of the month of Nissan, the year 5550 (1790) since creation. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Alkana,	5631	1871
	Almeleh, Shumuel		1871
	Amato, Avraham	5615	1855
	Amato, Yosef	5604	1844	Blessed be the judge of truth. Burial place of the elderly, Yosef Amato, his soul in Eden, who was taken to the house of his world on the 4th day of the month of Tivet, the year 5604 (1844). May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Amato, Yosef		1844
	Arughetti, Yakov		1844
	Ashkenazi, David	5563	1802	Blessed be the truthful judge. My father and my mother are bitterly crying over the glory of youth, the young and wise, David Ashkenazi, his soul in paradise, who was plucked away in his youth on Monday, the 30th of the month of Sivan the year 5563. May his soul be bound in the bond of life, to the place of abundance.
	Benatar, David		1802
	Benatar, Haim Yosef		1802
	Benatar, Rebeca		1802
	Benatar, Yacov		1802
	BenVeniste, David	5597	1837	Blessed be the judge of truth. Burial place of the pleasant student, David BenVeniste, first born of Mihail, his soul in Eden, was taken to the house of his world, on the eve of the 1st of Sivan, the year 5597, of the days of the world. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	BenVeniste, Avraham	5631	1871	With God’s word. The sounds of pain and mourning. His wife shrieking in her cry. Because her light was turned away from her and she became a widow and weeping wailing. Woe to the world that was left, and on this earth will mourn. The aged, who died in agony, Avraham BenVeniste, his soul in Eden. The 8th of the month of Iyar, year 5631 (1871). May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	BenVeniste, Hanula	5600	1840	Blessed be the judge of truth. Burial stone of a precious woman of valor, and she is dead because she descended to earth. She is the woman, honorable and humble, Mrs. Hanulah Tamah, the wife of the wise and exalted Mr. Yitzhak BenVeniste, that died on the 4th day of the month of Sivan, the year 5600 (1840) since the world’s creation. May her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	BenVeniste, Haim		1840
	BenVeniste,		1840
	BenVeniste, Yitzhak		1840
	Berro, Yosef	5601	1841	Blessed be the judge of truth. Burial stone of the honorable and distinguished, Yousef Berro, his soul in paradise, sent to his world on the 9th day of the month of Kislev, the year 5601 since creation (1841). May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Berro, Uriel #1		1841
	Berro, Uriel #2		1841
	Capeluto, Rafael Yosef	5616	1856	Blessed He who judges in truth. Carry a lament in awe, he is no more. On this fine man who lies in dirt and he is still young and his anger burned in him leaving behind small children, lament and mourn, may be become a pearl, this man created...oppressed in torture the wise man and elevated, Rafael Yosef Capeluto, his soul in Eden, and Yosef died on the 16th day of the month of Tamuz, 5616.
	Capeluto, Rahel	5585	1825	Blessed be the judge of truth. Cry a bitter cry over my youthful wife, as her dance turned into mourning, and she is bitter. This is the burial place of the honorable woman and the righteous, Mrs. Rahel Tamar, wife of the honorable Yitzhak Capelouto, taken to the house of eternity on the 15th of Shivat, the year 5585 (1825). May her soul be bound in the bond of life. To the house of abundance.
	Cohen, Haim	5584	1824	Blessed be the Judge of truth. Let’s cry and cry in the effortless weeping voice. That suddenly came his tragedy and he drowned within the harbor. Plucked and cut off his head and brains on the rocks, and the rest of his body was not returned. This is the burial stone of the wise and elevated as a hill, Haim HaCohen, his soul in Eden, that was taken to the house of his world on the 26th of the month of Shivat, the year 5584 (1824) since the creation of the world. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	De Leon, Ishaya	5544	1784	Burial stone of the young and wise as a hill, Ishaya De Leon, was taken to his world, on the 15th day of Adar, the year 5544.
	Ferera, Clara	5566	1806	Blessed be the Judge of truth. Carry an ode of lament with a bitter voice over the woman. Like Sarah, her light has passed. Burial place of the honorable and humble woman, Clara, the supporter of Avraham Ferreira. She was taken to her world on the 12th day of Elul, the year 5566 (1806). May her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Fintz, Aharon	5617	1857	Blessed be the judge of truth; and this stone that I laid as a memorial to the wise and elevated, oppressed by his sufferings, the man, Aharon Fintz, his soul in Eden. And Aharon died on the 18th day of the month of Shivat. May his seed inherit the earth, let it be. The year 5617 (1857).
	Fintz, Mihail Shumuel	5614	1854	Blessed be the judge of truth, all his judgments are just and truth. The voice of mourning is heard as a howl. The earth embroiled with illness and Shumuel passed by. The sound of his sons weeping bitterly. Orphans we became in bitter sadness. Trapped in our transgressions. The crown of our heads has fallen in the middle of his days, cut off from his people, Shumuel. A woman’s voice screaming as a bird, and her tear is on her cheek, for he has descended to the dark depth of earth. Judged is the exalted, the wise and the elevated, the departed, holy is his name, Mihail Shumuel Fintz. Shumuel, his soul in Eden, that died. On the day of God’s judgment. The 8th day of the month of Adar, of the year in the garden of Eden, shall God bring Shumuel. His soul in goodness will rest and his seed will inherit the earth 5614 (1854).
	Hasson, Uriel	5500	1738	Blessed He who judges truth. The tombstone of the wise and lofty as a mountain, Uriel Hasson, his soul in Eden, was taken to the house of his world on the 20th day of the month of Kislev, 5500, of the days of the world.
	Hasson, Reina	5623	1863	Blessed be the judge of truth. This stone that I put as a tombstone to the honorable, humble and pure, Mrs. Reina, widow of Natan Hasson, may her soul be in paradise, who died the 17th day of the month of Tishreh, the year 5623 (1863).
	Israel, Benjamin Yehuda	5595	1835	As God has spoken, burial place of the elderly... Benjamin Yehuda Israel, his soul in paradise, on the 5th day of the month of Shivat, the year 5595.
	Israel, Miriam	5607	1847	Blessed be the judge of truth, the sound of crying is heard like a wailing from her husband on the youthful wife. My mouth decorated with silk has drunk a glass of bitterness; she left a son to be suckled; poor bitterness; storm become a pearl; she is the woman, the honorable, the righteous and the pure, Mrs. Miriam, the wife of Shabetai Israel, departed the 9th of the month of Kislev, the year 5607 (1847). May her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Levi, Yakov	5564	1804	Burial stone of the wise, aged and distinguished man, Yacov HaLevi, he was taken to the house of eternity on the 9th day of the month of Kislev, in the year 5564. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Levy, Oro	5528	1768	Burial stone of the honorable and humble woman, Mrs. Oro...Pazan, the wife of Yehuda Ha Levy, that was taken to the house of her world, on the 20th day of Tamuz, the year 5528. May her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Menashe,		1768
	Menashe, Haim		1768
	Menashe, Rafael	5627	1867
	Menashe, Yitzhak	5627	1867
	Menashe, Yitzhak	5616	1856	Translation: Blessed be the judge of truth. This stone that I put as a tombstone, to the wise, high and elevated, Yitzhak Menashe, his soul in Eden, and Yitzhak faded and died on the 19th day of the month of Adar (first), the year 5616 (1856).
	Mizrahi,	5617	1857
	Mizrahi, Yitzhak	5609	1849
	Mizrahi, Yitzhak		1849
	Musafir, Sarah		1849
	Nahmias, Sarah		1849
	Nahmias, Avraham	5555	1795	Blessed be the judge of truth. Mourn the torment, woe to my livelihood. My husband and my mother are in agony too. In my cocoon, my chosen one, in his grave. To my father Daktani. In my bed without conception, and agony inside me. My song is bitterly discarded in crying voice, in the midst of songs imprisoned. Her fortifications are my flesh and skin. Carry an ode of bereavement as the day is bitter. And all of her vitality is bitter sadness. Bitterness on top of distress are my light and glory, days of betrothal my mourning. A beautiful daughter is my grave. My destiny is broken bitterness. The holy righteous, the young man, wise and clever in learning, glory of youth, the man, Avraham Nahmias, of blessed memory was taken to the house of eternity on the 5th day of the month of Shivat, 5555 (1795). For lasting honor may his soul be bound in the bond of life in the highest garden of Eden.
	Piha, Menahem		1795
	Piha, Behor Shlomo	5629	1869	... and this stone that you put as a marker for that person, the honorable elderly, Behor Shlomo Piha, his soul in Eden, who died on the 9th day of the month of Sivan, the year 5629. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Pilosof, Linda	5624	1863	Blessed be the judge of truth. Her husband cries over her that in his smallness he drank the glass of poison. Cry, crying, night and day, over his wife, the woman of his youth. Suddenly his house was ruined prematurely and out of time. Always remembering the wife of his youth, not to forget. All of a sudden, in his youth, she went early. She had hard labor in birth. She is the woman, the strong, and the humble, Mrs. Caden Linda Tamar, the wife of Gabriel Pilosof, who died on the 2nd day of the month of Tamuz, the year 5624 (1863).
	Russo, Avraham		1863
	Russo, Avraham	5539	1779	Burial stone of the wise elder man and elevated as a hill, Avraham Russo, was taken to the house of his world on the 18th day of the month of Heshvan, the year 5539, since the creation of the world. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Shalom, Samuel		1779
	Shemaria, Yakov		1779
	Shemaria, Yakov	5622	1862
	Shemaria, Yitzhak		1862
	Shemaria, Moshe	5544	1784	Blessed be the judge of justice and truth. Observe a man in shadows, passing into a cold grave of heart seizure. This burial stone of the wise and elevated elder man, Moshe Shemaria, was taken to the house of his world on the 1st day of the month of Tivet, the year 5544, since creation. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Sidis, Avraham	5597	1837	Blessed be the truthful judge. The burial stone of the elevated and wise elder, Avraham Sidis, his soul in Eden, was taken to the house of his world on the 30th day of the month of Sivan, 5597 (1837), since the creation of the world. May his soul be bound in the bond of life. To the place of abundance.
	Tarica, Yehuda	5560	1800	Children of my people, cry the mourning and the children of my mother in every corner of my world that has turned to adversity and my happiness turned to demise, and this is for you a plea, may your consolation be my joy in my rest. The wise and distinguished man, Yehuda Tarica. The 12th day Kislev, 5560. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Tarica, Sol	5559	1799	Blessed be the judge of truth. Let us cry with a bitter soul over a woman of my youth. Tears like rivers, and her dance became mourning, I shall mourn bitterly, with a cry of bitterness, for she was plucked away before her time, with trembling and fear and shivering. Woe, the missed beautiful woman, a woman of sparkle, left her sons in the hand of strangers, and she is bitter. The honorable and humble woman, Sol, wife of the wise and learned, Yousef Tarica, may he live. She was taken to the house of her world, on the 21st day of the month of Av, in the year, 5559 (1799). May her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Turiel, Rahamim	5660	1900	Blessed be the judge of truth. The mother's voice cries in bitterness, brothers and sisters together on the death of the good son, young, about to be married, Rahamim Turiel, son of Moshe, of blessed memory, and he died on the 27th day of the month of Shivat, 5660 (1900).

The following is a sample of the most ancient tombstones of the Jewish cemetery of Rhodes. They were photographed by Aron Hasson and translated into English by Yitzhak Dekel (a member of the Joseph & Sarina Tarica family).

	Moshe Sidi (1593) Translation: Burial stone of the dear, the honor of our master, Moshe Sidi, departed to the house of his world, and was buried the 22nd day of the month of Av, the year 5353 (1593). May his soul be bound in the bond of life. (In Greek: MENΩ ΘPAΣYMHAEYΣ = I Live Thracimilefs)
	Nerassiah Hasson (1655) Translation: Burial stone, for a doe of beauty, Nerassiah, the daughter of the dear, and distinguished Avraham Hasson, her soul in paradise, died the 7th day of Adar, the year 5415 (1655). May her soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Moshe Nahmias (1662) Translation: I shall mourn with a bitter voice, I will not keep quiet over a righteous man, as a date tree, the man, Moshe… something was said about Moshe; Praise and cry in the bitterness of mourning Moshe,…after the death of Moshe, the torah cried in bitterness, the torah that gave without….and the torah of Moshe is the tombstone of wise and elevated, hassid and humble, chasing charity and the needy, Moshe Nahmias, the memory of a righteous man is a blessing, departed to the house of the worlds on the 5th day of the month of Elul, the year 5422 (1662) since creation.
	Yehudah HaCohen (1666) Translation: The death stone of the master, Yehudah HaCohen, may his soul be in Eden, died the beginning of the month of Elul, the year 5426 (1666). May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Dalessiah Nehemiah (1670) Translation: Burial stone of the dear daughter, Dalessiah… of the dear husband, Yekutiel Nehemiah, departed to the house of the worlds, the beginning day of the month of Tivet, the year 5430 (1670) since creation.
	Dona de Carmona (1671) Translation: Burial stone of the humble Mrs. Dona, wife of the honorable elder, Avraham de Carmona, departed on Tuesday, the 10th of the month of Sivan, 5431 (1671). May her soul be in Eden (paradise). (Carmona is a small city near Seville in the southern part of Spain.)
	Yaacov HaLevi (1727) Translation: Burial stone for the dearly departed of young age, Yaacov Halevi, departed on Wednesday, the 29th day of the month of Sivan, the year 5487 (1727), since creation. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Shlomo Ashkenazi (1739) Translation: Burial stone to the dear, wise and elevated, honorable master, Shlomo Ashkenazi, he was taken to the house of the world, on the 14th day of the month of Tishreh, the year 5499 (1739), since creation. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Yitzhak Surmani (1746) Translation: Burial stone for a dear student, the pleasant, Yitzhak Surmani, he was taken to the house of eternity on the 6th day of the month of Tivet, the year 5506 (1746).
	Hazdiah BenVeniste (1763) Translation: Look at this marker, which is the burial stone of the wise, and high as a mountain, Hazdai Veniste, he was taken to the house of eternity, on the 16th of the month of Tamuz, the year 5523 (1763). May his soul be bound in the bond of life.
	Yitzhak Franco (1766) Translation: Because of a jar (urn) of his remains was embedded here. Soul friend, youthful charm chosen and wise as a hill, Yitzhak Franco, his soul in paradise, was taken to the house of his world on the 24th day of Tamuz, the year 5526 (1766). May his soul be bound with God.
	Yaakov Codron (1768) Translation: On the death of a dear son, the young man and steady as a hill, Yaacov Codron, was taken to the house of his world on the 4th day of the month of Sivan, the year 5528 (1768). May his soul be bound in the bond of life.