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Diane Jacobs

Dear David,
The Hebrew inscription on this headstone is of the given name (Eliyahu) and name of father (Tsvi), without the surname.
In many cases Jews in the diaspora adopt or given a non-Jewish first name, while keeping their Jewish first name (sometimes even in a non-formal way).
My guess is that the name ALEXANDER is the non-Jewish name chosen due to some phonetic resemblance to Eli (which is the short form of Eliyahu).
Q: "What name would Alexander use in any records found in the Pale of Settlement"?
A: In case that ALEXANDER is a name added upon immigration, I would look for Eliyahu אליהו - Most likely = ILLIYA /ELLIYA or ELI  (His father: Tsvi צבי = TSVI/ ZVI/ HIRSH/ HERSH/ GERSH/ /GERSHON/ GRISHA/ GREGORI)

Good luck with your search.
Tsvi ROZENBLAT
Herzliya, ISRAEL

Dear Genners

Hello David,
I agree with the Hebrew translation, but not the Alexander name adoption theory, my grandmother was surname Alexander and in Poland the surname Alexanderowicz going back to around 1800, Alexanderowicz simply means 'of Alexander', my understanding is yes it is a very Western name, but Alexander the Great was much admired by old time Jews as he was considered a friend and protector and many Jews in the 18th and 19th Century were name Alexander long before they came to Western countries.
So would disagree Alexander is a Jewish name for some time.

Regards,
Malcolm Katz
London

Alexander was his secular name. There is no connection between the names.  He could have been Eliyahu or he could have been Sender or some other variant of Alexander.

Chuck Weinstein
chuck1@... 

FISHER was their (common) surname.
I think im the Pale records he would appear Tzvi.
this tomb is new one (shure not from 1908). may be you can ask the descendance who had built it?

Mr Eliahu was the son of Mr Tsvu. His, Eliahu's, loving children built this tomb, supposedly many years after him passed away

There might not necessarily be a "connection" between the names.  Often, people would have a Hebrew name and a secular name that are totally different.

That being said, if you are looking for his father:  The Hebrew name Tzvi often went together with the secular name of Hersh or Hirsch or similar.

And, if the secular date of death would be helpful to you:  The Hebrew date is the 24th of Tamuz, 5668.  This corresponds to July 22/23, 1908.
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Fredel Fruhman
Brooklyn, New York, USA

Alexander can be a given "Hebrew" name (not just an adopted or given secular name in addition to a Hebrew name). In this case since his name in Hebrew was Eliyahu it appears Alexander was taken on as a secular name.
The history of the name being given to Jews is fascinating, here is something from Aish.com explaining it.
"Alexander
This name originated with Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia. The Talmud relates that upon meeting the High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, Alexander dismounted and bowed to him. (Alexander rarely, if ever, bowed to anyone.) Alexander explained that he had seen the High Priest in a dream, which he interpreted as a good omen. Alexander thus peacefully absorbed the Land of Israel into his growing empire. In tribute, the Sages decreed that Jewish boys born that year (333 BCE) be named Alexander. It remains a popular Jewish name today. (variation: Sender)"

Binyamin Kerman
Baltimore MD