Mark Cohen

Researcher: Janet Marquet

Nestled under the shade of 150-year-old trees, on the eastern corner of the cemetery, is the Jewish section. Mark Cohen and his wife Sara are among  members of the Jewish community buried here. The inscription simply records dates of death. The only indication of Cohen’s social standing is the Hon. before his name and the letters MLC (Member of the Legislative Council).

The Cohen headstone does not feature any Jewish iconography. Compared to other headstones nearby, the design and lettering appears to be more modern than the time of their death. This may therefore be a replacement headstone.

Nearby is the grave of the Cohens’ young daughter Eva who died in 1884. Unlike her parents’ grave, Eva’s headstone does contain Jewish iconography.

Bendix Hallenstein

Researcher: Tiffany Jenks

In the sloping vandalised Jewish section of the south-eastern corner of Dunedin’s Southern Cemetery, is the headstone of Bendix Hallenstein. His grave reflects his Jewish ethnicity with a Hebrew inscription which refers to the Hebrew name of Bendix (Pinhas, son of Reuben), and his daughter Henrietta (Madam Hannah) whilst reiterating the English inscription. It also gives his date of death in the Hebrew calendar, Hallenstein dying on the 1st, Shevat, 5645. The stone also features an open rose which symbolises a full life of love and triumph, which reflects the sentiment towards Hallenstein held by the Dunedin community.

He was a highly esteemed entrepreneur of New Zealand’s 19th century textiles industry and was heavily involved in Otago’s political sphere as a mayor, a member of the House of Representatives, and the Dunedin German Consul until his death in 1905. He is famous today for the establishment of the clothing company Hallenstein Brothers.

Although his origins do not feature on his headstone, Hallenstein was born in Brunswick, Germany, in 1835. He married Mary, an English woman, with whom he had four daughters who were all educated in both the Anglican and Jewish faiths. Hallenstein is buried with his daughter Henrietta Hyams who died in 1895, along with his son-in-law (and nephew) Willi Fels who died in 1946. Unlike Hallenstein, Fels’ Brunswick origins are inscribed on the headstone.