International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies - Cemetery Project

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LITHUANIA


THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

LitvakSIG: http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak

http://www.haruth.com/JewsLithuania.html [October 2000]
http://www.fjc.ru/lithuaniafr.htm [October 2000]

The Vilna Gaon Museum in Vilnius, Lithuania has initiated a team project to photograph and document all Jewish cemeteries found in Lithuania. Much work has been done already. For this project contact: The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum
Director, Rachel Kostanian
12 Pamenkalnio St., LT-2001 Vilnius.
4 Pylimo St., LT-2001 Vilnius. Tel.: +370-2-620730.
E-mail: jmuseum@delfi.lt
Website: not currently available - information is at:
http://www.jewishartnetwork.com/JewishArt/vilna_gaon.asp [October 2001]

The Lithuanian American Genealogy Society in Chicago, Illinois has resources and materials: Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Rd., Chicago, Ill 60629-5136; (312) 582-6500

The list of Lithuanian cities and towns where Jews were massacred is taken from the Book of Sorrows, published by VAGA Publishers, Gedimino 50, 2600 Vilnius, Lithuania. The index is based on information of town and district municipalities, in "Lithuanian Jews", vol. 4, published in Tel Aviv, 1984, as well as other sources. Next to the town name is a brief description followed by the pages containing the descriptions and then followed by the photograph numbers. Permission to include this data in the IAJGS International Jewish Cemetery Project was received by Arline Sachs from the Lithuanian embassy via the US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad: http://www.preservationcommission.org

THE CEMETERIES

THE CEMETERIES S-Z

Skip to THE CEMETERIES starting with
B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - N - O - P-Q - R -

ABEL: see Obeliai

ADUTISHKIS:
Former shooting-ground of Svencioneliai, at the river Zeimena 154-165 pic. # 276-279. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad wish cemetery; 123 pic.# 165-166 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     The cemetery was in a valley at the back of the town that has now encroached upon it. The building was rapidly taking over when I was there in 1995, only about 10% of cemetery was still intact. Source: Len Yodaiken: shoshly@canaan.co.il

ALEKSANDRAVELE:
site unknown. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

ALEKSANDRIA: see ZEMAICIY NAUMIESTIS
ALEKSANDROVSK: see ZEMAICIY NAUMIESTIS

ALSEDZIAI:
Near the village of Geruliai, 10 km E of Telsiai; 172, pic.# 300. Telsiai, near the territory of dairy company "Zemaitijos pienas"; 175; pic. # 310. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad :
Forest of Rase, 2 km from Utena; 179-181; pic. # 320-326 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

ALYTUS:
54º24', 24º03'
Forest of Vidzgiris near Alytus: 74-77 pic.# 48-52.
Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/alytus/alite.html [October 2000]
    Mass murder site in Alytus: "From the police station, go to the dead-end (at the pedestrian street). Turn right. Go straight about 1 km to the dead end. The site has multiple memorials, both Jewish and Lithuanian. Also about ten large white pyramids are scattered in the woods probably covering the former killing pits. One of the signs in Lithuanian says, 'Be still. For the ground you walk on is filled with blood.' The synagogue is in terrible shape. The Jewish community cannot afford to fix the building; and the city does not know what to do with it." Source: http://www.mrt5.com/Lithuania.html#Vilkija

ANTALIEPTE:
Forest of Krakyne, Deguciai county; 190-191; pic. # 348-350 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

ANYKSCIAI:
Near Ariogala, at the road Anykgeiai-Skiemonys; 80-81; pic. # 57-59 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

ANIKSHT:
     A local writer, Rimantas Vanagas has a grant [date?] from the Soros Foundation to do a history of the Jews of Aniksht. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com
     Aniksht and Kurkil Cemeteries are neatly fenced at the top of a hill under 3 feet of overgrowth. Tombstones are largely legible, most only patronymic. The more important personages have letters cut deeper into the stones. There is a lot of natural weathering. Many stones were stolen. The same has occurred in the Catholic cemetery. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com
     Once, there were as many as 1,000 graves in this cemetery. The cemetery was beautiful as trails weave along its hillside. Today, what remains is some dozen old, weather beaten stones at the very top of the hill (too much of a bother for the Russians to pull down?). The cemetery is a rolling green hill where the bodies are unmarked but which the Lithuanian government, to their recent credit, have maintained. Down the street (Saltupio Gatve) is the old Shulhoif (Synagogue Center and Beit Midrash/House of Study). Today, it is used as a bakery. I have many slides of the cemetery and of the few graves that are left. Although the lettering is decipherable, it is extremely difficult to read. Source: Michael Libenson, bumknee@erols.com

ANYKSHCHIAI:
Cemetery is quite large and has many readable tombstones. Source: Myrna Siegel, 2149 Iroquois Rd. Wilmette, IL 60091 ssi448@nwu.edu

ARIOGALA:
Near Ariogala, 2 km from the town, in southern valley of the river Dubysa 147; pic. # 231-232 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

AUKSTADVARIS:
Forest of Varnikai, 3 km from Trakai, on the bank of the lake; 176; pic. # 311-312 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

AUKSTOJI PANEMUNE: {10255}
Yiddish name: Ponemon. Location: Suburb of Kaunas, directly across the Niemen river. Address: 178 Viadoto Gotve; Years of operation: ca. 1790 - 1940 Size: Only two gravestones remain. Contact person: Former mortuary building is now a private residence, but a marker next to the building identifies the site. Gravestone names remounted and standing in Panemune cemetery; one is a double stone. Source: Rabbi Jeff Marx, 1448 18th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 310-453-4276; 74666.1675@compuserve.com

B

BABTAI:
Pine forest of Babtai, about 2 km from the town, at the river Nevezis; 99; pic. # 105-106 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

BAISOGALA:
Near the village of Pestinukai, 1.5 km from Krakes; 101; pic. # 110-111. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

BALBIERISKIS:
     Prienai, the northern outskirts of the town; 142; pic. # 215-216 Marijampole, near the barracks; 120; pic. # 159. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad sp; I visited the Balbieriskis Jewish cemetery on July 31, 1997 with guide Regina Kopilevich. Balbieriskis is north of Alytus in the Marijampole district of Lithuania. The Jewish cemetery is in a pasture just off the Alytus-Balbieriskis road, to the right before one reaches the town heading north. No road or path exists to the cemetery, so one must walk through a cow pasture to reach it. A wooden fence encloses the cemetery. The entrance is through a concrete archway marked with a plaque in Hebrew, Yiddish and Lithuanian reading "Old Jewish Cemetery." About 50 gravestones date from the 19th and 20th centuries, many with last names. The cemetery is in fairly good condition. The upright stones are very legible with very little overgrowth. Source: Eric L. Goldstein, 12 Monroe Place #2, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-1058; ELGOLD1@aol.com

BATAKIAI: also see Shkudvil

BALNINKAI:
Pine forest of Pivonija, about 4 km from Ukmerge. 177-178; pic. # 315-318. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad:
Probably people were killed in the Jewish cemetery of Mazeikiai. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad:
Forest of Gryblaukis, 22 km NE of Taurage. 170; pic. # 294 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

BATOK: see Shkudvil

BAZILIONYS:
Zagate, town park. 90; pic. # 84-85. source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad:
Near Adogala, 2 km from town, southern valley of the river Dubysa; 147; pic. # 231-232 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

BIRSTONAS:
Near the village of Klydzionys, about 0.5 km from the road Butrimonys-Pivasiunai (two massacre sites); 78-79; pic. # 55-56. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

BIRZAI:
Birzai, Jewish cemetery; 85; pic. # 69; Forest of Astravas 3.5 km N of Birzai; 84; pic. # 67-68. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     The cemetery still exists and is in good condition with about 400 tombstones. Source: Aleksandrs Feigmanis, Kahovkas 2-12 LV-1021, Riga, Latvia; aleksgen@mailcity.com

BESSAGOLA:
Cemetery is on the way to Grinkiskis, on the banks of a river. Half flooded by a dam. About 30 stones of which 15 are readable.

BUDA:
Unknown, probably people were killed in Prienai or Marijampole

BUGASLAVISKIS:
Pine forest of Pivonija about 4 km from Ukmerge. 177-178; pic. # 315-318. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad YS: Alytaus raj.
     Cemetery is very neglected, but has a fence and a sign in Yiddish. Stones are sunken, leaning, torn out, and missing. Used until the Holocaust, site is probably 150-200 years old. About 250 stones are now visible. No caretaker or Jews are in the town. Sympathetic Lithuanian woman (who speaks Yiddish because she worked for Jewish families until the Holocaust) could be used as a contact person: Domicele Kirilova-Kurlaviciene, Kudirkos St. #4, Butrimonis, Alytaus raj., Lithuania
     Forest of Vidzgiris, near Alytus; 74-77; pic. # 48-52. Near the village of Klydzionys, about 0,5 km from the road Butrimonys-Pivalianai (two massacre sites); 78-79; pic. # 55-56 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     On Sept. 5 and 7, 1997, we spent over seven hours photographing and videotaping the tombstones in the Butrimonys Jewish cemetery. The cemetery had been cleaned up. The grass and bushes had been cut before we arrived. Also, some of the tombstones along the eastern side had been righted. (I noticed this after I returned home and compared our tape to one that Harold Rhode had sent me before our trip.) This concerns me as a few of the stones do not look like they belong on the bases that they are now on. The cemetery has a good metal fence around it except on the western back. Someone has removed three or four sections and so it is easy to enter there. Along the north side of the cemetery is a sign and a gate. All of the tombstones face the western side of the cemetery. In the southeastern corner are many "modern" tall tombstones all in rows. As we walked to the north and the west, we could see many large rocks sticking out of the ground or just feel the hard rocks under our feet. Upon more investigation, we found more rock tombstones. We spent many hours digging away the dirt in front of these stones and cleaning them. I took over 350 photos; and my husband Mike videotaped each stone while Regina Kopelovich read off names and dates. There are approximately 150 more "rock" tombstones still in the ground that we did not have time to work on. We catalogued each tombstone by row and number. So far, the earliest date we have recorded is 1855 and the latest is 1945. The person in charge of this cemetery is Josef Levinson in Vilnius. Submitted by Marcia Pailet-Abrams Jaffe, Dayton, Ohio; pailet@infinet.com

C

CEKISKE:
     Forest at the river Gystus, 2 km from Veliuona in the direction Jurbarkas. The remains brought to the forest of Pakarke (see Vilkija) US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     "I visited Cekiske Jewish cemetery on August 3, 1997 with guide Regina Kopilevich. Cekiske is in the Kaunas district of Lithuania on the Dubysa River. The cemetery is south of the town, on the left side of the main road heading south towards Seredzius (Srednik). No road or path exists to the cemetery, so one must walk through a cow pasture to reach the cemetery, which is enclosed with a chain link fence that one may easily step over. The grass seemed to have been cut recently. A stone marker reads: "Old Jewish Cemetery" in Lithuanian and Yiddish. There are 63 tombstones, a few of which are toppled or illegible, but many are in good condition. Of these, 17 have last names. Kopilevich reported that the Cekiske cemetery is one of the oldest that she has seen in Lithuania, with some tombstones dated as early as the 1810's and 1820's. The latest burials are from the 1930's. I have transcribed the names and year of death for all the existing tombstones." To receive a copy of the list, contact: Eric L. Goldstein, 12 Monroe Place #2, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-1058, ELGOLD1@aol.com .

CHAVIADAN: see Kvedarna
CHELM: see KELME
CHWEIDAN: see Kvedarna

D

DARBENAI:
Near Darbinai, outskirts of the forest, about 100 m. at the road in direction Lazdininkai; 113; pic. # 142
     Forest of Baitas Kalnas (two massacre sites); 114; pic. # 144- 145. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     I visited the Darbenai Jewish Cemetery with guide Regina Kopilevich on August 4, 1997. Darbenai is in the Kretinga district of Lithuania, north of Palanga and a few miles from the Baltic coast. To reach the cemetery, enter the town square from the south and turn right at the northern end. The cemetery is down that road on the left side in a wooded area. A stone wall surrounds it. The entrance is reached by driving down a small dirt road that takes you to the far side of the cemetery. There are more than 70 tombstones, most in excellent condition; and the grass was cut. Of the many cemeteries I visited in Lithuania, the one in Darbenai was in, by far, the best condition. We discovered that a local man, Vladas Audziunas, serves as caretaker although he receives no regular salary and appreciates contributions. His address is Laisves 26, Darbenai, Kretingos rajonas, Lithuania. Local phone number: 56226. Two memorials marking the place where the Nazis killed men and women are in the nearby woods. We spoke with the mayor of Darbenai, Edvardas Stalmokas, about erecting signs that point to the location of the memorials and the cemetery. Source: Eric L. Goldstein, 12 Monroe Place #2, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-1058, ELGOLD1@aol.com .
     Borbyan: Source: Raymond Whitzman, 5787 McAlear Ave., Cote St. Luc, Quebec, Canada H4W 2H3 He has all photos of it.

DARSUNKISHKIS:
Forest of Strosiunai, Ziezemariai county, (two massacre sites);93; pic. # 89-90. Jewish cemetery of Darsuniskis; 95; pic. # 96. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DAUGAI:
Forest of Vidzgiris near Alytus; 74-77; pic. # 48-52; Unknown. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DEBEIKIAI:
Forest of Rase, 2 km from Utena;17-181; pic. # 320-326. Near the village of Janonys, Debeikiai county; 83; pic. # 65. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DIEVENISKES:
5412 2537, 35.5 miles SSE of Vilnius. Yiddish: Divinishok. Alternate names: Divinishuk, Devenishki, Devyanishkes, Dievenishkes. See http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Dieveniskes/dieveniskes.htm [March 2001]
Also see: Belarus, Voronovo. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad . In Lida District, Vilna guberniya, then Grodno guberniya: http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Lida-District/lida-dist.htm

DOTNUVA:
Near the village of Pestinukai, 1.5 km from Krakes; 101; pic. # 110-111 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DRUSKENINKAI:
"In 1974, I [Eugene Wiglin] spent my vacation in Druskeninkai, Lithuania - a lovely resort, surrounded by splendid forests. / One day my girlfriend and I went out of town and walked slowly in the pine forest, gathering strawberries. Suddenly I reached a place where the berries were extremely rich, growing abundantly near a group of strange stones among the trees. /The stones really looked strange - narrow and protruding high above the ground. At first glance, they looked natural, covered with thick moss. Coming closer, I was shocked. They were obviously very old gravestones, abandoned in the middle of the forest. And on some of them you could still trace remains of Hebrew inscriptions. I recognized letters, but my knowledge was not enough to read anything." Source: "It's All Relative: Decoding the Details." Jerusalem Post. 20 June 2002.

DUBINGIAI:
Pine forest of Pivonija, about 4 km from Ukmerge; 177-178; pic. # 315-318. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DUKSHTAS:
Former shooting-ground of Svenecioneliai, at the river Zieimena; 164-165; pic. # 276-279 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DUSETOS:
Forest of Krakyne, Deguciai county; 190-191; pic. # 348-350 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

DUSETOS: Ezhreni (Zarasai) district
Cemetery is generally neglected, though grass is sometimes cut. A wall with a Hebrew sign surrounds. Stones are sunken, leaning, torn out, and missing. Used until the Holocaust, the site is probably 150-200 years old. About 300 stones are now visible. No caretaker and no Jews are in the town. Lithuanian mayor could be used as contact person: Dienemis Algis, Vytauto Gatve 29, dusetos. Tel.: 56631. Another contact could be Pioder (Fievel) Treger, Taryby aikste 20/2 #13, Zarasai. Tel: 52962. He is one of a few Jews still living in Zarasai, near Dusetos. [source: ?]

E

EISISKES:
Eisiskes (two massacre sites); 154-155; pic. # 249-252 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     For the 1858 revision list, see LitvakSIG. For town and Jewish history, see Lida District Researchers: http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Lida-District/lida-dist.htm

ERZVILKAS:
Forest of Gryblaukis, 22 km NE of Taurage; 170; pic. # 194 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
    UPDATE:I was there in June 2007, took photographs, and saw a cemetery across from Christian cemetery, a marker, and some burned out votive-type candles on the marker. Linda Morzillo at genealogynewsgal@yahoo.com [July 2007]

F

G

GARGZDAI:
Gargzdai, Klaipedos street; 109; pic. # 132      Forest of Vezaitine, at the road Veziaieiai-Kuliai 110-111; pic. # 135-137 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     Next to Memel, in the summer of 1993, the Lithuanian government was in the process of righting some fallen stones. However, since this was a good-sized community, the cemetery was virtually destroyed except for perhaps 30 stones. Source: Carol Baker, 73663.1637@compuserve.com

GARLIAVA:
Near the village of Rinkkunai, 1 km from Garliava, on the bank of the river Jiesia; 97; pic. # 99-100 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

GAURE:
Unknown US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

GEORGENBURG: see JURBARKAS

GELVONAI:
Pine forest of Pivonija, about 4 km from Ukmerge; 177-178; pic. # 315-318 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

GIEDRAICIAI:
Forest of Kamaraucizna, 2 km NW of Giedraicai; 127; pic. # 175. Pine forest of Pivonija, about 4 km from Ukmerge; 177-178; pic. # 315-318 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

GIRKALNIS:
Near Girkalnis, the village of Kurpiskes; 146; pic. # 228 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
    UPDATE:I was there in June 2007, took photographs, and saw a mass murder site, but also probable place of cemetery with no stones. Linda Morzillo at genealogynewsgal@yahoo.com [July 2007]

GRINKISKIS: Kovno
Near the village of Pestinukai, 1.5 km from Krakes; 101; pic. # 110-111 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
http://home.btconnect.com/tucker/grinkiskis.htm : "...just east of the village on a dirt road off the gravel road leading to Baisogala. It is on a slight hillside leading down to the Susve River. The cemetery is on a rectangular plot of land about 100 meters long by 50 meters wide, right next to the dirt road. The cemetery is surrounded by a fence with wooden posts and three horizontal wires. There is no gate, but it is easy to go through the fence. The cemetery has been tended by the village of Grinkiskis, and students on occasion cut the grass. Most of the tombstones were upright and in reasonably good condition. A considerable number were worn by the weather and illegible. About 80 tombstones were examined, of which at least 65 could be read. About 30 nearest the road were not examined because of time and rain. The unexamined stones were generally more recent ones. Patronyms were used throughout; only about six had surnames. All inscriptions were in Hebrew." See website for list of burials. [January 2001]
     {10684} In May 1997, Judy (my wife) and I visited Grinkiskis. With the help of our outstanding guide, Regina Kopilevich, we conducted an inventory of most of the Jewish gravestones. Regina Kopilevich is extremely knowledgeable, conscientious, informative, and pleasant. Grinkiskis is about a three-hour drive from Vilnius (2 hours from Kaunas). The road to Baisogala is quite good, but from there (or better to turn off just before Baisogala), it is 9 km on a gravel road to Grinkiskis. Within view of Grinkiskis in the distance is a small dirt road leading to the right to the Jewish cemetery near the Susve River. Grinkiskis itself currently has 500-1,000 inhabitants. It has a church, a regional school with 300 students, and a post office. Its streets are paved. The houses are typical of a rural community in Eastern Europe. In 1940, about 1,000 people lived in Grinkiskis, of which about one-third were Jewish. Jews owned all 30 shops at that time. There were two bakeries, two meat shops, one restaurant, a wood mill, and an electric power station. In 1941, all of the Jews of Grinkiskis were taken to Krakus (18 km away) and killed. We were the first Jews they had ever met whose ancestors were from Grinkiskis. They were extremely interested in us and wanted to learn as much as possible about the Jewish history of their community. They showed us their one-room museum on the history of Grinkiskis and told us that they had no material for their archives about the Jews who had lived in Grinkiskis.
     The Jewish cemetery for Grinkiskis, Kovno, Lithuania, is located just east of the village on a dirt road off the gravel road leading to Baisogala. It is on a slight hillside leading down to the Susve River. The cemetery is on a rectangular plot of land about 100 meters long by 50 meters wide, right next to the dirt road. A fence with wooden posts and three horizontal wires surrounds the cemetery. There is no gate, but it is easy to go through the fence. The village of Grinkiskis has tended the cemetery. Students, on occasion, cut the grass. Most of the tombstones were upright and in reasonably good condition. A considerable number were worn by the weather and illegible. About 80 tombstones were examined, of which at least 65 could be read. About 30 nearest the road were not examined because of time and rain. The unexamined stones were generally more recent ones. Patronymics were used throughout; only about six had surnames. All inscriptions were in Hebrew. The inscriptions were examined and read where possible by our guide, Regina Kopilevich. They were recorded and edited by Judith and Arthur Obermayer. Facing the river from the road, the numbering starts at the bottom far left. The letters are for rows going toward the road. The numbers are for positions in the row, which are roughly parallel to the road. The rows were not well defined, so this numbering system is only approximate. Contact them for further details on the current people there. Source: Arthur Obermayer, West Newton, MA; e-mail: obermayer@alum.mit.edu

GRISKABUDIS:
Near Sakiai; outskirts of Batiskiai forest, 1.5 km N of the town; 152; pic. # 245-246 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

GUDZUNAI:
Near the village of Pestinukai, 1.5 km from Krakes; 101; pic. # 110-111 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

GRUZDZIAI:
Near the Jewish cemetery of Gruzdziai; 158; pic. # 263. Zagare, town park; 90; pic. # 84-85 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad
     In Gruzdiai there is a cemetery at the edge of the town, at one end of which is a mass grave. Many of the stones are legible, but many are missing. Source: Len Yodaiken: shoshly@canaan.co.il

H

I

IGNALINA:
There is an ancient Jewish cemetery near Lake Palaukinis in the vicinity of Ignalina. Source: Stanley Gilinsky, Hove UK; e-mail: Gilinsky@lineone.net

J

JONAVA:
Alternate names: Janova, Janovo, Janowa, Yanova, Yanove, Yonava http://www.mindspring.com/~peggyf/jonava.htm [October 2000]

JONISKIS:
     In 1939, 200 Jews remaining in the village were marched into the woods, murdered and buried in a mass grave. The Lithuanian government subsequently has put up a small monument at the site of the mass grave. Mendel Kapalan, chairman of the South African Zionist Federation, has been to Lithuania twice and may have more information. Source: Avi Joffe; joffe@global.co.za .
     No more of the 70 tombstones still remain. Most of the cemetery is destroyed: source: Aleksandrs Feigmanis, Kahovkas 2-12 LV-1021, Riga, aleksgen@mailcity.com
     "We visited the old Joniskis Jewish Cemetery in April 1999. The cemetery lies Northeast of the town. Leaving the town along Livonyas Road in the direction to Latvia is a dirt road diagonally to the right. After travelling along this dirt road for about a third of a mile, an isolated (but inhabited) small wooden farm building lies about fifty yards back from the road on the left. The cemetery gate is beside this building. The small building formerly belong to the cemetery but is now a home to Mrs. Kundrotiene.
     At the entrance is a plaque indicating that this is the old Jewish Cemetery of Joniskis. The west and north boundaries are flanked by trees. The entry area appears as an open (but fenced) field, with a few standing tombstones on either side. The stones on the immediate left side date from around 1920; those on the immediate right side date from around 1900. Most of these were legible with effort. We have noted the details. In the main area of the field are fragments of tombstones, none of which can be read. At the back and moving round to the right (east) behind the farmhouse are more stones, which are standing. Those to the right (east) date from around 1890; most of these can be read with effort. We have noted the details. The largest and best-preserved area lies in a small copse at the Northeast corner of the cemetery. Apparently, the trees have protected these stones from vandalism and weather deterioration. We have noted the details of a few of the stones in this area, but time did not allow us to detail many more.
     Overall, we collected details of about ninety tombstones in this cemetery. Some have surnames. In particular, most of the stones in the 'copse' area (which are largely post-1900) do appear to carry surnames. We estimate that about 400 tombstones stand in the cemetery, most of which can be read. The overall size of the cemetery suggests that it probably contained in excess of 2,000 graves." If you are looking for a family member who might be buried in this cemetery, please contact Yael Driver at Drivery@netcomuk.co.uk , the source of this information. [May 2001]

JONISKELIS:
Alternate name: Yanishkel at 56º02' 24º10', 6 km from Posvol (Pasvalys). http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/yanishkelis/yanishkelis.html [October 2000]

JOSVAINIAI:
Picture of a Wolpe tombstone was in the Washington Jewish Week , March 5, 1998, p. 21. Other stones are shown in background.
      http://users.aol.com/glynne/home.htm . 44o15'/23o50', about 10 miles from Kedainai. Alternate name: Yosven. [October 2000]

JURBARKAS:
{10273}. Alternate names: Georgenburg (German), Jurbarkas, Yurbarkas (Lithuanian), Jurborg, Jurburg, Yurberg, Yurburg, Yurberig (Yiddish) at 55º5'N 22º46' E.
Located at 55º04' 22º46', 75 km West of Kaunas (Kovno), photos of headstones from taken summer 1995. Commissioned by Donald Levinsohn, 594 Ridgewood Ave, Glen Ridge, NJ, 07028, Translations mostly were by Joel Alpert, 13 Michael's Green, Woburn, MA, 01801. Material is owned by Donald Levinsohn and Joel Alpert and may be used for genealogical purposes only; updated 2/7/96.
      http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/yurburg/yurburg.html [October 2000]

JURBORG or JURBURG: see JURBARKAS

K

KAISHEDORELIAI:

KALVARIJA:
2 cemeteries exist. The new cemetery has burials from 1920-1940, about 100 stones. Cemetery is not maintained; and stones are mostly in poor condition. Old cemetery has about 6 stones that are almost unrecognizable. It is in an area used as a latrine. [Source?]
      http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Kalvarija/kalvarija.html in Marionpole District. [October 2000]

KAMAIA:
Located at 55º59 and 25º30. Near Pauadel (Paudelis) but with its own cemetery, a Vilach cousin visits it annually, so I know of its existence but have not seen it. Source: Bud Jaffe, 141 Bridlewoodlane, Longwood, FL 32720 phone: 407-862-4211.

KAPCIAMIESTIS:
Part of Poland until 1939, the small (400-sq. m.) cemetery is close to a farmer's house, at right of the village entrance. All around is a wooden barrier. There are some graves. One can identify Hebrew letters, but it is very difficult to read the names or dates. It needs an intensive restoration. Source: Jacob Laor, Israel; lond@neteor-zahav.net
     Alternate name: Kapciovo, Kopcheve. http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Kopcheve/kopcheve.html [October 2000]
    UPDATE: Find the history of the town at http://www.kapciamiestis.org. Kapciamiestis was part of the Grand Duchy, then later part of Independent Lithuania. Close to the Polish border, it was part of Poland only during the Grand Duchy period. The cemetery has been researched extensively. A fence no longer surrounds the cemetery. Mr. Laor must have been there prior to 2000. Since then, descendants of Kapciamiestis have visited several times and have gone to great lengths to insure the maintenance of the old cemetery and its documentation. Source: saftacarol@attglobal.net [March 2006]

KAPCIOVO: see Kapchiamiestis
KAPSUKAS: see Marijampole

KAISADORYS (Vilna guberniya):
     http://www.jewishgen.org/Litvak/HTML/OnlineJournals/feigmanis.htm Burial list and pictures. [November 2002]

KAUNAS: (also known as Kovno)
     Can also be seen at: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/Lithuania/KovnoCem.htm
{10833} The list was produced by the "Heytab Kadisha" burial society of Viliampole [Viliampoliai, Slabodke, Slobodka]. This document is held in the archives of the Beit Lochamai HaGetaot, the Ghetto Fighters Museum in Israel. The list is of those who died between 18 August 1941 and 31 December 1943. Yitzhak bar Moshe Devortsky produced the document. Members of the JewishGen and LitvakSIG and Dorothy Kohanski's senior group translated the names. Dr. Josef Ash, Rabbi Edward Cohen, Marc Dver, Prof. G.L. Esterson, Rodney Falk, Zvi Griliches, Ellen A. Jacobsm Harold Friedman, Yetta Gotsyn, Alex Malkin, Martha Lev-Zion, Avi Lishower, Jeffrey Maynard, Kevin Ossey, Harold Rhode, Robert Weiss, Jim Yarin, with co-ordinator Sylvia Nusinov, curiousyl@aol.com
     Kovno Cemetery lists of Jewish dead buried in Kovno cemetery for the years 1941-1943. Manuscript. Yiddish. 50 pages. Sent by Mr. Zvi Asherat, Israel. Mar. 22, 1982. Xerox copy. Vital Statistics file. American Jewish Archive, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488; phone (513) 221-1875.
     This very large still-active cemetery is very well maintained and contains several thousand stones. Some are in very good condition, mostly newer stones. Some stones have been moved from other cemeteries.
     Kaunas (Kovno) cemetery is huge. Jewish community has only legally been able to maintain it since 1991. Between WWII and 1991 for construction, locals carried off many hundreds of stones. Many brick tombs were dismantled. Thousands of stones remain in an area that covers perhaps 20-30 acres. As of 1993, the city was negotiating with the Jewish community. The city wanted to demolish a portion of the cemetery, alleging the site was overgrown and beyond the capacity of the Jewish community to maintain. The community supposedly does possess cemetery records, although I did not see them. The cemetery is overwhelming. Overrun with vegetation and in a state of dilapidation, thousands of fine stones still standing. Source: Rick Bercuvitz rberc@ine.org
     The Jewish cemetery in Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania, is accessed through an area that formerly housed Soviet army units and now serves the same purpose for the Lithuanian army. The cemetery is adjacent to this area of army barracks, across a single railroad track, and physically separated by a fence. The gravestones and markers are generally in good condition and readable, with names in both Yiddish and Lithuanian. The newer stones often have photos of the deceased or the likeness carved in the stone. There has been some minor vandalism, but relatively little defacement or damage to the markers. Only one stone was observed that had sustained significant damage at the hands of vandals. This stone, which has been rather crudely repaired, belonged to one of my relatives. At one end of the cemetery is a memorial to those who died in the Kaunas (Kovno) Ghetto during WW II. Nearby is the grave of a prominent rabbi, nearly a century old, and that of his son. The small Jewish population of Kaunas, numbering now about 300, still remembers this historic religious figure as evidenced by the stones placed on the grave and a still-burning Yahrzeit candle during my visit. Source: Ron Kathren rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu
    http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/kovno/kovno.html [October 2000]
    UPDATE: http://www.jewishgen.org/Litvak/HTML/OnlineJournals/here2kovno.htm [November 2002]
    UPDATE: No need to go through army barracks or over train tracks. There is a large open gate on Radvilenu St. The ohel on the grave of Rabbi Yitchak Elchonon Spector and his son has been demolished by vandalism. I could not find traces of the gravestone either. I gather quite a lot of vandalism has gone on in the past couple of years. Ariel Fuss, Jerusalem, Israel. afuss@012.net.il [August 2003]
    UPDATE: "The original Kovno Jewish cemetery was inactivated and pretty much destroyed in the early 1970s, presumably to make way for a highway or some such project that was apparently never built. Friends of mine who visited the site last summer said it was in horrible disarray, not kept up at all for years. Families still in Lithuania or the Soviet Union at the time were given the option of moving their relatives' graves to what is now the active Jewish cemetery, south of the Niemen (Nemunas) River, near Panemune, I think. I had an uncle in the Soviet Union at the time, so I knew about this ... This cemetery is relatively well kept, and still in use. Unfortunately, there is no signage at the entrance nor are there signs directing drivers to the cemetery's location. People in the area, however, were kind and helpful when we asked for directions." Source: JewishGen Digest, 12 Sept 2004. [September 2004]
    UPDATE: "Mr. Fuss's information is inaccurate. Access to the cemetery: you must still go in through the barracks/industrial site and cross a track. Rabbi Yitchack Elchanan Spector and Rabbi Tvi Rabinovitz are both in perfect condition in an ohel at the end of the cemetery." Source: effy@effy.com [May 2005]
    UPDATE: The Jewish community numbers about 600. Greenhill Cemetery is located in a residential area of Kaunas. This inactive cemetery is sadly neglected, but with outside help can be restored. Aleksot Jewish cemetery is an active use today, very well maintained and in excellent condition.There is a central cemetery office in Kaunas where the records for all cemeteries in Kaunas are kept. For the Jewish cemeteries, they only have records of Jews were buried since 1965. All other Jewish cemetery records are either missing or destroyed. The cemetery office is at KAPINIU PRIEZIUROS KONTORA, DONELAICIO G-VE 70, KAUNAS, LITHUANIA. Source: Howard Margol, hmargol@aol.com[August 2007]

KAVARSKIS:
Alternate name: KAWARSK
     Ancient Jewish Cemetery - Beit HaOlim Hayashan- Alte Yiddische Beit Ohalim. There are eight horizontal tombstones or medieval Jewish tombs. No legible inscriptions exist. Another (?more recent) cemetery has been destroyed. Part of the cemetery collapsed into a quarry. The very beautiful area is one hundred yards up the road in the woods to the site of a massacre. The synagogue is now a factory warehouse. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com
     The stones were like none that I have seen before. The inscriptions were all in Hebrew. The place was in general disrepair. This cemetery is adjacent to a stone quarry. When there was talk of enlarging the quarry, thereby destroying what is left of this cemetery, the locals objected and prevented this from happening. Kavarsk had a Jewish population of 500 in 1940 and five at the end of the war. Source: Philip Bennet p.bennett@worldnet.att.net

KEDAINIAI: see Keidan

KEIDAN: (Kedainiai)
     In June 1995, I visited the cemetery with a Keidan native who lives in Kaunas and who assiduously looks after both the old prewar community cemetery and the two mass graves where Nazis and Lithuanian partisans murdered the Jews of Keidan, Shatt and Zheim in 1941. The old cemetery, on a bluff over the Smilga River, is partially destroyed, but I estimate about 100 stones still stand. Their condition ranges from very good to eroded and illegible. The ad hoc caretaker, whose name is Yehuda Ronder, told me that more than half the cemetery was destroyed, partly by erosion when the Smilga flooded and partly by vandalism. Some stones have been carried off and used by local Lithuanians for front steps, etc. However, Ronder does an amazing job of keeping the remainder up, partly by harassing the local municipal officials. He has a number of contacts abroad and also acts as a conduit for money sent to local Lithuanians who acted to save Jews during the war. He can be reached at Mackeviciaus 93-3, 3000 Kaunas, Lithuania, phone 22-43-15. Regina Kopilevich has often visited this cemetery as well, and considers it one of the best preserved in the area. I have photos, some of which I am installing on my Keidan web site (see address below). Source: andrew.cassel@phillynews.com and http://mywebpages.comcast.net/acassel/keidan/keidan.html [October 2000]
      UPDATE: A comprehensive list of names and other inscriptions from the tombstones in Keidaner cemeteries is available at: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/acassel/keidan/tombstones/cemeteries.html May [2004]

KELEM: see KELME

KELME:
Large cemetery with several hundred stones in varying condition. Alternate names: Kelem, Kelmy (Russian), Kelem or Kelm (Yiddish). http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/kelme/kelme.html [October 2000]

KELMY: see KELME
KIBART: see KIBARTAI
KIBARTI: see KIBARTAI

KIBARTAI:
Alternate names: Kibart (Yiddish), Kybartai (Lithuanian), Kibarti, Kibarty http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/kibart/kibart.html [October 2000].

KIBARTY: see KIBARTAI
KLAIPEDA: see Memel

KLIKOLIAI:
     Alternate names: KLIKOLN and KLIKOLI. Located on the Latvian-Lithuanian border, on the Vaidakste River about 5 kilometers north of Naujoje-Akmjane in Lithuania and about 10 kilometers south of Auce, Latvia. It is in relatively good condition with about 50 tombstones remaining. There is a lot of common surface that seems to indicate that part of the cemetery was destroyed. Most of the tombstones are unreadable or readable only using special techniques. The following names were found: Osher bar Itsahak died 5676; Fruma bat Iehuda Zalman died 7655; Moshe ben Tsvi; Itshak bar Abraham Shneierman, died 5695. 95% of the tombstones are without family names. (He will do cemetery research for you and do photographing in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.) Source: Aleksandrs Feigmanis, Kahovkas 2-12 LV-1021, Riga, aleksgen@mailcity.com
     The cemetery is in very low ground next to the river dividing Lithuania and Latvia. As such the ground is very soft and many of the stones have either become sunken or partially sunken into the ground or completely fallen over. I estimate that if a recovery job were done, there would be found many more than the 50 stones mentioned. Source: Len Yodaiken: shoshly@canaan.co.il

KOPCHEVE: see Kapciamiestis
KOVARSKAS:

KOVNO: see Kaunus
KRAKES: see Krakiai

KRAKIAI:
     Alternate name: Krakes, Krok in Yiddish. Located In Keidan District, 14 miles from Keidan nearest Datnuva train station. On Friday, Sept. 5 (the 56th Yahrzeit date of the destruction of its Jewish community on Sept. 5, 1941), I lit a candle at the mass gravesite. Its Jewish cemetery is still in existence but in bad shape. Most tombstones have been pilfered by the local populace and used as either building material or reused as tombstones in their own Gentile cemetery. I transcribed as many of the tombstones from the Krakes Jewish cemetery as I could, including all those with surnames. Source: ada.Greenblatt@worldnet.att.net [1997]       http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/krakes/Krakes.htm . 55° 24'/23° 44', 62 km NNW of Kaunas

KRAZIAI:
Alternate names: Krozh, Kroz, Kroze, Krozhe, Kruce, Kruz. 55°36´ 22°42. http://postilla.mch.mii.lt/Tevuzeme/kraziai.en.htm [October 2000]
     UPDATE: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=430&letter=K [October, 2005]

KREKENAVA:
The very old Jewish cemetery is partially preserved and fenced. A monument has been erected here in memory of the Jewish population. Farms are already encroaching upon the cemetery. It cannot survive too long. Source: Betty Starkman, BetteJoy@aol.com [Feb. 1998]

KRETINGA:
KROK: Yiddish, see Krakes
KROKI: Yiddish, see Krakes
KROZ: see Kraziai
KROZE: see Kraziai
KROZH: see Kraziai
KRUCE: see Kraziai
KRUZ: see Kraziai

KUDIRKOS NAUMIESTIS:
     Yiddish name is Wladislawow Naishtat. Large former cemetery with very few stones (less than 50) remaining, in poor condition.
     When I visited the Jewish cemetery at Kudirkos Naumiestis, where my paternal ancestral family lived until 1897, I was shocked to learn that only a week before this visit in May 2000, some local "hoodlums" had smashed the last remaining marble plaque, on a lone Magen David cenotaph. (Smashed pieces of marble were lying on the ground.) The chief librarian and museum curator of Kudirkos Naumiestis, who accompanied us on the visit to this cemetery, said she had accompanied some American visitors to the Jewish cemetery a week before and the plaque was definitely intact then. All the Jews of Kudirkos Naumiestis were killed by the end of 1941. Herb Epstein, Australia, heastern@netline.com.au . [October 2000 from Yizkor SIG Digest]
     Joseph Rosin at rosin@netvision.net.il may have more information. [October 2000]

KUPISKIS:
Alternate name: Kupishok-Yiddish, Kupiskiai-Lithuanian, Kupishki-Russian.
http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/kupiskis/kupishok.htm [October 2000]
    UPDATE: http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/kupiskis/kupcem.htm : "Remains of Kupishok Cemetery" ...that was destroyed during the Soviet occupation. ... After liberation, townspeople replaced the thirteen stones that were still intact on the location of the old cemetery, as a memorial to the Jews of Kupishok. Linda Cantor at email: lincan@adiglobal.com transcribed and photographed these stones on her visit to Kupishok in July 1995." SOURCE: Litvak SIG Digest [28 Aug 2001].

KUPISHOK: see Kupiskis
KUPISKIAI: see Kupiskis
KUPISHKI: see Kupiskis

KURKIL:
     Little wooden shul at the edge of the complex has 2 stories and is set among allotments and used as a barn. There is a Holocaust memorial to the 2-3000 Jews killed in 1941. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com
     Aniksht and Kurkil Cemeteries are neatly fenced at the top of a hill under 3 feet of overgrowth. Tombstones are largely legible. Most are only patronymic. The more important personages have letters cut deeper into the stones. There is a lot of natural weathering. Many stones were stolen. The same has occurred in the Catholic cemetery. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com

KURSENIAI:
There had been a cemetery covering the two opposite slopes of a valley. All that remains are a half dozen tombstones and the standard memorial plaque at the top of one of the slopes. Source: Len Yodaiken: shoshly@canaan.co.il

KVEDARNA:
http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Kvedarna/kve.htm [October 2000]

L

LAIZUVA:
The cemetery remains in good condition. It is located on a small hill near the river dividing Latvia from Lithuania. Source: Aleksandrs Feigmanis, Kahovkas 2-12 LV-1021, Riga, aleksgen@mailcity.com

LAKE PALAUKINIS:
There is an ancient Jewish cemetery near to in the Lake Palaukinis vicinity of Ignalina. Source: Stanley Gilinsky, Hove UK, Gilinsky@lineone.net

LAUKZEME:
LAZDEI: see LAZDIJAI

LAZDIJAI:
A cemetery exists there: source: David Albert david37@wharton.upenn.edu
     Alternate names: Lazdei (Yiddish) and Lozdzieje (Polish). 54°14´ 23°31 http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/lazdijai [October 2000]

LECKAVA:
Alternate name Leckav. http://www.jewishgen.org/litvak/HTML/OnlineJournals/leckava.htm [November 2000]

LECKAV: see LECKAVA
LINKMENYS:
LINKOVE: see LINKUVA

LINKUVA:
Large unmaintained cemetery outside of town containing about 1000 stones, mostly in poor condition. [Source?]       http://www.btinternet.com/~ablumsohn/linkuva.htm [October 2000]

LISKIAVA:
     This small town, just north of Druskininkai, has an old unfenced Jewish cemetery in a remote wood on a hill behind the old village. There are about 50 gravestones, almost all in a poor state of preservation.
     Without a local resident guide, it is very hard to find. We walked about a half-hour in the woods from the new highway, but returned on a shortcut down the hill to the old dirt road to Merkine. Source: Yosef Sa'ar, yotam@isracom.co.il

LIUBAVAS:
LIUDVINAVAS:
LOZDZIEJE: see LAZDIJAI

LUOKE: (Luknik) {10122}
    "This was the best preserved of the cemeteries that we visited. It is situated on a small hill in a little valley overlooking lush farmland, nestled behind and below a farm on one of the main roads that goes through the town center. From the road, the view of the cemetery is breathtaking. Clearly seen are scores of well-preserved tombstones, free of overgrown brush, and many standing in the shade of trees. There are as many as 150-200 tombstones, but we had time to record inscriptions from only 15 of them, dating from 1874-1935. A second Jewish cemetery is located on the other main road that intersects the town center; but this one has no gravestones. On its gate is only a plaque memorializing the grounds and indicating that this one contained graves up to the year 1936." Source: Kirschner, KKirshner@aol.com

M

MALAT/MOLETAI:
The current town population is 1000-5000, possibly with a current Jewish population of 10-100. The not land-marked, inactive cemetery has no caretaker. The earliest known Jewish community in town possibly was 1800. The urban flat land has no sign or marker. Access to the cemetery is open to all. A broken fence and a gate that does not lock surround the cemetery. The current size of cemetery is 3 acres. The cemetery is not divided into special sections. Tombstones in the cemetery date from the 19th and 20th centuries. 500-1000 gravestones are in the cemetery, regardless of condition or position, with some not in original locations. Less than 25% of surviving stones are toppled or broken. The limestone tombstones are finely smoothed and inscribed in Yiddish, some with portraits on the stones. Properties adjacent to the cemetery are residential. The cemetery is visited rarely. No known vandalism occurred. No care, maintenance, or structures. Weather erosion is a serious threat. Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a constant problem, disturbing graves. Completing this survey on 15 Jul 1997 after a 1991 visit was Herb Trace, MD, 747 Michigan Av., Evanston IL 60202 USA. Tel. 847/475- 3461. FAX 847/475-4458. h-trace@nwu.edu [1997]

MARIAMPOLE: see MARIJAMPOLE

MARIJAMPOLE:
I visited the site of the former Jewish cemeteries in Marijampole on July 31, 1997 with guide Regina Kopilevoch. Two Jewish cemeteries, one old and one new, existed in pre-war Marijampole, both which were destroyed.
     While passing Mariampole, I noticed a dozen headstones in excellent condition placed neatly in a circle in the middle of a traffic hub. The actual cemetery was razed to facilitate some development. Source: C. Issac Camber, c.camber@worldnet.att.net
      http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/mariampol/mariampol.html . 54º34' 23º21'. Alternate names: Kapsukas, Mariampole

MAZEIKIAI:
MEMEL (KLAIPEDA):
Information gleaned by a relative who visited Memel in Summer 1995: The Jewish cemetery was totally destroyed. Some Jews, mostly from Russia, have established a small community (100 members). They use an old chapel as a community center. There is a wall mounted memorial tablet that is inscribed in Yiddish, Hebrew and Lithuanian saying "in remembrance of the Jewish Community of Klaipeda who unmercifully were annihilated by the Nazis". Source: Joe Ross, laken@bcs.org.uk . Also see Gargzdai which is near Memel.
      http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/memel/memel.html at 55º43', 21º07' [October 2000]

MERETCH: see Merkine

MERKINE:
54º10', 24º10'. http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Meretch/Meretch.html or http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Meretch/meretch1a.html . Alternate name: Meretch, 88 kilometers SSE of Kaunas. [October 2000]

MOLETAI: see Malat
MOSEDIS:
MUSNINKAI:

N

Naujamiestis (Panevezys uezd):
No trace of synagogues, but two cemeteries exist in a wooded area outside the town. The smaller one belongs to the Karaites. Anyone interested in these cemeteries, the town, or the tour guide and photographer may contact me privately.  Mark N. Brown, Providence, RI at Mark_Brown@brown.edu. [June 2003]

NEISHTOT-TAVRIG: see ZEMAICIY NAUMIESTIS
NEISHTOT SUGINT: see ZEMAICIY NAUMIESTIS
NEISTAT: see ZEMAICIU NAUMESTIS
NEMAKSCAI:
NOVOE MJESTO: see ZEMAICIU NAUMESTIS
NOVOZHAGORY: (New Zagare) see ZAGARE

O

OBELIAI:
    Obeliai webpage at http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Obeliai/obelmain1.htm.
    Descendents of shtetl resident directed by Rabbi Mayer Abramowitz renovated and will rededicate the cemetery in late June or early July 2003, possibly July 8. Over 120 stones were righted and cleaned. The previously waist-high grass has been tamed. A fence is currently being built to protect the site. No Jews have lived in Obeliai since the Antanase massacre on August 25 1941. Source: Emma Freeman on JewishGen Digest 3 Jun 2003
    Abel is the alternative Yiddish name 

OLJENIK: see Valkininkai
ORAN: see VARENA

P-Q

PAKROUJIS (POKROY):
Pakruojis has two Jewish cemeteries.
      All in all, I have a lot of material on Pakruojis and would be happy to try to help others with interest in this place. Source: Yael Driver at ydriver@netcomuk.co.uk [April 2001]
     I visited site (briefly) on May 15, 1996 and took a couple of photographs. Source: Bruce Kahn bkahn@servtech.com . Mr. Feigmanis reports that the cemetery is completely destroyed. Aleksandrs Feigmanis, Kahovkas 2-12 LV-1021, Riga, aleksgen@mailcity.com
      Robert Fleischman: adjusterbob@worldnet.att.net may have more information.

PALANGA:

PANEVEZYS:
      Alternate name: Ponevezh. 55º44' 22º21'.
The Jewish cemetery lies under a military aerodrome built by the Russians. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com [date?]
    UPDATE: The aerodrome was/is in Pajuostò, has a landing strip built by the Russians. Pajuostò, before and during WWI was a (Polish owned) manor, later expropriated by the Lithuanian government during its war with Poland, and in the interwar years was used as a Lithuanian Army base. It remains a Lithuanian military base today - but to my knowledge had no Jewish cemetery at the site. There is a holocaust site beyond and unrelated to the aerodrome. The site is close to the road (north) from PanevòÏys to Subaãius, is well marked and is maintained. Actually the old Jewish cemetery lies in the heart of the town, and is now a city park. There is a marker that designates the site as such. My understanding is that during soviet times ('60s and '70s), the gravestones were removed, split and used in construction in various places within the city - as I understand it - for walls, obviously without the inscriptions visible, and the location then became a park. Source: Vitalijus J. Karalius, vkaralius@ePanevezys.com [December, 2005] http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/panevezys/ponievez.html [October 2000]
   UPDATE: In 1945, the Jewish cemetery in Panevezys contained 17,000 graves. It was not long before the Soviets removed all of the gravestones and used them for building materials. The Jewish cemetery was then turned into a public park. All that remain today is a small stone monument in remembrance that it was formerly the Jewish cemetery. Last year, Genadij Kofman, Chairman of the Panevezys Jewish Community, came up with the idea of building a large monument to replace the small stone monument. He came up with a set of grandiose plans and a cost of $50,000.00 USD. Quite frankly, I thought he was reaching for the moon. The City of Panevezys turned down Ganadij's plan and came up with a larger monument at a cost of $70,000.00 together with a promise to underwrite part of the cost. I have just received a message from Genadij that contained the following - On September 10, the session of the municipal government passed, and accepted the decision on 2008 to allocate 100,000 Litas on construction of a monument. This is equal to $40,109.41 USD. It looks like Genadij's dream will be realized. I have known him for a number of years and he is very capable of getting things done. If anyone would like to contact Genadij for more information, his email address is genavta@yahoo.com. His English is very limited. Source: Howard Margol, Atlanta, Georgia. HOMargol@aol.com [September 2007]

PANDELYS:
Estimated 100 graves exist. Gated but no key needed. Source: Linda Cantor, lincan@amanda.dorsai.org

PAPILE:
      {10214}. Only 4 stones remain with two legible. Source: Dr. Feigmanis forwarded by Judi Langer Caplan; Judith27@aol.com . Aleksandrs Feigmanis, Kahovkas 2-12 LV-1021, Riga, aleksgen@mailcity.com
      The cemetery in Papile was built on a bluff overlooking a bend in the river, which is gradually eroding its bank and eventually will undermine part of the town. The Lithuanians threw the Jewish tombstones down to the river hoping either to reinforce the bank or dam the river forcing it to move away from the town. The stones were all swept away. A handful of stones remain at the top of the bluff with the standard memorial plaque. Source: Len Yodaiken: shoshly@canaan.co.il

PASVALYS:
Alternate name: Posvol {10123}. The cemetery has many tombstones scattered over hilly terrain located behind a lumber company. A local footpath cuts through the length of the cemetery; and additional collateral paths are toward the back. Most of the stones are partially buried so that only the upper parts show. Approximately 20 stones are readily apparent; but poking around exposed "rocks" reveals additional ones. Many of the markers are over 100 years old (1847-1890). We recorded seven inscriptions. Source: Dan Kirschner, 35 Gammons Road, Newton MA 02168. Tel: 617-965-6839; kirschnd@bc.edu

PAUDELIS:
Located at 56º01 25º15, the abandoned site is overgrown, not vandalized but overgrown with bushes. Note: possible shtetl of Pauamumca (Pamaumis) used this cemetery. Source: Bud Jaffe, 141 Bridlewoodlane, Longwood, FL 32720 phone: 407-862-4211

PAZELVA: see ZELVA
PIKELIAI:
PILVISHKES:
PLUNGE: see TELSH and PLUNGIAN

PLUNGIAN:
Old Jewish Cemetery is in the grounds of a school and mostly covered by it. Jossel Bunker collected one hundred gravestones, most legible. One stone, that of Barnett Peretz (d 1925), has an English inscription. Source: Dr. Saul Issroff, saul@issroff.com
      http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/plunge/plunge.html 26km SW of Telsiai and 39km E of Kretinga [October 2000]

PODZELVA: see Zelva
POKROI: see Pakroujis
PONEMON: see Aukstoji Panemune
PONEVEZH: see Panevezys
POUADEL: see Paudelis

PUMPENAI:
Alternate name: Pumpyan {10124}. The cemetery is located in a large field between the main road and behind what locals say was the synagogue. There is no gate but a memorial plaque is affixed to a stone on the side of the cemetery facing the main road. Very few tombstones remain; those that do are close to or within a little birch grove towards the road. We recorded inscriptions from seven of the approximately 10-20 stones here, with dates from 1882-1908. Source: Dan Kirschner, 35 Gammons Road, Newton MA 02168. tel: 617-965-6839, kirschnd@bc.edu
      UPDATE: On the opposite side of the former cemetery, away from the main road, is a very old house. It was originally used by the Jews to prepare the bodies for burial in the cemetery. Presently, a local Lithuanian family is living there. Source: Howard Margol, June 30, 2002. homargol@aol.com [July 2002]

PUNIA:
I visited Punia in the Alytus district of Lithuania on July 31, 1997 with guide Regina Kopilevich. Kopilevich was under the impression that the Jews of Punia were buried in the nearby town of Butrimonys, but a local elderly man led us to a small Jewish cemetery in Punia itself. To reach the cemetery, turn left off the main Punia road just before reaching the main square. Along this dirt road, at the bottom of the hill, stands a large stone that reads: "Punia Jewish Cemetery" in Lithuanian and Yiddish. A small dirt path with a handrail made of sticks leads to the cemetery, which is badly overgrown by at least four-foot tall weeds. We uncovered about ten tombstones, most dating from the 1840s to the early 20th century. There are probably many more beneath the overgrowth. Most do not have last names. Locals informed us that, during the Soviet period, the manager of the local collective farm erected the marker on the road as well as the wooden handrail on the path. The cemetery is rarely visited. A passerby recalled an American general who visited several years ago. The property is apparently owned now by the municipality. I obtained the address of the mayor to inquire about hiring someone to cut away the overgrowth. Anyone interested in contributing to such an effort, please contact: Eric L. Goldstein, 12 Monroe Place #2, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-1058, ELGOLD1@aol.com

PUSALOTAS:
On July 1, 1941 between 250 and 300 Jews lived in Pusalotas, about 40% of the population. The Lithuanians murdered some of them there and the Nazis forced the rest into the Panevezys ghetto. In September-October, 1941 they were murdered in the Pajnoste Forest outside of Panavezys.
     "I found the cemetery in June 1993. It is practically in someone's backyard. I paid to have the cemetery cleaned up. The villager doing the cleaning dug up about fifty gravestones buried next to the cemetery. I saw these in May 1995. He said another fifty gravestones were still buried. I gave him additional money to dig those up. Today, 2002, there are about 150 gravestones in the cemetery. Unfortunately, many of them are illegible, broken, and in poor condition. Time and the weather have taken their toll. The cemetery is located in the rear of a house located at Panevezio Str.19 in Pusalotas. You have to walk through the yard of the house in order to reach the cemetery. Beware of the cow manure in your path!! " Source: Howard Margol, homargol@aol.com
    UPDATE: Yizkor translation site contains current photos of the town. See http://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/Pusalotas/Pusalotas.html [July 2002]

PUZAI FOREST: see SHKUDVIL

R

RAGUVA:
   Alternative name in Yiddish is Rogova in Panevezys district at 55º34' 0"N 24º 36' 0" E, 112 km from Vilnius. Present total town population is 1,000 - 5,000 with no Jews.
   A Soviet Cemetery has been placed on top of the Jewish Cemetery and that has protected status. The small rural village is on flat land and on a hillside with no sign or marker. Reached by turning directly off a public road, access is open to all via a broken masonry wall with no gate. The 100 - 500 gravestones in the cemetery are not in original location with less than 25% broken or toppled.
   Vegetation overgrowth in the cemetery is a constant problem, damaging stones. Water drainage at the cemetery is a seasonal problem.The memorial markers made of marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, slate, and iron are rough stones or boulders, flat shaped stones, finely smoothed and inscribed stones, flat stones with carved relief decoration, double tombstones, and sculpted monuments with Hebrew and Yiddish inscriptions. The cemetery contains unmarked mass graves. The municipality owns the property. Properties adjacent to cemetery are agricultural and residential. Compared to 1939, the cemetery boundaries are smaller. The cemetery is visited rarely by private visitors (Jewish or non-Jewish).
   The cemetery was vandalized (stones overturned, broken or stolen; graffiti painted on walls or stones, etc.; graves desecrated) during WWII. Care has been vegetation clearing by local/municipal authorities. No maintenance. No caretaker. No structures. No threats.
   Grant Arthur Gochin completed the questionaire on 29 August 2007. He visited the site with Dr. Egle Bendikaite, Professor of History at Vilnius University. The cemetery under active restoration.


RADVILISHKIS:

RASEINIAI:
I visited the site of the former Jewish cemetery of Raseiniai on August 3, 1997 with guide Regina Kopilevich. The site, in the yard of a modern apartment building, is marked by a stone tablet on a wall that reads: "On this spot was a Jewish cemetery" in Yiddish and Lithuanian. Source: Eric L. Goldstein, 12 Monroe Place #2, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-1058, ELGOLD1@aol.com
    UPDATE:I was there in June 2007, took photographs, and saw a marker on a stone wall next to a apartment complex. Linda Morzillo at genealogynewsgal@yahoo.com [July 2007]

RATNYCHIA:

RITAVAS:
Alternate name: Ritove. http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/ritavas/Rtv.html [October 2000]

RITOVE: see RITAVAS
ROKISHOK: see ROKISKIS

ROKISKIS:
Alternate name: ROKISHOK. http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/rokiskis/rokmain.htm [October 2000]

ROZALIMAS: Dora Boom: wtboom@home.nl
RUDAMINA:

RUMSISKES:
    UPDATE: The ancient Jewish cemetery of Rumshishok (Rumsiskes), Lithuania was dug up and the remains transferred in 1958 to Kaunas Aleksota Cemetery, just prior to the flooding of the region by the Soviets. Prior to the flooding of the old town, every grave from the Jewish cemetery in Rumshishok was dug up and the remains moved to the Rumshishok section of Kovno Jewish cemetery. The Soviets prevents relocation of the headstones. Shoah victims' remains also were removed from the mass grave in the Rumshishok ravine and reburied in the same cemetery in Kovno. The result is one well-maintained mass grave about 50 feet by 30 feet. No Jews from the town are beneath the Kaunos Marios Sea as previously thought. Source: Rabbi Ben-Zion Saydman, California at ravbenzi@cox.net. [June 2003]


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