Review by Joel Alpert of

PINKAS HAKEHILLOTLITA

Encyclopeadia of Jewish Communities of Lithuania from their foundation till after the Holocaust

This book is an excellent source book containing information on about 500 Jewish communities. Written in Hebrew, it was published by Yad Vashem in 1996 in Jerusalem. The first 107 pages contain an introduction by Professor Dov Levin (Hebrew University), followed by an article for each of about 500 shtetlekh (each article is on average one full oversized page). This book contains a wealth of information compiled by the editor, Prof. Levin, and the assistant editor, Josef Rosin, both originally from Lithuania. This book is the latest authoritative source on Lithuanian Jewish Communities, and deserves to be translated into English for the benefit of the English speaking Jews with roots in Lithuania.

[Dr Saul Issroff notes: This book covers Lithuania as of the outbreak of the Second World War, September 1939. It therefore excludes Vilna, Sventzionis and other areas of interwar ' Polish' Lithuania.]

The first 107 pages have been translated and appear in the book THE LITVAKS , published by Yad Vashem in Spring 2000 (see the bottom of this page for further information.)


PINKAS

HAKEHILLOT

Encyclopeadia of Jewish Communities

from their foundation till after the Holocaust

LITHUANIA

Editor: Dov Levin

Assistant Editor: Josef Rosin

Published in Hebrew by:

YAD VASHEM

THE HOLOCAUST MARTYRS' AND HEROES' REMEMBRANCE AUTHORITY

JERUSALEM 1996


ISBN 965-308-049-0

All rights reserved

Printed in Israel

At Achva Cooperative Jerusalem


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Book Written in Hebrew

Forward: Dov Levin XI
List of Picture Credits XVII
List of Bibliography Abbreviations XVII
Lithuanian Jewry (Introduction): Dov Levin 1
Bibliography on the History of Lithuanian Jewry 107
Detailed Information on about 500 Jewish Communities 113-705


The Jewish Communities in Lithuania

(This list is in approximate alphabetical order, as it appeared in the book in English)
  • Abelina
  • Abelnikas
  • Akmene
  • Akunik
  • Aleksandrobolis
  • Alkiskiai
  • Alove
  • Alsedziai
  • Alunta
  • Alvitas
  • Alytus
  • Andriejava
  • Antaliepte
  • Antanavas
  • Antazave
  • Antnemunis
  • Anyksciai
  • Ariogala
  • Asminta
  • Aukstadvaris
  • Aukstoji Panemune
  • Avanaste
  • Azuolu-Buda
  • Azventis
  • Babtai
  • Backininkeliai
  • Bagaslaviskis
  • Baisogala
  • Balbieriskis
  • Balninkai
  • Balsiai
  • Baltiskis
  • Baltmiskis
  • Baltusova
  • Baranas
  • Bariunai
  • Barova
  • Barsenai
  • Barstyciai
  • Bartininkai
  • Batakiai
  • Bazilionai
  • Bentzingai
  • Berzai
  • Berzgainiai
  • Berzininkai
  • Berzole
  • Betygala
  • Birstonas
  • Birzai
  • Bobri
  • Bubeliai
  • Buckunai,Butkunai
  • Budavone
  • Budvietis
  • Buginiai
  • Bulavenai
  • Bukonys
  • Bukta
  • Burbiskis
  • Burginiai
  • Butkunai (Alytus)
  • Butkunai (Zarasai)
  • Butrimonys
  • Cekiske
  • Cerksbale
  • Ciobiskis
  • Dabeikiai
  • Dabikine
  • Darbenai
  • Darsuniskis
  • Daugai
  • Daugailiai
  • Daujenai
  • Dauksiskis
  • Deltuva
  • Devangole
  • Didkiemis
  • Dirviniskis
  • Dotnuva
  • Dubingiai
  • Dubininkus
  • Dubrava
  • Dusetos
  • Dvornova
  • Dvoruka
  • Erzvilkas
  • Freda
  • Gadunavas
  • Gargzdai
  • Garliava
  • Gastinai
  • Gaure
  • Geguzine
  • Geleziai
  • Gelgaudiskis
  • Gelvonai
  • Giedraiciai
  • Gintaliske
  • Girkalnis
  • Graziskiai
  • Grimzdai
  • Grinkiskis
  • Griskabudis
  • Grudzuniai
  • Gruslauke
  • Gruzdziai
  • Gudeliai
  • Gudiniskiai
  • Gudziunai
  • Igliauka
  • Ilguva
  • Imbradas
  • Indrioniskis
  • Inkturke
  • Janapole
  • Jankai
  • Jegliskis
  • Jieznas
  • Jokubaiciai
  • Jokubavas
  • Jonava
  • Joniskelis
  • Joniskis (Siauliai)
  • Joniskis (Utena)
  • Josvainiai
  • Jovaravas
  • Jukniskiai
  • Juodkaimis
  • Juodupe
  • Jurbarkas
  • Juzintai
  • Kaimelis
  • Kaisiadorys
  • Kalinova
  • Kaltinenai
  • Kalvarija
  • Kamaja
  • Kapciamiestis
  • Karklenai
  • Kartena
  • Katautiske
  • Katiliske
  • Kaloverne
  • Kaunas
  • Kaunotavas
  • Kavarskas
  • Kazlu-Ruda
  • Kazokiskes
  • Kazyliai
  • Kedainiai
  • Kelme
  • Kernava
  • Keturvalakiai
  • Kiduliai
  • Kietaviskes
  • Klaipeda
  • Klebiskis
  • Klovaniai
  • Klykuoliai
  • Kovli
  • Krakes
  • Kraziai
  • Krekenava
  • Kretinga
  • Kreve
  • Kriauniai, Kriaunos
  • Krincinas
  • Kriukai (Sakiai)
  • Kriukai (Siauliai)
  • Kruonis
  • Kruopiai
  • Kubiliunai
  • Kuciunai
  • Kudirkos Naumiestis
  • Kulautuva
  • Kuliai
  • Kupreliskis
  • Kupiskis
  • Kurkliai
  • Kursenai
  • Kurtuvenai
  • Kutkiskes, Kutkiskiai
  • Kuziai
  • Kvedarna
  • Kvetkai
  • Kvietiskis
  • Kybartai
  • Labanoras
  • Labinava
  • Laibiskes
  • Laizuva
  • Lampedziai
  • Lanciunava
  • Lapiai
  • Laukeliskiai
  • Laukuva
  • Laukzeme (Raseiniai)
  • Laukzemis (Kretinga)
  • Lazdena
  • Lazdijai
  • Leckava
  • Leipalingis
  • Lekeciai
  • Leliunai
  • Lieplauke
  • Lieponiai
  • Linkmenys
  • Linksmadvaris
  • Linkuva
  • Lioliai
  • Liskiava
  • Liubavas
  • Liudvinavas
  • Lotava
  • Lucinava (Marijampole)
  • Lucinava (Raseiniai)
  • Luksiai
  • Luoke
  • Lyduvenai
  • Lygumai
  • Madziunai
  • Marijampole
  • Marvele
  • Mauruciai
  • Mazeikiai
  • Mazonai
  • Medingenai
  • Mergalaukis
  • Merkine
  • Meskai
  • Meskuiciai
  • Meteliai
  • Mikalina
  • Mikaliskis
  • Mincia
  • Miroslavas
  • Misniunenai
  • Moletai
  • Mosedis
  • Musninkai
  • Nacioniskis
  • Naujamiestis (Karaimu Naumiestis)
  • Naujazeris
  • Naujokai
  • Nedinge, Nedzinge
  • Nemaksciai
  • Nemaniunai, Nemajunai
  • Nemunaitis
  • Nemunelio Radviliskis
  • Nevarenai
  • Nevieriai
  • Nociunai
  • Obeliai
  • Onuskis (Rokiskis)
  • Onuskis (Takai)
  • Pabaiskas
  • Paberze
  • Pabirze
  • Padubysis
  • Paezereliai
  • Paerzeriai
  • Pagegiai
  • Pagiriai
  • Pagramantis
  • Pajevonys
  • Pajuris
  • Pakalniskis
  • Pakriaunis
  • Pakruojus
  • Pakuonis
  • Palacionys
  • Palanga
  • Palevene
  • Paliuniskis
  • Palonai
  • Paluobiai
  • Pamerkiai
  • Pamuse, Pamusis
  • Pandelys
  • Panemunelis
  • Panemunis
  • Panevezys
  • Panosiskes
  • Panoteriai
  • Paobeliai
  • Paparciai
  • Papile
  • Papilys
  • Papyvesiai
  • Pasasva
  • Pasiause
  • Pasusvys
  • Pasvalys
  • Pasvitinys
  • Paupine
  • Pavandene
  • Percineliai, Pociuneliai
  • Perloja
  • Pernava
  • Pestininkai
  • Pilviskiai
  • Pikeliai
  • Piniava
  • Pivasiunai
  • Plateliai
  • Ploksciai
  • Plunge
  • Pociuneliai
  • Povaiguva
  • Pratkunai
  • Pravieniskes
  • Preni
  • Priekule
  • Prienai
  • Primusa
  • Pumpenai
  • Punia
  • Pusiauskely
  • Puskelniai
  • Pusalotas
  • Radeikiai
  • Radute
  • Radviliskis
  • Rageliai
  • Raguva
  • Raguvele
  • Ramygala
  • Raseiniai
  • Raskovcizna
  • Raudenai (Marijampole)
  • Raudenai-Raudenis (Siauliai)
  • Raudondvaris
  • Raudone
  • Ribukai
  • Rietavas
  • Rodzanai
  • Rokenai
  • Rokiskis
  • Romanova
  • Rozalimas
  • Rudamina
  • Rudnia
  • Rumsiskes
  • Rusne
  • Sabonis
  • Sakalyne
  • Salakas
  • Salantai
  • Saldutiskis
  • Salociai
  • Salomenka
  • Sanesiski
  • Sasnava
  • Seciai
  • Seda
  • Seirijai
  • Semeliskes
  • Seredzius
  • Sergainiskis
  • Siesikai
  • Simnas
  • Sintautai
  • Skaistgirys
  • Skapiskis
  • Skaudvile
  • Skiemonys
  • Skirpstauja
  • Skirsnemune
  • Skrebatiskis
  • Skudutiskis
  • Skuodas
  • Slavikai
  • Smalininkai
  • Smalvos
  • Smilgiai
  • Spernia
  • Stakiai
  • Stakliskes
  • Stasiunai
  • Strevininkai
  • Subacius
  • Sudargas (Sudarg)
  • Sujainiai
  • Surdegis
  • Surviliskis
  • Suvainiskis
  • Svaboda
  • Svedasai
  • Svobiskis
  • Sakiai
  • Sakyna
  • Sateikiai
  • Saukenai
  • Saukotas
  • Seduva
  • Sestokai
  • Sesuoliai
  • Seta
  • Siaudine
  • Siaudiniskiai
  • Siaudvige
  • Siaulenai
  • Siauliai
  • Silai
  • Silale
  • Silenai
  • Silute
  • Siluva
  • Simkaiciai
  • Sirvintos
  • Sukiskis
  • Sumskai,Sunskai
  • Sveksna
  • Sventezeris
  • Tartupis
  • Taujenai
  • Taurage
  • Tauragenai
  • Tavrova
  • Telsiai
  • Teneniai
  • Tirksliai
  • Traupis
  • Trepkalnis
  • Troskunai
  • Truskava
  • Tryskiai
  • Tubines
  • Turiskis
  • Turmantas
  • Turzenai
  • Tverai
  • Tytuvenai
  • Ubila
  • Ukmerge
  • Ulinova
  • Ungarine
  • Upyna
  • Upyte
  • Utena
  • Uzdubysis
  • Uzpaliai
  • Uzuguostis
  • Uzventis
  • Vabalninkas
  • Vadokliai
  • Vaiguva
  • Vainutas
  • Vaitkiskiai
  • Valeisiskis
  • Vandziogala
  • Varena
  • Varniai
  • Vasiliskis
  • Vaskai
  • Vegeriai
  • Veisiejai
  • Veiveriai
  • Veivirzenai
  • Veliuona
  • Vepriai
  • Verpena
  • Vezaiciai
  • Videniskiai
  • Vidiskiai
  • Vidukle
  • Viedziai
  • Vieksniai
  • Viesintos
  • Viesvenai
  • Vievis
  • Vikenai
  • Vikaviskis
  • Vikiautinis
  • Vilkija
  • Virbalis
  • Visakio-Ruda
  • Vistytis
  • Vyzuonos
  • Ylakiai
  • Zapyskis
  • Zarasai
  • Zadeikiai
  • Zagare
  • Zalioji
  • Zarenai
  • Zasliai
  • Zelva
  • Zemaiciu Kalvarija
  • Zemaiciu Naumiestis (Neishtot Tavrig)
  • Zemaitkiemis
  • Zeimelis
  • Zeimiai
  • Zidikai
  • Ziezmariai
  • Zuriai
  • Zvingiai
  • Zvirbliniai
  • Zydaviskis
  • Zydkaimis
  • Zydvaris

  • Index of Places
  • Index of Persons
 

THE LITVAKS

A Short History of the Jews in Lithuania

 

Although Lithuanian Jewish community comprised a relatively small portion of world Jewry on the eve of the Holocaust, it has always held a unique place in Jewish history and been an important cultural center carrying a weight far greater than its relative size. Lithuania had been famous for centuries as the cultural center for Jewish scholarship and renowned as great center of Torah learning. Its many important yeshivot made it stand out in comparison to neighboring Jewish communities in Eastern and Central Europe. The Lithuanian Jews, nicknamed Litvaks, have been charactericed by their rational, intellectual approach to learning and spiritual matters as well as to day-to-day affairs.

During the Holocaust, the Lithuanian Jewish community sustained some of the highest losses among the Jewish communities in Europe (approximately 95% destroyed), as a result of the enthusiastic cooperation of the Lithuanians with the Germans. And yet, when faced with these challenging circumstances, the Lithuanian Jews demonstrated an unusually strong spiritual and moral stance as well as an extraordinary level of community organization.

It is no wonder that many Jews all over the world, descendants of Lithuanian emigrants, are extremely interested in their Litvak heritage, and are making tremendous efforts to reinforce this connection through their search for roots. Numerous travelers are journeying to the towns and villages that had been home to their ancestors, tracing the footsteps of their loved ones who lived there, to their final resting place - the local Jewish cemetery or a mass grave.

For.all of the above and for many others, this book may serve as a kind of textbook, and will explain many facts about Lithuanian Jews and their characteristic phenomena.

The theme and contents of this book serve as a short history of the Jews of Lithuania from the earliest settlements in the country until the destruction of the community in the Holocaust of the Second World War. The book's four main chronological sections describe the history of Lithuania and its Jewish residents:

Some of the most important historical topics covered are:

PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 2000

Special features included in THE LITVAKS are:


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