Exploring Litvak Roots with Stops in Kaunas, Kėdainiai, and Šeduva
This was a deeply meaningful one-day Jewish heritage journey across northern and central Lithuania. The focus was on visiting two key ancestral towns. They were Pokroy (Pakruojis) and Ponevezh (Panevėžys). These former shtetls have rich Jewish histories. They hold personal significance for the traveler. Along the way, we also stopped in Kovne (Kaunas). We also visited Keidan (Kėdainiai) and Shadeve (Šeduva). Each stop added context and emotional depth to the day.
Jewish Heritage Tour Highlights:
- Pakruojis (Pokroy): It is the birthplace of the traveler’s 95-year-old father. He was capable of reconnecting with his hometown virtually through a live Skype call during the visit.
- Panevėžys (Ponevezh): one of Lithuania’s important Jewish centers before the Holocaust—home to the renowned Ponevezh Yeshiva.
- Kaunas (Kovno): a brief visit to the Ninth Fort, one of the most significant Holocaust memorial sites in the country.
- Kėdainiai (Keidan): known for its preserved synagogue complex and long-standing Jewish presence.
- Šeduva (Shadeve): home of the upcoming Lost Shtetl Museum. Efforts are underway to preserve and present the history of Lithuanian Jewry.
This journey connected places, memory, and generations. The highlight was letting the traveler’s father witness his hometown again via Skype. He was born in Pakruojis and now lives abroad. It happened more than eight decades after he left.
Planning a Jewish Roots Tour in Lithuania?
You can visit ancestral towns like Pakruojis, Panevėžys, or Šeduva. You can also see major sites such as the Ninth Fort in Kaunas. I offer custom Jewish heritage tours in Lithuania that are tailored to your family’s story.
Litvak Shtetls 