Many visitors who come to Lithuania to explore their Jewish roots ask to see the towns where their families once lived. These journeys often lead to small former shtetls that today seem quiet, but once had active Jewish communities.
Last week I received a request to guide visitors to Pumpėnai and Krekenava, two towns in northern Lithuania. We have already agreed on the plans, and in June we will travel there together.
While the visitors are waiting for their trip, I sent them an article I had previously written about Krekenava. However, I realized that I did not yet have a similar piece about Pumpėnai.
So I took the opportunity to gather the information I had and write a short overview about the town. And with that, Pumpėnai becomes the Shtetl of the Week.
Litvak Shtetls 