Aušra

Shtetl of the Week: Marijampolė

This week, I invite to explore the Jewish history and street art of Marijampolė in the photo gallery and to meet Israëlis ‘Izis’ Bidermanas – the famous Paris photographer who grew up in this southern Lithuanian shtetl. About Marijampolė Marijampolė in early 1900s Marijampolė was first mentioned in 1667 and now is home to 36,076ContinueContinue reading “Shtetl of the Week: Marijampolė”

Shtetl of the week: starting a new series with Dusetos

In the “Shtetl of the Week” series, I explore and share traces of Jewish heritage in former Lithuanian shtetls. Each week focuses on one town, highlighting surviving sites, personal stories, notable Litvaks, artistic contributions, cemeteries, and Holocaust memorials, offering a glimpse into the life, memory, and legacy of these communities.

How to plan a Jewish Heritage or Family roots trip to Lithuania

For more than ten years, I am helping visitors from all over the world discover and reconnect with Lithuania’s Jewish past. In this conversation, she shares how to plan a Jewish heritage or family roots trip to Lithuania, what a typical three-day journey looks like, and how even independent travellers often find deeper meaning through her personalized itineraries.

Sonia Gaskell: The Litvak Who Shaped Dutch Ballet

Born in 1904 in Vilkaviškis, Lithuania, Sonia Gaskell (Sara Gaskelytė) rose from her Litvak roots to become one of the leading figures in Dutch ballet and a teacher of Audrey Hepburn. Founder of the Dutch National Ballet, she lived by her motto: “I always move forward.”

YIVO šimtmečiui skirti renginiai

YIVO (Yidisher Visnshaftlekher Institut) įkurtas 1925 m. Vilniuje kaip žydų mokslo institutas, tiriantis Rytų Europos žydų kultūrą, kalbą ir istoriją. Antrojo pasaulinio karo metu institutas persikėlė į Niujorką, kur iki šiol saugo daugiau kaip 400 000 knygų, milijonus dokumentų, rankraščių ir nuotraukų apie žydų gyvenimą Europoje. Šį mėnesį Vilniuje vyksta keletas įdomių ir svarbių renginių,ContinueContinue reading “YIVO šimtmečiui skirti renginiai”

Commemorating 100 Years of YIVO in Vilnius

YIVO (Yidisher Visnshaftlekher Institut) was founded in 1925 in Vilnius as a Jewish scholarly institute dedicated to researching Eastern European Jewish culture, language, and history. During World War II, the institute relocated to New York, where it continues to preserve more than 400,000 books and millions of documents, manuscripts, and photographs about Jewish life inContinueContinue reading “Commemorating 100 Years of YIVO in Vilnius”

From Kupiškis to Plungė: A Personal Jewish History Tour

In July, 2025, I had the pleasure of traveling through Lithuania with Jeremy from the U.S., tracing the same path that his relative Rosemary had followed the previous year. The main destination was Plungė (Plungyan)—the town from which part of his family originated. But Jeremy also wanted to visit Kupiškis, his family’s other ancestral town,ContinueContinue reading “From Kupiškis to Plungė: A Personal Jewish History Tour”

A Litvak Heritage: Rosemary’s Emotional Journey to Plungė

This time, I was deeply moved by Rosemary. She is a descendant of Joffe Marks, a Litvak from Plungė. He built a remarkable life in South Africa. Rosemary traveled to Lithuania in October 2024 with something truly special in her suitcase. The book was about her family’s journey: their life in Lithuania, emigration, and theContinueContinue reading “A Litvak Heritage: Rosemary’s Emotional Journey to Plungė”

Jewish Roots Tour: Exploring Kvėdarna and Gargždai

Tracing Family Roots in Western Lithuania This Jewish roots tour to Kvėdarna (Khveidan) and Gargždai (Gorzhd) was long in the making—planned over several years. These two former shtetls are in western Lithuania. They may not have much physical heritage left. However, their emotional significance remains powerful. On this one-day journey, we followed in the footstepsContinueContinue reading “Jewish Roots Tour: Exploring Kvėdarna and Gargždai”

Emotional Jewish Heritage Journey in Marcinkonys

This 2023 trip to Marcinkonys, known as Martsinkantsy, was a meaningful and emotional journey. The guests, two cousins, were visiting their parents’ homeland for the third or fourth time. The experience was both a reunion and a continuation of memory. We shared insights, stories, and discoveries throughout the day, making it a truly special tour.ContinueContinue reading “Emotional Jewish Heritage Journey in Marcinkonys”