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.”
Category Archives: English
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”
From Plungė to Port Elizabeth: The Journey of Moshe Jaffee (Joffe Marks)
Joffe Marks in Johannesburg, South Africa. A photo of the Jaffee family, available on the website of the South African Jewish Museum Before emigration, Jewish families in Lithuanian towns followed certain rituals: reciting Torah on Shabbat, visiting family graves, and sharing freshly baked challah. These moments marked the transition from the familiar to the unknown.ContinueContinue reading “From Plungė to Port Elizabeth: The Journey of Moshe Jaffee (Joffe Marks)”
Jewish Heritage Journey in Lithuania: Kaunas to Pakruojis
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. AlongContinueContinue reading “Jewish Heritage Journey in Lithuania: Kaunas to Pakruojis”
A Town and Its Jews: Tytuvėnai
Tytuvėnai, first documented in the 16th century, evolved from a small manor settlement to a town marked by ownership changes and external conflicts. Despite hardships, including wars and the Holocaust that devastated its Jewish community, it has gradually rebounded, developing into a quiet town known for its natural beauty.
Life in Shtetl
The text explores the significance of shtetls in Jewish history, particularly in Lithuania, where Jewish communities shaped local life from the 18th century onward. Shtetls served as cultural and economic hubs, fostering rich traditions, education, and community structures while navigating external pressures and a largely separate existence from non-Jewish populations.
A trip to the north of Lithuania. Part 1. Subačius (Subotsh)
I’m starting to like October. Less work, more time for expeditions, research, reading, writing and creativity.The weather is still quite fine: sun, fog, dew, light rain, soft warmth, and mild coolness. There are colors all around. The nettles are no longer biting. The grass is not as tall as a few weeks ago. Mushrooms canContinueContinue reading “A trip to the north of Lithuania. Part 1. Subačius (Subotsh)”
A Walk in Jewish Želva (Podzelve)
Želva is a small town near Ukmergė (Vilkomir). Until I began researching Litvak heritage, I had heard practically nothing about Želva. In 2018 I visited the town for the first time as a home town of world famous Aaron Klug. Since then I have been here for four or five times. Želva was famous forContinueContinue reading “A Walk in Jewish Želva (Podzelve)”
Litvak Shtetls 