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.
Category Archives: Heritage Tours
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.
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”
Tracing Jewish History in Lithuania: Kaunas to Telz Tour Insights
This Jewish heritage tour led us from Kaunas (Kovna) and Kėdainiai (Keidan) to the town of Telšiai, known to many by its Yiddish name, Telz. Once a major center of Jewish learning, Telz was home to one of the most renowned yeshivas in Eastern Europe. Though little remains physically, we stood in the streets whereContinueContinue reading “Tracing Jewish History in Lithuania: Kaunas to Telz Tour Insights”
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”
Litvak Shtetls 