Jews in Anykščiai surprised locals with the town’s first gas station and its only bus Anyone who has visited Anykščiai can easily list at least five, or even all ten, of its most popular sights. The town truly offers plenty to do: culture, entertainment, nature, and wellness services, all supported by an infrastructure comparable toContinueContinue reading “ANYKŠČIAI || ANIKSHT”
Tag Archives: Jewish Heritage
Shtetl of the Week: Seda
This week we travel to Seda, a small Žemaitija town. Seda’s synagogue (credit: Yad Vashem, photo from FB page Lietuva senose fotografijose) Its’ history reaches back to the early 1500s, and perhaps even earlier. Once an important border trade center with Livonia, it grew around a manor, a parish founded in 1508, and a busyContinueContinue reading “Shtetl of the Week: Seda”
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.
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”
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”
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)”
Litvak Shtetls 