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 inContinueContinue reading “Shtetl of the Week: Pumpėnai”
Tag Archives: Štetlai
Shtetl of the Week: Kuršėnai
This week’s shtetl is Kuršėnai, Kurshan in Yiddish. I first visited Kuršėnai in October 2025. I wanted to “greet” the memorial stele marking the former synagogue, erected by the Jakovas Bunka Foundation, and to take a closer look at this small town that I so often pass through, but rarely stop in. The view ofContinueContinue reading “Shtetl of the Week: Kuršėnai”
Žydai Anykščius stebino pirmąja degaline ir vieninteliu autobusu
Anykščiuose lankėmės visi ir užsimerkę galėtume išpyškinti mažiausiai penkias, o gal ir visas dešimt populiarių turistinių vietų mieste ar aplink jį. Iš tiesų, Anykščiuose yra ką veikti ir ieškančiam kultūros, ir pramogų, ir gamtos, ir sveikatos paslaugų, o infrastruktūra nenusileidžia žymiausiems Lietuvos kurortams. O aš, be abejo, norėčiau papasakoti, ką galima atrasti besidomintiems žydiškuoju paveldu.ContinueContinue reading “Žydai Anykščius stebino pirmąja degaline ir vieninteliu autobusu”
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”
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”
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.
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter: Father of the Musar Movement
“Rev Salanter, I can only spare one half-hour to devote to learning. For which subject should I best utilise this precious time?””Well, in this case”, responded the Rabbi, “devote it whole to the study of Musar. For, when you study that subject carefully and diligently, you will inevitably discover that you can find another halfContinueContinue reading “Rabbi Yisrael Salanter: Father of the Musar Movement”
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)”
Štetlų istorijos Jonavoje
Rugsėjo pradžioje Europos žydų kultūros dienų proga Jonavos kultūros centro Krašto muziejus ir mudvi su kolege Giedre Narbutaite-Kontrime pakvietėme pasivaikščioti po žydiškąją Jonavą. Kauno gatvė Jonavoje. Čia gyveno žydai Giedrės idėją praplėsti įprastas miestelio ekskursijas įspūdžiais iš kelionių po Lietuvos štetlus palaikiau iškart. Sutarėme, kad Jonavos žydų istoriją atskleisime pasakodamos apie tai, kaip paprastai kūrėsiContinueContinue reading “Štetlų istorijos Jonavoje”
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 