and Jewish Life
This article has just appeared in the latest Cape Jewish Chronicle.
The old man Seftel Leib Melamed whose photo appears here, the last Jew in Birzh, passed away a few days ago at the age of 89.
Please contact me if you have roots in Birzh.
It is pleasing to see how many of you have responded to my previous post about your shtetl names.
Please keep sending your emails to eli@elirab.com
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The Jewish Historical and Genealogical Society of Western Australia is launching its new website this weekend. Please visit:
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I always enjoy my visits to Beyachad in Johannesburg
With Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, Elona Steinfeld, Rose Norwich and Adrienne Kollenberg
More on Beyachad to follow.
Best regards
Eli
(Map – my thanks to Dovid Katz)
We can then update you on the activities in those towns.
For example, there are numerous Jewish projects currently taking place in Seduva, Zagare, Birzai, Plunge, Kedainiai, Joniskis, Kupiskis, Kaunas and Vilnius.
We are also interested in the towns that your Litvak forefathers settled in, after leaving.
Please email your list together with your family names associated with the particular towns and shtetls to:
You can also visit our Facebook pages:
South African Shtetl on Facebook
If you wish, we can put you in touch with others with the same connections.
I look forward to hearing from you.
PS – If you are in Jo’burg tonight, I am giving a talk at the SA Jewish Genealogical Society at the HOD.
http://elirab.me/genealogy/two-talks-in-joburg-cape-town/
It would be great to see you there!
Best regards
Eli
Article in today’s Maccabean Weekly newspaper, Perth, Australia
Rabbi Sam Thurgood giving a lesson.
My interview with Philip Goldman on 22 December 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvcWtWv8Mng
The plaque in memory of Lily Segall, mother of Bubbles and daughter of Israel Kellner.
The shul website:
elirab.me/litvak-portal facebook.com/pages/Litvak-Portal/1014205898589973
I have now added South African Shtetl pages:
http://elirab.me/south-african-shtetl
facebook.com/pages/South-African-Shtetl/714975411941007
If you have links to the following shtetls, please contact me:
Lithuanian KehilaLinks (Jewish websites)
Alytus
Arad
Aran (Varena)
Birzai
Druskinkinkai
Kedain
Kibart (Kybartai)
Kopcheve (Kapciamiestis)
Koshedar (Kaisiadorys)
Mariampol
Memel (Klaipeda)
Meretch
Naishtot
Naumiestis
Pilvsk
Ponievez
Pen
Plungyan
Salant
Serey
Shaki
Stokishok
Sudarg
Tavrig
Telz
Utena
Vikovishk
Virbain
Vishey
Aizpute
Mir
Navahrudak
Brest
Vysokaye
Orla
I was in Israel to lecture at the IAJGS35, the International Jewish Genealogical conference in Jerusalem.
Besides my lecture, this video is my moment of fame at the conference: JewishGen’s Avrami Groll presenting new projects for this year
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Here are some images of people I met at the conference
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I was also able to travel around and take other photos outside of the conference. Included are unusual street signs in Ashkelon, meeting Dan Brotman and the visiting ANC Youth Leaders in the Old City, the Humus Bar in the Carmel Shuk that was once a synagogue, meeting for the first time – 30 of my cousins from one family in Sumaria, and my talk on my Litvak heritage travels at Beit Protea in Herzlia.
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Israel is full of fun, family and a fabulous place to visit!
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Scooter cam: A fun scooter ride with cousin Nachi before shabbat from Kiryat Moshe to Machane Yehuda
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I have set up a gateway to anything Litvak on Facebook. A website will also be added.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Litvak-Portal/1014205898589973
This Facebook page and its associated website will be dedicated information gateways (portals) to aspects of Jewish life, past and present, in Lithuania and those parts of Belarus, Latvia and Poland regarded as Litvak.
Alytus
Arad
Aran (Varena)
Birzai
Druskinkinkai
Kedain
Kibart (Kybartai)
Kopcheve (Kapciamiestis)
Koshedar (Kaisiadorys)
Mariampol
Memel (Klaipeda)
Meretch
Naishtot
Naumiestis
Pilvsk
Ponievez
Pen
Plungyan
Salant
Serey
Shaki
Stokishok
Sudarg
Tavrig
Telz
Utena
Vikovishk
Virbain
Vishey
Aizpute
Mir
Navahrudak
Brest
Vysokaye
Orla
I look forward to your suggestions.
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Taksim
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Shuls
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The Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar
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Mosques
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Galata and the Golden Horn
