and Jewish Life
First time in Pumpenai, although I was nearby in 2016.
The previous Jewish buildings in this town.
The cemetery
Pumpėnai is a small town in Panevėžys County, in northeastern Lithuania. According to the 2001 census, the town has a population of 952 people.[1]
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpėnai
My two previous visits were in 2015 and 2016
I was privileged to attend the Seduva Jewish Cemetery Restoration and the two Holocaust Memorial ceremonies. This is what Sergey Kanovich, who led the project, said at the first Holocaust Memorial …
Source: elirab.me/seduva-jewish-ceremonies/
My second visit to Seduva. The first was in May 2015 when the cemetery and two Holocaust memorials were dedicated and opened Click on the image to see the post: The new Lost Shtetl memorial …
Source: elirab.me/seduva
The third Holocaust memorial site outside Seduva. I hadn’t previously visited this site.
Šeduva ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a city in the Radviliškis district municipality, Lithuania. It is located 18 km (11 mi) east of Radviliškis.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Šeduva
The restored synagogue at Pakruojis
I visited this time last year when it was under construction
I visited Pakruojis to see the wooden synagogue in the city. As you can see from the images, it is currently being restored. We previously saw that the wooden synagogue in Ziezmariai is also under …
Source: elirab.me/pakruojis-siaulenai/
On the road to Pakruojis
Outside
With Laima
Inside
Some of the information panels
Oldest surviving synagogue in Lithuania
Rav Kook in nearby Zeimelis
Surrounding buildings
Pakruojis ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a city in Lithuania. It is situated on the Kruoja River, which has a dam above the city. Forty three buildings of the manor, mentioned in 1531 still survive.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakruojis
The town and synagogue
Laima and I meet history teacher Ruta Adamkeviciene, who kindly shows us the few Jewish sites remaining
KRAKENOWO ~ A TOWN IN LITHUANIA ~ the story of a world that has passed
The reprint of the booklet printed by the South African Krakenowo Sick Benefit and Benevolent Society in 1961 to celebrate its diamond Jubilee. All articles in Yiddish have now been translated into English.
Contact: David Sandler
The first two articles – click Krakenowo link below to read.
Krekenava is a town (population 2,003) in Panevėžys district municipality in northern Lithuania, on the bank of Nevėžis.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krekenava
Can we squeeze under?
On way back to Kedainiai, we visit the other Holocaust site on the outskirts of Kedainiai.
The Keidaner Family tree on Laima’s classroom wall – an unique work of art!
The complex of two synagogues and the tree featuring the names of Keidaners, including my 3rd great grandfather Zalman Tzoref in the centre.
created by student Karolina Silvestraviciute
Activities at the school including my presentation, a visit to the science lab and participation in classroom activities.
English teacher Laima Ardaviciene inspires us all, seen here talking to a journalist
Another amazing contribution by Laima and her students for the TEC – Tolerance Education Centre program.
See link below
Kėdainių Atžalyno gimnazija – Tolerancijos ugdymo centras
Kedainiai Atzalynas Gymnasium – Tolerance Educational Center
Source: tolerance2016.weebly.com/2016-2017.html
Our tour of the local regional museum.
Images from the Jewish cemetery
Giedre Guzaviciene and Arūnė Levuškinienė, teachers at Kalvarija Gimnazija meeting me in Marijampole
Stoklishok, Lithuania
Source: kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/stoklishok/Home.html
Students sing Zog Nit Keynmol for me:
by Geoff Vasil
Source: www.lzb.lt/en/2017/05/31/pre-internet-viral-songs-of-the-vilna-ghetto/
Report by Geoff Vasil with my images
Source: www.lzb.lt/en/2017/05/31/annual-ort-sholem-aleichem-gymnasium-barbat-mitzvah-ceremony/
„Paskutinė mano valia skirta įpėdiniams: tarpusavyje gyventi draugiškai, nekaupti savyje priešiškumo, palaikyti vieniems kitus sunkiu laiku, prisiminti šeimą, užjausti vargšą… Vaikai, didžuokitės mano taip sunkiai užsitarnautu žydišku vardu.“
Source: www.jewishschool.lt/
World Ort Videos:
We feature videos made especially for this project by schools belonging to the World ORT network. See below. To find out more about World ORT, the world’s largest Jewish education and vocati…
Source: Http://elirab.me/ort
Israel-Litvak Roots
From: Elena Bazes
Monday, June 12th in Ra’anana, Israel
Join us for the next meeting of the Israel Genealogy Research
Association (IGRA).
Eli Rabinowitz will be speaking on “In the Footsteps of Zalman Tzoref:
Tracing 200 Years of Litvak Family History and Legacy”.
This presentation follows Zalman Tzoref’s footsteps and goes beyond!
In 1811, Tzoref left Keidan, Lithuania for Jerusalem where his mission
was to rebuild the Ashkenazi community in the Old City. Eli will
discuss Tzoref’s life and achievements through his 20,000 descendants.
In 2011, Eli returned to the town, now called Kedainiai, and
re-established his family connections with Tzoref’s birthplace. He
will also speak on how he has become active in building bridges in
this town.
Eli Rabinowitz, born in Cape Town, has lived in Perth Australia since
1986. An economist by profession, Eli is involved in a wide range of
Jewish community activities, including filming events, research,
education, arranging exhibitions and lecturing on Jewish cultural
heritage and family history. Eli writes and manages 75 Kehilalinks
websites for JewishGen, and blogs on Jewish life, his extensive
heritage travel and photography. He also arranges customized Litvak
heritage tours and has published stories in various genealogical
publications.
Location: Bet Fisher, 5 Klausner Street, Ra’anana
Doors open at 19:00 Meeting begins at 19:30.
Cost: IGRA members-Free Admission Non-members-NIS 20
To join IGRA, go to http://genealogy.org.il/membership/
Elena Biegel Bazes
IGRA Publicity Chairperson
The Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA) is bringing new technology, new energy and new excitement to genealogy in Israel, and across the world. In order to receive increased access to the Israel Genealogy Research Association’s web site, and to stay informed on the society’s activities, be sure to register for this site. Registration is free. Press the big “Register Now” button to the right to register now!
Source: genealogy.org.il/
LitvakSIG | About LitvakSIG
LitvakSIG is the primary internet resource for Lithuanian-Jewish (Litvak) genealogy research worldwide. SIG stands for Special Interest Group.
Here is an idea for your school students or youth group:
Recite the poem, Zog Nit Keynmol, written by Hirsh Glik 20, in the Vilna ghetto in 1943.
Do it in your own language!
And then SHARE it with us!
The song is the anthem of the Survivors. With their rapidly diminishing numbers, we want our youth to continue the legacy.
Be creative like Giedrius Galvanauskas of Atzalynas Gymnasium in Kedainiai, Lithuania.
Inspired by his English teacher, Laima Ardaviciene, Giedrius used a Lithuanian translation, background music on (1) viola and (2) piano, with a backdrop of old images of his hometown, Kedainiai, and even added English subtitles.
The viola was played by Tzvi Friedl of Perth Australia.
Translated by Roza Tzvi Ben Litay and Sergey Kanovich
Wouldn’t it be great if you recited it in your own language and chose photos from your heritage town and then shared it around the world?
The viola version
The piano version
Here is Aaron Kremer’s English version by Freydl Mrocki of Shalom Aleichem College, Melbourne, Australia.
Tzvi Friedl on the viola
Atzalyno Gimnazija, Kedainiai, Lithuania
The students take me on a multicultural tour of Kedainai, the last stop being the two former synagogue complex, one of only a handful in Lithuania. The centre is run by Rimantas Zirgulis, director …
Source: elirab.me/my-bond-with-atzalyno-gimnazija-a-school-in-kedainiai-2/
Zog Nit Keynmol
New videos have arrived:
ORT Compilation
Mexico CIM ORT
King David High School Victory Park, Johannesburg
Press reports:
Australian Jewish News 27 April 2017
Lithuanian Jewish Community
From the SASIG Newsletter
The SA-SIG Newsletter
Source: www.jewishgen.org/safrica/newsletter/index.htm
Including:
Update on Southern African KehilaLinks sites
A reminder that there are a number of South African KehilaLinks pages which can be found on the JewishGen’s KehilaLinks project web site. (The KehilaLinks project provides a set of web pages which commemorate the places throughout the world where Jews have lived.)
The full list of South African KehilaLinks pages can be found at:
http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Asia.html
The list now includes the following towns: Benoni, Bloemfontein De Aar, Cape Town, Germiston, Graaff Reinet, Grahamstown, Kwekwe (Que Que) in Zimbabwe, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Muizenberg, Oudtshoorn Pietersburg, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Springs, Stellenbosch, Uniondale, Upington, and Witbank.
Eli Rabinowitz, who has created and maintains most of these KehilaLinks sites, is currently in the process of setting up the following new pages: Paarl, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; and Mauritius, Africa.
Eli invites you to send him your stories, memories, photos, family biographies, and articles on Jewish life in any of these places, or for any of the existing pages. As examples of the kind of material he is looking for, Eli suggests you refer to the following links:
http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley
http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/graaff_reinet/We rtheim.html
http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/nasielsk/Kurtz.ht ml
You can find more information on Eli’s complete set of KehilaLink pages at:
You can contact Eli at eli@elirab.com
For reference, the KehilaLinks project home page can be found at:
http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/
and
Lions Shul is a special place
The Lions shul is Johannesburg’s longest standing synagogue, still a vibrant, active, and dynamic congregation. The 108 year old synagogue is in pristine condition and the chavershaft (solidarity/equality) is warm and family-oriented. The services are inspirational and the ambiance magnificent.
A video about the synagogue can be found at:
A description of the synagogue on the Johannnesburg KehilaLinks page can be found at:
http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/johannesburg/Li ons_Shul.html
and
FIRST COUSINS REUNITED
The story of how Eli Rabinowitz finally found his first cousin, Zara Smushkovich, after being separated for over 35 years
We love hearing stories of families reunited through Geni. Recently, Eli Rabinowitz finally found his first cousin Zara Smushkovich after being separated for over 35 years! The discovery was made thanks to the help of a friendly person on Facebook who found the family tree on Geni.
Read the SA SIG newsletter link for more.