—extremely vivid and informative!
The Heritage of Jewish Vilkaviskis
It’s rare to find a website about a place that remains well-organized, is interesting enough to linger on, yet is also informative and even offers extensive archival material. And what’s particularly special: a site available in both the local language (Lithuanian) and English—for the non-Lithuanian-speaking part of the world.
The site pays tribute to the local volunteers who have contributed to the research of regional Jewish history, as well as to the descendants of Jews who have each contributed their own stories. As a result, this site can be a valuable resource for those interested in their local history—such as students looking for a research topic—as well as for people worldwide who want to learn more about their origins and the history of this region, which has long been difficult to access. It is the work of Ralph Salinger from Israel, who has thus created an excellent summary of his 20 years of tireless research—and done so in such an exemplary manner that we urge all award-granting bodies for such initiatives to take a closer look at this website. It is a successful example of how the histories of approximately 200 other Jewish communities in Lithuania—and thousands throughout the entire settlement area—could be documented.
Why do we at the Association of Jews in East Prussia have a special interest in Vilkaviskis? It is very close to East Prussia and was once part of New East Prussia.
Jewish Vilkaviskis has always been connected to the border with East Prussia and to Königsberg. There were intensive trade relations due to important road and rail connections. There was always a connection between the Jewish communities. When there were no Jewish cemeteries in East Prussia yet, people were buried in Vilkaviskis. If people emigrated, East Prussia was their first stop. If they needed medical care, they traveled to the university hospital in Königsberg. Cycling clubs and youth movements visited one another; there are photographic records of these visits.
