vilnius: in search of traces of the jerusalem of lithuania

Vilnius: In Search of Traces of the Jerusalem of

Lithuania

Translating Challenges

Vadim Sapozhnikov, Calgary, Canada

Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019

Vilnius. In Search of Traces of the Jerusalem of

Lithuania is a guide book which introduces the

reader to 23 pedestrian routes specially designed to

encompass sites of Jewish historical and cultural

significance.






significance.

• Readers will deepen their knowledge of the

Jewish community of Vilnius from its very

beginnings through the mid-twentieth century






significance.



beginnings through the mid-twentieth century.

• Distinguished community figures and the tragic

events of the Second World War are featured.






significance.






• The guide is intended for a broad audience






significance.






• The guide is intended for a broad audience.

• Both first-time visitors to Vilnius and city residents

with an interest in the history of Eastern European

Jews will glean here much more about the

Jerusalem of Lithuania that is new to them.


Based on historical accounts, Vilnius. In Search of

Traces of the Jerusalem of Lithuania is richly

illustrated with documents and photographs from

government archives, libraries, museums and

private collections.

• Its appendix includes a list of Vilnius street names

at different periods of history, indices of names

and sites and a glossary.










• Compilers - Irina Guzenberg, Genrich Agranovskij

Corrections and complement - Irina Guzenberg

Consultants - Vyrautas Lisauskas, Sid Laiman

Editor - Dalija Eipšteinaitė

Editor of the first edition - Birutė Sinočkina

Published by PAVILNIAI










• Compilers - Irina Guzenberg, Genrich Agranovskij

Corrections and complement - Irina Guzenberg

Consultants - Vyrautas Lisauskas, Sid Laiman

Editor - Dalija Eipšteinaitė

Editor of the first edition - Birutė Sinočkina

Published by PAVILNIAI

• With support from Good Will Foundation

ISBN 978-609-95375-4-2

782 pp., 2016, with photographs, in Russian

languageAssociation of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019

Traces of war

• the end wall at 1 Žemaitijos St.


Historic periods

Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921

Interwar = between WWI and WWII 1921-1939

Post-war = post-WWII 1939-1940/48

Post-war to break up of USSR 1987

Post break up of USSR 1991


Historic periods Same City

Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921







Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921 Vilna








Interwar = between WWI and WWII 1921-1939 Wilno








Post-war = post-WWII 1939-1940/48 Vilnius

Post-war to break up of USSR 1987 Vilnius

Post break up of USSR 1991 Vilnius


Historic periods Same City Same Street








Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921 Vilna Жмудская








Interwar = between WWI and WWII 1921-1939 Wilno Straszuna








Post-war = post-WWII 1939-1940/48 Vilnius Strašūno








Post-war to break up of USSR 1987 Vilnius Žemaitijos

Post break up of USSR 1991 Vilnius Žemaitijos


Traces of war

• the end wall at 1 Žemaitijos St.


«Цайт»

Tsayt (Yid.

Time

«Время»)

17, 246–

247, 354,

423n, 514,

529, 680


Рамайлес

(«Тасит Тойра»

«Дарование

Торы») Ramayles

(Ramailes) (“Tasit

Toyra” – “The

giving of the

Torah”) 17, 69,

78–79, 97, 257,

304, 341–342,

354–355, 373


фабрика калильных ламп

Крейнгеля 506–507

Teodor Kreingel’s

kerosene and

incandescent lamp making

factory


Общество

друзей ИВО

Society of Friends

of the Yiddish

Scientific Institute

271, 313, 515,

522, 532–534,

547, 551n, 554–

555


«Ѓапоэль» “Hapoel”

(Heb. «Рабочий» ‘The

Worker’) 315, 372, 377,

619


«Ѓапоэль» “Hapoel”

(Heb. «Рабочий»

‘The Worker’) 315,

372, 377, 619

«Йордан» “Jordan”

(Heb. река Иордан)

619


[illus] The small square-shaped pad near the

intersection of Pylimo, Šv. Stepono and

Raugyklos Streets. The porters, along with

their carts, stood at the edge of the square

along Raugyklos Street. Photographer

unknown. Ca. 1917. VL.


[illus] The newspaper kiosk

at the same stand. In the

background – 39 Zavalnaya

St. (currently 43 Pylimo

St.). Photographer

unknown. Ca. 1917. FL


Historic periods Same City Same Street Language








Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921 Vilna Жмудская Russian








Interwar = between WWI and WWII 1921-1939 Wilno Straszuna Polish







Interwar = between WWI and WWII 1921-1939 Wilno Straszuna Polish

Post-war = post-WWII 1939-1940/48 Vilnius Strašūno Lithuanian

Post-war to break up of USSR 1987 Vilnius Žemaitijos Lithuanian

Post break up of USSR 1991 Vilnius Žemaitijos Lithuanian


Plan of the Jewish

Quarter of Vilna,

1645


Vilna Gaon’s family per 1765

Jewish population Census.

Eliash Zelmanovich, wife

Khana, son Zelman, daughter

Basia, the maid Nekhama, Fragment of enumeration form

LVIA, SA b. 3726, l. 7a.p.


[illus] “List of pupils enrolled from

the Vilna three-grade Israelite School

into the Vilna Governorate

(Guberniya in Russian) Gymnasium.”

LVIA, f. 567, ap. 2, b. 5898, l. 4


[illus] Certificate. Snipishki Jewish

society’s deputies pledge it upon

themselves to pay public dues on behalf

of 15-year-old Lev Tobiashevich

Borovich, so that he may continue the

course of studies at Vilna Rabbinical

School. October 6, 1869. LVIA, f. 572,

ap. 2, b. 13, l. 34


Jatkowa St.Postcard by Ftitz Krauskopf

1916. DJ


[illus] “Elektrit”. Induced coils

wrapping shop. 1938. HB


[illus] “Elektrit”. Induced coils

wrapping shop. 1938. HB

[illus] Former Factory P.O. Box no. 555

territory at 16, 16А Ševčenkos St.

Former “Elektrit” today: central block in

the background used to display the

company name sign, former production

blocks on left and right. 2016


[illus] Population [the ghetto] by age and gender for February,

March, April [1942] on the streets: Bosaczkowa (Karmelitų),

Disner (Disnos), Zawalna (Pylimo), Jatkowa (Mėsinių), Lidska

(Lydos), Straszuna (Žemaitijos), Końska (Arklių), Rudnicka

(Rūdninkų), Shawelska (Šiaulių), Szpitalna (Ligoninės),

complete with the indication of the basis of being present in the

Ghetto (yellow, pink and “protective” permits). Total population

– 16,043, including children up to 14 years old – 3,813 =

23.7%, number of adults 60 years old and older 295 = 1.83%,

Yiddish. LCVA, f. R-1421, ap. 1, b. 380, l. 2


List of Jewish infants and

toddlers at Orphanage No.

1 at 16 Subačiaus St.

(Currently 20

Subačiaus St.). Sept. 15,

1941. LCVA, f. R-643, ap. 3, b. 4152, l.190


[illus] The brenners carried corpses on the planks laid

down on the “conveyor” to the top part of the

“pyramid” – the future pyre. July-August 1944. VŽM

8227-9

[illus] Currently, the “conveyer” has been installed in

the former bunker


• Names conform to what is encountered in the source documents (literature, encyclopedia)



• Avraam, Abraham, Abram, Avrom;

• Meir, Meer, Meyer





• Attempt has been made to standardize the name of a specific person, despite variations that

exist in source documents







• Patronymic names have been maintained for many prominent figures whose names have

been Russified over time

• Трахтенберг Мендель Давидович Trakhtenberg Mendel Davidovich


Names conform to what is encountered in the source documents (literature, encyclopedia)








• Double names and the initials thereof spelled with a dash

• Хаес Менахем-Мониш Khaeyes Menakhem-Monish

• Перец Ицхак-Лейбуш Perets Yitskhak-Leybush










• Double names and the initials thereof spelled with a dash

• Хаес Менахем-Мониш Khaeyes Menakhem-Monish

• Перец Ицхак-Лейбуш Perets Yitskhak-Leybush

• Attempt to maintain Ashkenazi Yiddish pronunciation

• Франк Исайя (Иешаяѓу)-Яков Frank Isaya (Yeshayahu)-Yakov


Монтефиоре сэр Мозес Montefiore Moses, Sir (1784–1885) 79–80, 122, 177, 221–223, 315, 597

Бегин Менахем Begin (Menakhem 1913–1992) 370, 430, 439, 486

Хейфец Яша Heifetz Jascha (Yasha, Yashen’ka, Yosif Иосиф, 1901–1987) 17, 180, 265–266, 284, 287, 402, 423–425,

475, 576, 608–609


Сапожников Хаим Sapozhnikov Khaim 312


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