Vilnius: In Search of Traces of the Jerusalem of
Lithuania
Translating Challenges
Vadim Sapozhnikov, Calgary, Canada
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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.
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.
• Readers will deepen their knowledge of the
Jewish community of Vilnius from its very
beginnings through the mid-twentieth century
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.
• Readers will deepen their knowledge of the
Jewish community of Vilnius from its very
beginnings through the mid-twentieth century.
• Distinguished community figures and the tragic
events of the Second World War are featured.
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.
• Readers will deepen their knowledge of the
Jewish community of Vilnius from its very
beginnings through the mid-twentieth century.
• Distinguished community figures and the tragic
events of the Second World War are featured.
• The guide is intended for a broad audience
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.
• Readers will deepen their knowledge of the
Jewish community of Vilnius from its very
beginnings through the mid-twentieth century.
• Distinguished community figures and the tragic
events of the Second World War are featured.
• 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.
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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.
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
• 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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Traces of war
• the end wall at 1 Žemaitijos St.
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City
Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921 Vilna
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City
Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921 Vilna
Interwar = between WWI and WWII 1921-1939 Wilno
Post-war = post-WWII 1939-1940/48
Post-war to break up of USSR 1987
Post break up of USSR 1991
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City Same Street
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City Same Street
Pre-war = pre-WWI 1913-1921 Vilna Жмудская
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
Post-war to break up of USSR 1987 Vilnius
Post break up of USSR 1991 Vilnius
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
Post break up of USSR 1991 Vilnius
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Traces of war
• the end wall at 1 Žemaitijos St.
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
«Цайт»
Tsayt (Yid.
Time
«Время»)
17, 246–
247, 354,
423n, 514,
529, 680
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Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
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Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
фабрика калильных ламп
Крейнгеля 506–507
Teodor Kreingel’s
kerosene and
incandescent lamp making
factory
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Общество
друзей ИВО
Society of Friends
of the Yiddish
Scientific Institute
271, 313, 515,
522, 532–534,
547, 551n, 554–
555
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Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
«Ѓапоэль» “Hapoel”
(Heb. «Рабочий» ‘The
Worker’) 315, 372, 377,
619
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
«Ѓапоэль» “Hapoel”
(Heb. «Рабочий»
‘The Worker’) 315,
372, 377, 619
«Йордан» “Jordan”
(Heb. река Иордан)
619
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[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.
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[illus] The newspaper kiosk
at the same stand. In the
background – 39 Zavalnaya
St. (currently 43 Pylimo
St.). Photographer
unknown. Ca. 1917. FL
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[illus] The newspaper kiosk
at the same stand. In the
background – 39 Zavalnaya
St. (currently 43 Pylimo
St.). Photographer
unknown. Ca. 1917. FL
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Historic periods Same City Same Street Language
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Plan of the Jewish
Quarter of Vilna,
1645
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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.
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[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
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Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[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
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Jatkowa St.Postcard by Ftitz Krauskopf
1916. DJ
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Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[illus] “Elektrit”. Induced coils
wrapping shop. 1938. HB
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
[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
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Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
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[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
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• Names conform to what is encountered in the source documents (literature, encyclopedia)
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
• Names conform to what is encountered in the source documents (literature, encyclopedia)
• Avraam, Abraham, Abram, Avrom;
• Meir, Meer, Meyer
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
• 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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
• 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
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
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
• Double names and the initials thereof spelled with a dash
• Хаес Менахем-Мониш Khaeyes Menakhem-Monish
• Перец Ицхак-Лейбуш Perets Yitskhak-Leybush
Association of Jewish Libraries Proceedings June 2019
• 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
• 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
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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
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Сапожников Хаим Sapozhnikov Khaim 312
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