Compiled by Neringa Daugnoraite Ziezmariai Secondary School Lithuania, and Jennifer Rokhsar Cold Spring Harbor High School, New York United States
Students of Ziezmariai at JewishCemetery of Women and Children
The origin of Jews in Lithuania is connected with tragic events in Western and Central Europe. The Wars of the Cross, the attack of Turks drove Jews away from Palestine to Europe. As in Europe, and especially as in Spain and Germany, they were unfavorably received. Jews from LDK settled in the 12-14th centuries. The statement of Vytautas of 1388-89 is known, which published privileges for Jews. During this time, Jews already lived in Voinine, Ruckas, Brestas and Pinskas. In the 17-18th centuries, Jews increased, especially in Zemaitija (Lowland). It is found in the statements of 1650, that Jews lived in the residences of four Lowlands and they numbered about 560. At the end of the 18th century there were about 30,000 Jews living in the area. Jews mostly lived in the west of Lithuania. They increased after the division of the Poland Republics because the Czar's government organized the politics of Jew's displacement. There were two Jewish theatres; 6 daily newspapers and one magazine were published. Culture, education, and sports societies were active as well as painters and writers in Kaunas in the second half of 1940. Social help and charity organizations were active, too. In 1925, a Jewish Science Institute was founded in Vilnius. There were a lot of cultural, scientific and political people among Jews. Outstanding from them was S. Razenbaumas, who took an active part in negotiations for signing the Lithuanian-Russian treaty in 1920. He was also active in the problem of how to give Vilnius back to Lithuania. He took part in the Versailles peace negotiations. A famous diplomat, H. Rabinovicius, worked as a Lithuanian secretary in Copenhagen, London, and Washington -- and, from 1926-30, worked as a consul in New York.
From the facts we have, Jews moved to Ziezmariai in the third quarter of the 18th century. In 1690, a synagogue was built. There were 49 Jewish houses in the town till 1765, and there lived 301 persons there. In 1766, 482 Jews belonged to Kahalas, the community of Jews, and that's how there was a favorable run of trade and handicrafts in Ziezmariai. In 1780 there lived only Jews in the center of the town. There were 40 farmsteads at the square; in Dvaras Street, there were 3; in Kaunas Street, 15; in Naujoji Street, 6; in Zasliai Street, 7; in Vilnius Street, 16; and, in Bravoras Street, 12 farmsteads in which families of Jews lived. During the general census of the population in 1790, there were 763 Jews in Ziezmariai; in 1795, there were 619 Jews. In the years of epidemic, a lot of people died, and the number of inhabitants decreased. The number of Jews fell to 411, but in 1834, this number increased to 495. In 1854, about 13 families of Jews lived near the Market Square; 35 families in Zasliai Street; 11 in Naujoji Street; 15 families in Zydai Street; 18 and 5 families in Vilnius and Dvaras Streets. From 1890-1892, there were 2204 inhabitants in Ziezmariai, 1310 Jews among them.
We are asking for answers from the people who can tell us some recollections about pre-war life in Lithuania themselves or with the help of their relatives. Ziezmariai, and its surroundings, is the concrete place in Lithuania. Maybe somebody knows about the destiny of Jews saved by Lithuanian people, too. It was K. Kalamickis who was hidden by farmer, V. Paskauskas in Skleriskis Village, after escaping from the Semeliskis ghetto. V. Paskauskas had hidden people from the Kaunas ghetto -- all in all about 80 people. A farmer, Marcukas, saved the Ypai and Gilmanai families from the Kaunas ghetto. Another farmer, Ribnikovas from Pakalniskis, and J. Parulis, not far from Ziezmariai, hid the Goldstein family. Even the priest, J. Zemaitis, from Rumsiskes, helped about 80 Jewish people. We have a hope that there are still such people who can remember something about it and that they will contact us for our project.