The Heritage of Jewish Vilkaviskis
A small town in Southern Lithuania. where the Jewish Community is no more
Independent Lithuania
As the German occupation faded in November 1918, the people of Vilkaviškis didn’t wait for instructions. They elected a Provisional Town Council with a remarkable 50/50 split: six Christians and six Jews.
This committee immediately took charge of the town’s survival, managing food supplies and organizing a 20-man militia to maintain peace.
The Jewish Representatives:
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Josel Kabaker
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Lipman Jappu
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Abram Berman
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Girš Feltenstein
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Abram Albohm
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Yankele Chmelevskis
Between 1920 and 1922, the "heart" of the town began to beat again as families returned from displacement in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Most traveled through the Obeliai quarantine station, returning with little more than their determination to rebuild.
Notable Stories:
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Tankhel Amolskis: Returned from Russia in 1920.
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Pese Salnikeryte: A doctor and former prisoner of war who returned from Kharkov in 1922.
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The Baron Family: Returned together from Russia via Obeliai in late 1920.
By the mid-1920s, the town was humming with activity. The purchase of the Electricity Station on January 2, 1919, ensured that progress remained in local hands. Under the management of Meir Varshavsky, the station became a symbol of modernization.
The Lifeblood of Trade:
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The Volksbank: By 1928, it supported 718 members, providing the credit needed to reopen shops.
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The Artisans: The Jewish community included 24 shoemakers, 20 tailors, 8 butchers, and even a dedicated rope maker.