Social Welfare 1919 - 1940
Laying the Foundation Stone 1909 of the Jewish Old Age Home "Beit Avraham
"In Vilkaviškis, no one walked alone. The spirit of 'Tzedakah' (justice through giving) was woven into the very fabric of the town. From interest-free loans for struggling shopkeepers to the sun-drenched summer camps of the OSE, these institutions were the community's beating heart—ensuring that the elderly were honored and the children were healed."
The Traditional Societies
Many welfare institutions were active in Vilkaviskis
"Gemiluth Chasadim" (ran a "Pinkas" from 1800);
"Maskil el Dal" (their "Pinkas" dates from1880) giving loans to the needy without interest and small payments for returning the money,
"Mathan BeSeter" which helped people whose economic situation had deteriorated and who were embarrassed to ask for help.
"Maoth Chitim" provided the needy with necessities for "Pesach".
In 1910 all four institutions were united into one big institution "Tsedaka Gedolah".
"Hachnasath Kalah" helped poor brides;
"Linath haTsedek" supplied poor passers-by with food and accommodation;
"Bikur Cholim" helped needy patients and sent them doctors and medicines.
There were also Jewish public baths and several "Mikve".
After the disbanding of the community committee in the middle twenties, the welfare activities were transferred to the "Ezrah" society, which together with the "Adath Yisrael" society had about 120 members who donated about 500 Litas per year. These societies helped the poor, arranged fund raisings (as for "Maoth Chitim" for Pesach) and also initiated special welfare activities.
The headquarters of the Jewish Community
On the ground floor was the storehouse for furniture and clothes for the less well off.
The OSE (Health & Children)
The OSE in Vilkaviskis
The original OZE (Obshchetsvo Zdravookhraneniya Yevreyiev, Organisation for the health protection of Jews), was created in 1912 in Saint Petersburg by doctors, to help needy members of the Jewish population. Branches were established in other countries. In 1923 the organization relocated in Berlin, under the presidency of Albert Einstein. In 1933, fleeing Nazism, it relocated again, this time to France where it became the Œuvre de Secours aux Enfants (Society for Rescuing Children), retaining a similar acronym.
"The crowning jewel of the Vilkaviškis social network was 'Beit Avraham,' the Home for the Aged. Founded in 1909 through the extraordinary generosity of a benefactor from Eydtkuhnen, this institution provided more than just shelter; it offered a sanctuary of dignity and care, including a dedicated nursing department.
Supported by the town’s own municipality and the steady hands of private donors, the home was famous for its lush, beautiful garden—a place of quiet reflection for those who had weathered the storms of history. Even as the community rebuilt itself after the Great War, Beit Avraham stood as a testament to the enduring Jewish mission: to honor our fathers and mothers, ensuring that the flame of the old synagogues and the sacred work of the Chevrah-Kadisha never flickered out."
"The Final Kindness"
"The sacred duty of the Chevrah-Kadisha ensured that every soul was escorted with honor, completing the cycle of care that began at birth and continued through the halls of Beit Avraham."
