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The
Memorial Website to the destroyed Shtetl of: |
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above: official stamp used by the Jewish Authorities (Va'ad HaKehila or Community Council)
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Mazheik (Mozheik)
(in Yiddish)
Mazeikiai (in Lithuanian)
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North-Western Lithuania56.20N 22.20E
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מז'ייקמאזייק
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This
website is dedicated to the Blessed Memory of the Shtetl Mazheik and its
inhabitants, who were murdered in August 1941.
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The Webmasters
wish all visitors to this site MAZZAL TOV on the occasion of the 60th
Anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. With great sorrow we have learned of the passing away
of Nechama Frid nee Lipnitzky on Thursday,
29th May 2008. What
is new on the site? 1. Under Family Research the folowing
two families have been added: 2. Under Geography
a contemporary map of the Greater Mazeikiai District has been added : 4. On the 8th June, 2008, pictures from Mazheik, with captions, were
uploaded under Photo
Gallery |
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| Geography: Mazeikiai
is located on the Venta River, in the north-western part of Lithuania,
approx. 10 Km from the Latvian border. Mazeikiai is situated at the junction of the Libau (Liepaja) - Romny and Riga-Oriol train lines. The map to the right is from : Multimap |
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Town History:
The town of Mazeikiai was founded by the Duke of Zemaiciai Mazeika. Until
the 2nd half of the 19th century, Mazeikiai was a
small village or hamlet, with a population of some tens of inhabitants,
mostly farmers. The
settlement grew with the laying of the Libau (Liepaja) -Romny
rail line in 1868 and the Mazeikiai – Riga line in 1872/4. One
of the railway stops was located at the crossing of three roads from
Vieksniai, Leckava and Tirksliai, and it was named after a small farm
whose master was Mazeika. This was the way how Mazeikiai was named. More:
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Jewish
Community History:
Settlement
of Jews in Mazeikiai began during the 1870’s, simultaneously with the
flourishing development of transportation
and
commerce… During World War I (1915), Mazeikiai Jews, together with most of the Jews of Lithuania and Courland, were exiled to inner Russia and the Ukraine. Most of the town was set on fire and destroyed. Following to the end of World War I, Jewish community life began to
return and develop, resulting in the establishment
of various community organizations.
During the era of Independent Lithuania, the Jewish
community of Mazeikiai enjoyed relative autonomy, under the
supervision of the Office for Jewish Affairs of the Lithuanian
Government…
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Rare old wooden structure, the former Jewish School building (picture : courtesy Benzi Kahana) |
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The
Holocaust:
Following
the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, the Soviets invaded Lithuania in
1940…
The
Germans entered the town on Wednesday, June 25, 1941… Jewish
life in Mazeikiai came to an end with the mass killings of the men on
Sunday, August 3rd 1941 - 10th of Av 5701 (actual day of 9th Av fast,
delayed from Shabbat to Sunday) and the women on Saturday, August 9th 1941
- 16th of Av 5701. (See The Holocaust and The Martyrs of Mazeikiai) |
Rock with memorial plaque in front of the Old
Mazeikiai Cemetery (picture: courtesy Gilda and Bob Kurtzman) |
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The Holocaust Memorial
and mass grave, next to the Old Mazeikiai Cemetery (courtesy
: Gilda and Bob Kurtzman) |
The site of the mass
killing at Mazeikiai (picture:
courtesy Benzi Kahana) |
rock with memorial plaque ~ Old Mazeikiai
Cemetery visible behind the fence (picture: courtesy Stan Ravinsky) |
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This site is dedicated to the Jewish Life that Mazeikiai was once home to.
From eye-witness reports, we know that ~save a handful of old wooden
houses~ nothing is left of what once was a vibrant hub of Jewish life in
the Shtetl. There are reported to have been 1000 Jewish souls in Mazeikiai
prior to the fateful days of July and August 1941. Today, on the
outskirts of the town, there is a road-sign on the edge of thick woods. It
states: ZYDU
GENOCIDO AUKU VIETA. Though in the Lithuanian language, this hardly requires translation.
It is universally clear that this site bears witness to the unbearable
fate of our beloved families.
Continued ... |
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Webmaster
and contactperson: co-Webmasters:
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Link to the main ShtetLinks Page : http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/
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