Lithuania: Looking Back

"relatives of danielius and ona zilevicius family which rescued gene rudnik from vilnius are searching for her or news of her life"

- udrys  udrysa@dmci.net  language teacher , jackson mi usa

" This was very informative and worthwhile. Joe June 10. 2002."

- Joseph G. V. Maciora  stampman618@aol.com , Boston, MA, USA

"Congratulations on a marvelous piece of work. I am of Litvack-Jewish origin, and was deeply moved by this site."

- Andrew Orkin  andyorkin@nas.net  Lawyer , Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

"I am interested in contacting Mr. Saltzmann, the author about this article"

- David Israel  israelda@merck.com

"The photos (people) are beautiful. I was in Lithuania last summer with Howard Margol's tour. And I was also impressed with the dedication of people who wanted to keep the stories alive.
Thank you"

- N Sue Weiler  nsweiler@avenew.com  Independent Historian (American history) , Barrington IL USA (Chicago suburb)

"A beautifully presented site, which is easy to navigate. Unfortunately, I was disappointed - even though the material presented was valid and interesting - at the blatant subjectivity of most of the Lithuanian Jews' stories. I am of Lithuanian descent (born in Australia in the 60's) and have heard stories which are similar to the ones I read on your page, but which were about Jewish murderers. How many of them are still alive? I am a diplomatic person by nature and have enormous empathy for the suffering of the Jewish race during the horrendous holocaust, however am continually frustrated by people's ignorance about butchers like Stalin. Numerous males interviewed for your research served the Communist Red Army. I remember arguing with my mother about Hitler being the equivalent of an anti-christ, a intolerant, power hungry murderer. Her response to my rantings was a very patient one - as, obviously, I have been fortunate not to suffer living through any war and was relatively ignorant to its true atrocities. There are also always two sides to any argument. The Soviets had caused so much suffering in Lithuania.....with Lithuanian Jews serving as their allies and turning their own friends and neighbours in to the Soviet authorities for various things, resulting in their death, sentencing to Siberia, etc....that when Hitler's army entered their homeland, many Lithuanians saw them as being their saviours. Most weren't even aware that ghettos even existed until long after the war ended. The man named Costa was concerned about land that Jews lost as a result of the war.......let us remember that Germany lost the war (thank goodness) which meant that, with the communist invasion and occupation of Lithuania, many innocent people had to flee their homeland and also lost their land/properties.....most still regretfully live far away from their native home.
Perhaps the quote that has stuck in my mind the most is Shapiro's, when he stated that 'as long as my heart beat and my hand could hold a gun, I continued to fight against fascism".......I wonder how many innocent people he killed....people who felt the need to continue to fight against communism.

I find it sad that people find forgiveness so far out of their grasp. Jews forgiving Lithuanians. Lithuanians forgiving Jews. What a terrible burden for them to take to their graves. "

- Anita  anitapat30@hotmail.com  Secondary School Teacher , Adelaide, South Australia, AUSTRALIA

"very moving photo essay.anger as well...but though many litvacs were evil,taught photography and about life by a pole who joined the allies.he came fom vilna as did some of my family.thanks.shalom."

-  leo nathan  leojanice@webtv.net  photographer , newport beach ca,

"Astounding, distressing, utterly sickening -- I cannot read about or even contemplate the horrible fate of Lithuanian Jewery without experiencing incredible sadness and nausea. I wish my feelings on everyone. Too much is forgotten or ignored too soon. "

- Gordon Schochet  schochet@rci.rutgers.edu  Professor (political philosopher) , Edison, New Jersery USA

"My grandparents have recently attempted to piece together our family's history in the United States, but have been unsuccessful in learning much about our ancestors in Kovno, all of whom are assumed to have vanished during WWII. Where should I turn to find more information on the Eskin or Etsikovitz family of Kovno?"

- Carly  cvanorma@gmu.edu  student

"Yes, I lived in lithuania in 1995-6. I was helping the Chabad organsizion in Lithuania set up. It would be the best if you would kindly write something nice about the chabad history in a few of thoses cities. I also took many pictures throughout the year in Lithuania smaller cities, thank you"

- Rabbi Dovid Gold  dov7yael.aol.com  Rabbi , n.y

"Being married to an Lithuanian lady. We have the idea of writing a book on ppersonal stories from Lithuania. Last year throught friends of my wife we were introduced to 2 of these men. What a delight to see them in this websight. I enjoyed it. THANKS!"

- Cory Paige  cpaige@sprint.ca  mill supervisor , Langley BC Canada

"Your site is irresponsible to say the least in its assertion that Lithuanian partisans killed many of the Jewish people of Lithuania. My wife's parents, who are sleeping in the next room were also witnesses to the tragic events during and after WW2. In 1949 my wife's father was sent at the age of 19 with his entire family to Siberia as was almost 40 percent of the population of this country. Lithuanians and other non-Jews here in Central Europe faced their own holocaust- a fact not even mentioned in your site. The Soviet soldier who escorted, at gunpoint, my wife's father and grandparents was Jewish. Many of the first Lithuanian citizens to betray their country and join the communist party of the invading Russians were Jewish. Many Jews at that time turned their backs on their Lithuanian hosts and participated in their extermination. Many of these Jews were and are guilty of atrocities- again a point you just sort of skip over. Perhaps you don't know what you are talking about. Perhaps you think it is only important that Jews died here- no one else matters. Jews were also invited to Lithuania and Vilnius by its kings centuries ago. It is a documented historical fact that Jews prospered here and benefited from far-sighted liberal political and cultural tolerance. This cultural tolerance has always been inherent in Lithuania. Your site is irresponsible and you are truly dangerous and careless people. I will assume that you do not speak for good Jewish people since you are responsible for no one. "

- Tom Eriksson  eriksson@aiva.lt  linguist , vilnius, lithuania

" Enjoyed the work of Salzmann on Lithuania. My brother and I will be going to Lithuania in the summer and we would like to contact Mr. Salzmann. Please provide me with an address or phone number for him."

- David B.Shapiro  Dabensha@aol.com  Baltimore, MD., USA