SHTETL LIST

New Audio Pronunciations Available Using the Shtetl Map

We are in the process of adding a "pronunciation" feature to our shtetl map.  When you search for a particular town, and click on the star symbol that appears in the center of the map, you’ll get the usual popup box of information.  That box will now contain a "learn how to pronounce" button.  By clicking on that button, one of two things will happen.  If the pronunciation for that town is available, there will be a media player.  Just hit "play" and you’ll hear the town name.  If the pronunciation for that town is not available, there will be a message to that effect.  

We will be working over the coming months to increase the list of towns that have audible pronunciations available.  

If you do see an audio player, and hit "play" but no sound comes out, please look for the three vertical dots on the right side of the audio player.  Click on those dots and hit "download".  You will then be able to play that downloaded file.  

If you have any questions about this new feature, please feel free to contact us at webmaster@litvaksig.org.

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The interactive map draws from information we have on more than 400 shtetls of Lithuania. Following standard geographic convention, they are organized by their contemporary country spelling, generally Lithuanian but in the case of many shtetls Russian. Alternate (e.g. previous, Yiddish) and other names for the shtetls are indicated as well as their geographic coordinates and their Russian Empire Period Uyezd (District) and Guberniya (Province). Download Shtetl list August 2022.xlsx

Note that on the top right hand side of the map there is a drop down menu for searching the shtetls, and on the bottom of the right hand side of the map you will find + and - signs to change the view.

The Shtetl List is continue be a work in progress since we will add new shtetls, additional websites, books and videos as you provide them to us. Please send your additions, suggestions and changes to Carol Hoffman.

Facts and Hints for Aiding Your Research:

Information has been taken from a variety of sources including original sources in Hebrew from which Yizkor books were translated. The Hebrew Pinkas ha-Kehilot Lita does not always include geographic co-ordinates for the shtetls it includes.

The following sites have not been included in this list because they deserve searching separately:

MACEVA - Jewish cemeteries in Lithuania including an interactive map and broad information along with images and translations of existing headstones.

IAJGS International Jewish Cemetery Project

JOWBR (JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry)

JewishGen Communities Database

The  Shtetl List is an Excel file. Once downloaded, you can save it to your computer. We do update the information as we receive it; therefore, please note the date of the most recent file.

Yahad-In Unum 
Founded by the French Priest Father Patrick Desbois in 2004, Yahad-in Unum is dedicated to locating the execution sites of Jews and Roma killed during the Second World War in what has become known as the ’Holocaust by Bullets’.  They have an interactive map (https://yahadmap.org/#map/) that enables you to click on a shtetl name and discover Holocaust-related information.  This includes information regarding whether or not they have visited that shtetl and conducted interviews.  Following is a downloadable spreadsheet containing a list of Lithuaniana towns with links to their map ( Download Yahad-In Unum Shtetl Links.xlsx). 
 
By Milda Jakulytė-Va, compiler
Vilnius : Valstybinis Vilniaus Gaono žydų muziejus, 2011
The book is also available online with an interactive map of the Holocaust in Lithuania. 371 pages with folded map. See http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/ ISBN 9789955767138