Grinkiskis (Grinkishok in Yiddish) is a town in central Lithuania, about 35 km. northwest of the district administrative center of Kedainiai, sprawling on the shores of the Susve River. An estate under the name Grinkiskis was mentioned in historical documents dating back to the sixteenth century. During the Russian rule (1795–1915), the town was included under the jurisdiction of the Vilna Province (Gubernia), and since 1843, in the Kovno Gubernia. In the middle of the nineteenth century, Grinkishok became a county administrative center. The town maintained its status during the period of Independent Lithuania (1918–1940). During that period, in addition to the county offices, thirty shops and ateliers were maintained by local business people. During World War I the town was almost totally destroyed by heavy military action.

Old documents of the seventeenth century mention a wooden synagogue in Grinkishok, proving that at that time there was already a Jewish community in this town. Jews made their living in commerce, crafts and agriculture.

The list of contributors for the victims of the famine in Persia in 1871–1872 included 67 names of Grinkishok Jews, as published in the Hebrew newspaper HaMagid (see Appendix 1).

On the list of contributors for The Settlement of Eretz–Yisrael, names of 33 Grinkishok Jews appear, as published in the Hebrew newspaper HaMelitz (see Appendix 2).

In 1886 there were 558 Jewish residents, and by 1897 the numbers had swelled to 924. In spite of impressive growth of the Grinkishok population in the second half of the nineteenth century, the economic situation of the Jews was difficult. A report published by a local man in HaMelitz in May 1883 stated that during the last two years there were no candles in the Beth Midrash and no heating fuel, and the Gabaim's efforts to raise money were fruitless because the “buyers” of the aliyoth latorah were not able to pay. The situation was so bad, that a policeman would collect the debts on behalf of the authorities.

A year before, the same newspaper announced that a Gemiluth Hesed society had been established in Grinkishok by the initiative of a young learned man Falek Kantorovitz.

The community had its own cemetery and a Heder as well as its own Shohet who also provided services to the nearby community of Beisagole (Baisogala).

[Page 44]

Rabbi Aryeh–Leib Duber ben Tsevi–Hirsh HaLevi Volpert served in Grinkishok from 1872 until World War I. From 1934, the official rabbi of the town was Meir–Leib Matz. He was also the last rabbi of that community and was murdered by the Lithuanians in 1941.

In 1921, four years after the establishment of Independent Lithuania, there were 250 Jewish persons living in Grinkishok. In the elections for the first Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania in 1922, 130 Grinkishok Jews cast their votes for the Jewish lists: 84 voted for the Zionists, 38 for Akhduth (Agudath–Yisrael) and 8 for the Democrats.

According to the first population census, conducted by the government in 1923, there were 972 residents in town, of whom 235 (24%) were identified as Jews.

During that period, just as before the war, Jews derived their livelihood from shopkeeping and trades. Commercial activities took place mainly on a Tuesday, which was the weekly market day. According to the Government survey conducted in 1931, Jews of Grinkishok owned seven shops: three textile shops, two butchers, one watchmaker and jeweler, and one shop selling Singer sewing machines. The Jews also owned two flourmills and a bakery. In 1937, there were eight Jewish tradespeople: four butchers, one baker, one barber, one tailor and one photographer.

In 1939, there were 20 telephone subscribers in Grinkishok; four of them were Jewish.

A segment of Grinkishok Jews were supporters of the Zionist movement.

The results of the elections to the Zionist congresses are given in the table below:

Among the Zionist youth organizations, Benei–Akiva is listed as an active one.

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During the Soviet rule (1940–1941), Zionist activity was forbidden and several businesses were nationalized, including Jewish businesses.

When the German army invaded the Soviet Union on June 22^nd, 1941, there were still twenty Jewish families living in Grinkishok. At the end of August 1941, armed Lithuanians led all the Jews to the nearby town of Krok (Krakes), and there, on September 2^nd, 1941 (10^th of Elul, 5701) they were murdered together with the Jews of Krakes and the surrounding areas.

Sources:

Yad Vashem archives, Jerusalem; M–9/15(6)
Gotlib – Ohalei Sheim, page 34
HaMelitz, St. Petersburg; 28.5.1883; 12.11.1884

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The mass grave and the monument, near the village of Pestinukai about 1.5 km from Krakes

[Pages 47-49]

[Pages 50-51]

Surname	Given Name	Comments	Source	Year
KAPLAN	Boruch	in Johannesburg, SA	#102	1898
WOLPERT	Ari Leib	ravbbi gaon ABD	#137	1900
WOLPERT	Ari Leib	ravbbi gaon ABD	#137	1900
YAKOBZOHN	Shmuel Yitzchok	in Johannesburg, SA	#102	1898
YAKOBZOHN	Tzvi Hirsh	in Johannesburg, SA	#102	1898
BREGMAN	Moshe		#232	1902
BREGMAN	Zev		#232	1902
BRUK	Yisroel		#233	1902
COHEN	Moshe	from Gilwan	#233	1902
COHEN	Moshe husband of Chaya Lipshitz	wed 14 Elul in Grinkiskis	#232	1902
GLIK	Meir		#232	1902
GORDON	Avraham Yosef		#232	1902
HEILIGMAN	Gershon	shu”b	#232	1902
KAPLAN	B		#232	1902
KAPLAN	Shmuel Binyomin		#233	1902
KIRSHTEIN	Aharon		#232	1902
KIRSHTEIN	Miriam		#232	1902
KIRSHTEIN	Tuvia		#232	1902
LIPSHITZ	Chaya wife of Moshe Cohen	wed 14 Elul in Grinkiskis	#232	1902
LUBIANTZKIN	Z	from Keidan	#233	1902
MAGID	Rochel		#232	1902
MARKAN	Sarah		#232	1902
MARKN	Avraham Yitzhok		#233	1902
MOLK	Yosef		#233	1902
PROK	Yosef		#232	1902
SANDLER	Matitiahu		#232	1902
WEIGER	Yisroel		#233	1902
WEINER	Leib		#232	1902
WEINER	Tzipa		#232	1902
WEINER	Yisroel		#232	1902
YAKOBSON	Mani		#232	1902
YOSELOWITZ	Yitzchok		#232	1902
YOTKIN	Zalkind Leib		#232	1902

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