Žydai Klaipėdoje (Mėmelyje)

LTLeidinyje „Žydai Klaipedoje (Memelyje)“ pristatoma didele fotografiju kolekcija, atrinkta iš parodos, kuri pirma karta buvo pristatyta Klaipedoje 2005 m., o veliau ir kituose miestuose ir net kitose šalyse. Pateikiami iki šiol neskelbti dokumentai ir nuotraukos, susije su Memelio žydu veikla XIX–XX a. iki Antrojo pasaulinio karo. Dauguma Memelio ir jo apylinkiu žydu buvo nužudyti per Holokausta. Atrode, kad žydu istorijos neimanoma atkurti. Iki šiol visame pasaulyje, visuose penkiuose žemynuose, yra žydu šeimu, kuriu praeitis susijusi su Klaipeda. Jos peržiurejo savo nuotrauku albumus ir pasidalijo savo nuotraukomis. Taigi, tai pirmas bandymas žodžiais ir nuotraukomis pristatyti Memelio žydu istorija. Akivaizdu, kad litvakai, Lietuvos žydai, per visa laikotarpi buvo esmine Memelio bendruomenes dalis. Šis leidinys skirtas visiems, besidomintiems žydu istorija. Autore tikisi, kad jis pades užpildyti Klaipedos miesto, viso regiono ir žydu tautines mažumos istorijos spragas.

ENHow to tell the story of a Jewish minority of a city where most of the material heritage was lost in the fighting at the end of World War II? Neither a library nor an archive of the Memel Jewish community exists today. A large part of the Jewish inhabitants of the city and the Memel region perished in the Holocaust. Therefore, for a long time it seemed that this Jewish chapter of the city could not be reconstructed. However, all over the world, in all five continents, there are Jewish families who connect their roots with today’s Klaipėda. They managed to flee Europe at the end of the 1930s. In their luggage, they also took with them memories of their old hometown. From their photo albums come the pictures, with the help of which the Jewish life of the town and the region is described. Personal photos give private insights into families and circles of friends. The immigration from many Lithuanian places is outlined. The intellectual and spiritual life in the city, which connected East and West like a bridge, also plays a role. Important protagonists were the rabbi Isaak Rülf, the Litvakian scholar Israel Salanter and the Zionist David Wolffsohn. The snapshots of the Jewish society and its associations are presented. Also mentioned are economy, sports, recreation and Zionism. Likewise, pictures of young people of the Hasharah are included. In addition, a look is taken at other places in the Memel region. Jewish life in Smalininkai (Schmalleningken), Rusnė (Russ) and Šilutė (Heydekrug) is depicted in sketches. The narrative of political developments from the First World War to the annexation of Lithuania and the invasion of the Germans in the spring of 1939 runs through the account, as it were, which ends with the emigration and flight of the Jews from Memel.