Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tears

Posted on August 30, 2025 by Janette Silverman

Today we visited one of those all too many lost communities. It was about a two hour drive from Kaunas to Švėkšna. In 1897 there were about 1000 Jews living in Švėkšna. By the interwar period, Jews owned more than … Continue reading →

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History, Culture, Food, and of course, Ice Cream

Posted on August 29, 2025 by Janette Silverman

This morning, because the hours spend at the Palace of the Grand Dukes didn’t cure us, we went to see Trakai and Trakai Castle. If you followed my blog or spoke with me after my 2018 and 2019 research trips, … Continue reading →

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A Balebosta in Vilnius

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Janette Silverman

It’s not often that you have an opportunity to meet with someone who carries the traditions of Litvak food in her soul. Even if she doesn’t sing out loud as she prepares the ingredients, mixes them, all the while explaining … Continue reading →

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Getting rattled

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Janette Silverman

There are many things when one travels that could be disturbing or nerve wracking. I can’t imagine how our ancestors coped with this, traveling in steerage, carrying all they owned on their backs. I need multiple suitcases even for short … Continue reading →

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Time

Posted on August 23, 2025 by Janette Silverman

As a genealogist I spend a great deal of time searching for people who lived centuries ago. I marvel at the clarity of some of the pages of documents that have withstood the ravages of time while bemoaning the degradation … Continue reading →

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The Adventure Starts (or perhaps continues)

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Janette Silverman

Depending on how you look at it, I am either off for a new adventure or just continuing the journey of discovery I’ve been on for a long time. I realized many years ago that researching made me really happy, … Continue reading →

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Relevancy

Posted on August 17, 2025 by Janette Silverman

I’m deep in chores of packing, rearranging, and packing some more. I definitely don’t pack light, ever. This trip appears to be no exception. Will the summer’s heat continue into September in Poland and Lithuania? Will it rain? Will it … Continue reading →

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It’s that time of the year (again)

Posted on October 7, 2024 by Janette Silverman

In Jewish tradition, we are at the time of the year when self-reflection is part of our holiday/holy day preparation. We recognize, acknowledge, and apologize/make amends for the wrongs we have done affecting other people, and take steps not to … Continue reading →

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Disappointment – a Learning Experience

Posted on August 31, 2024 by Janette Silverman

It’s impossible to know before you turn down a road not previously traveled what you will find. As genealogists we all (ok I’m projecting here) explore new-found resources sometimes resulting in glorious, undescribably exciting results and other times with disappointment. … Continue reading →

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Summer’s End

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Janette Silverman

This summer has been stupendous and very exhausting. I’ve spoken at 3 weeklong conferences and feel like I’ve been flying across the country non-stop. In reality it hasn’t been non-stop, every place I visited I stay at for a week … Continue reading →

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