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In May 2001, Fania Hillelson
Jivotovsky (Fania's father was from Sudarg) and 11 cousins made a
family trip to Lithuania to visit the home towns of their
ancestors and to pay respect to the burial sites of family in the
towns of Sudarg, Yurburg, Rassein and others. They also went to
the mass massacre sites of these towns and lit Memorial Candles in
memory of the murdered cousins.
- They found and visited the remnant of the Jewish Cemetery in Sudarg. While there Fania discussed with the farmer whose land is adjacent to the cemetery the possibility of cleaning up the graves of her great grandparents, Berzik and Leah Rosin. Many months later the farmer, Gintas Damusis, sent Fania this photo and also the photo of the home of Fania's Aunt Elka Goldberg.
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Devorah Leah Rosin's Grave after treatment by Gintas Damusis Photo by Gintas Damusis, October 2001 -
Photos below taken in 2000 by Barbara Clow -
Elka Goldberg's Home in Sudarg Elka was Fania's Aunt
Photo by Gintas Damusis, October 2001 
Hilelson Family in Sudarg in September 1940
Standing from right:Yitzhak Hilelson, Gershon Hilelson, Leah'le, her father Yehuda Goldberg. Sitting from the right: Yitzhaks first wife (name unknown), Mina Rosin Hilelson, Elka Hilelson Goldberg (Leah'le's mother). Mina Rosin Hilelson was the aunt of Joseph Rosin, mother of Yitzhak, Gershon and Elka and grandmother of Leah'le.
While in Sudarg, Fania's family stopped a young couple on the side of the road to ask for help in locating the Mass Massacre sites of the Sudarg Jews. The couple was very helpful because they knew the sites and wanted to assist the group. The family boarded the tour bus and directed the driver down country lanes into the forest to a point where the bus could no long negotiate. The young couple with their young son then led the group off and found one of the two sites. After lighting Memorial candle and saying Kaddish at the first site, the couple tried in vain to find the second site. Months later they sent Fania the picture below of that second site. Fania was deeply touched by these Sudarg residents and their sensitivity to the importance of these issues.
