Račkauskas Gymnasium Commemorates Former Students & Teachers

A. History of the Merkelis Račkauskas Gymnasium

The public gymnasium (high school) of Mažeikiai (Mazeikiu Valstybine Gimnazija) was established in 1919 as a private medium high school. In 1922 the school was granted the status of pro-gymnasium, with Merkelis Račkauskas as the school principal. In 1925, the school was given the status of a high school. The gymnasium is presently named after Merkelis Račkauskas, one of its founders and principals.

During the 1920's & 30's, the gymnasium was a general governmental high school. Most of its students were from the general Lithuanian population. Some dozens of Jewish students also attended the Gymnasium.

History of the Merkelis Račkauskas Gymnasium

 

B. Prominent Jewish Alumni of the Gymnasium

 

1. Yehoshua Trigor (Avsejus Trigubovas) 1921 - 2006

Yehoshua Trigor was born and raised in Mažeikiai until the outbreak of World War II. He then moved to Vilna, where he survived the horrors of the Holocaust. In 1945 he immigrated to Eretz Israel. After the independence of the state of Israel, he joined the Israeli foreign office and served as a diplomat in many countries.

short biography

In his book "The Litvak who Survived, Rescued, and Went to Eretz-Israel" (in Hebrew), Yehoshua Trigor dedicates a whole chapter to his memories from the period of studying at the Mažeikiai governmental high school. See the Book Review

2. Israel Lempert (Isroel Lempertas) 1925 - 2012

Israel Lempert was born and raised in Mažeikiai. At the outbreak of World War II, he and his family fled to Russia. Israel joined the Red Army and served with the 16th Lithuanian Division. After the War, he returned to Lithuania and settled in Vilna, where he studied and graduated from the Vilnius university in history and sociology. He subsequently became a professor at the Vilnius university and the Vilnius Yiddish Institute.

short biography

2005 Interview

Mažeikiai Memorial Website Interview copy

Interview + Family Photos

An interview with Israel Lempert is included in a film prepared by the Mažeikiai Merkelis Račkauskas Gymnasium, commemorating its former Jewish students and teachers. See section D. below.

C. Commemoration of Former Gymnasium Jewsih Students & Teachers

 

During recent years, there has been growing interest into the past of the Jewish community in Lithuania in general and in Mažeikiai in particular. As part of this renewed interest, certain educational activities have taken place (and hopefully will continue to take place) at the gymnasium to the aim of studying and commemorating the former Jewish community of Mažeikiai, with a focus on former Jewish teachers and students.

Selective review (in Lithuanian) of commemorative activities:

1. Acquaintance of Gymnasium students with Holocaust roads in Mažeikiai district (June 20, 2023): We must know the past of our district
2. Deportation of school students by the Soviet regime, among them were Jewish students (June 14, 2023): We commemorate the day of mourning and hope
3. Gymnasium students visit Holocaust locations in Kaunas (May 7, 2023): Holocaust memory signs in Kaunas
4. International Holocaust Day remembrance activities at the Gymnasium (Jan. 27, 2023): We commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day
5. Holocaust remembrance activities at the Gymnasium and at the mass murder site in Mazeikiai (Sept. 23, 2022): Confrontation with History

D. Commemoration Film: History of the Mažeikiai Merkelis Račkauskas Gymnasium Jews

 

This film is dedicated to the memory of former Jewish students of the Mažeikiai Merkelis Račkauskas gymnasium. The film is based on an interview with Israel Lempert, a former student of the gymnasium.

The film is eleven minutes in length and can be seen on YouTube.

English subtitles

 

Russian subtitles

 

Outline of Film

 

• Introduction
• The interwar period. Interview with Israel Lempert about his family, childhood, and studies. He talks about the rise of antisemitism in 1939 and mentions the names (with photos) of some of his Jewish schoolmates.
  • Miriam Ginsburg
  • Beile Beker
  • Simon Kalvarija
  • Miriam Rabinovitz
  • Rivka Swarz
• The period of the first Soviet occupation of Lithuania
• Lithuania during the Nazi occupation
• 30 July to 3 August 1941. The Holocaust. Murder of approximately 4,000 Jewish residents of Mažeikiai and surrounding towns and villages. Among the victims were 24 students and four teachers of the Gymnasium. See the list of victims in section E, below.
• Memorial ceremony at the mass murder site
• Summary

 

E. List of Murdered Jewish Students and Teachers of the Gymnasium

The film lists the names of 21 of the 24 students and of the four teachers of the Gymnasium who were murdered during the Holocaust.

Names of Murdered Students & Teachers

 

F. Memorial Ceremonies at the Mažeikiai Mass Murder Site

Several memorial ceremonies were held in recent years (2019-2023) at the Gymnasium and at the Mass Murder Site in Mažeikiai. Some of the ceremonies were initiated or attended by gymnasium teachers and students.

 

• Commemorating the 2019 Genocide Day of Lithuanian Jews. Merkelis Račkauskas Gymnasium History lesson at the Mažeikiai Jewish Cemetery.
• 2021 Memorial Ceremony at the Mass Murder site
• 23 September 2022. "Confrontation with History". Holocaust remembrance activities at the Merkelis Račkauskas gymnasium and at the mass murder site in Mažeikiai.

 

Extended Reviews of Memorial Ceremonies

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