Kudirkos Naumiestis
Encyclopedia
Kudirkos Naumiestis is in the Šakiai district municipality
, Lithuania
. It is located 25 km (15.5 mi) south-west of Šakiai
.
The settlement was first mentioned in 1561 as a village called Duoliebaičiai. In 1639 the town was renamed Vladislavovas by Cecilia Renata of Austria
after her husband Władysław IV Vasa
. He granted the town Magdeburg rights
in 1643. However, the name did not achieve popular usage, and the settlement became known as "a town" or "a new town" instead. The German name Neustadt-Schirwindt is derived from the river Širvinta (German: Schirwindt). In 1900 the town began being referred to as Naumiestis (New Town). In 1934 the town was renamed Kudirkos Naumiestis in honor of the Lithuanian patriot, Vincas Kudirka
, who lived there from 1895 to 1899. A well-organized Jewish community
also lived in there and produced a number of prominent rabbis and Jewish scholars. Its name in Yiddish was ניישטאט שאקי (Nayshtot Shaki). Before World War II
the town had about 3,000 Jewish residents. Journalist
and writer
Herman Bernstein
was born here in 1876 and Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver
was born here in 1893.
Šakiai district municipality
Šakiai district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania....
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It is located 25 km (15.5 mi) south-west of Šakiai
Šakiai
Šakiai is a city in the Marijampolė County, Lithuania. It is located west of Kaunas. It is presumed that Šakiai first expanded from Šakaičai village. By 1719 a church in Šakiai was built. By the 19th century Šakiai already had city rights; it also had a school, Catholic and Lutheran churches, a...
.
The settlement was first mentioned in 1561 as a village called Duoliebaičiai. In 1639 the town was renamed Vladislavovas by Cecilia Renata of Austria
Cecilia Renata of Austria
Archduchess Cecilia Renata of Austria was Queen of Poland as consort to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's King Władysław IV Vasa.-Biography:...
after her husband Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
. He granted the town Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
in 1643. However, the name did not achieve popular usage, and the settlement became known as "a town" or "a new town" instead. The German name Neustadt-Schirwindt is derived from the river Širvinta (German: Schirwindt). In 1900 the town began being referred to as Naumiestis (New Town). In 1934 the town was renamed Kudirkos Naumiestis in honor of the Lithuanian patriot, Vincas Kudirka
Vincas Kudirka
Vincas Kudirka was a Lithuanian poet and physician, and the author of both the music and lyrics of the Lithuanian National Anthem, Tautiška giesmė. He is regarded in Lithuania as a National Hero. Kudirka used pen names - V...
, who lived there from 1895 to 1899. A well-organized Jewish community
Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
also lived in there and produced a number of prominent rabbis and Jewish scholars. Its name in Yiddish was ניישטאט שאקי (Nayshtot Shaki). Before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the town had about 3,000 Jewish residents. Journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
Herman Bernstein
Herman Bernstein
Herman Bernstein was an American journalist, writer, translator, and diplomat.Herman Bernstein was born on September 21, 1876, in Vladislavov at that time on the Russo-German border to David and Marie Bernstein...
was born here in 1876 and Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver
Abba Hillel Silver
Abba Hillel Silver was a U.S. Rabbi and Zionist leader. He was a key figure in the mobilization of American support for the founding of the State of Israel.-Biography:...
was born here in 1893.