Clay in My Boots: A Romp Through My Genealogical Past

Krekenava, Lithuania Surnames: KRIGER Jewish Population: 1897:  1,505 Family Members: Zusman Kreiger, GG GFather (Father of Celia Kreiger; Grandfather of Charles Highstein) B ~1850 Krekenava; M Gitel Shenker; D 1905  Vashki Family home of Kriger’s 1820-1880’s History: Krekenava is situated about 30 km south-west of Panevezys. Prior to World War I about 300 jewish families lived there. In 1915, during the war, the jews were banished into the interior of russia and the town burnt down. Not all the jews returned to Krekenava during the period of Lithuania's independence after the war; in 1921 there were 150 families in the town and this number gradually decreased. Krekenava had a synagogue, a study hall, a "Kloiz" and a large yeshiva founded at the beginning of the 20th century by Rabbi Moshe Chaskin. The community had the usual charitable institutions and was known as a place of learning; at the study hall torah studies did not cease day and night. The last