![ORT dressmaking course in Telšiai [Telz], 1922. World ORT Archive](home_htm_files/420.png)
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“The greatest ambition of children from poor
families is not a gymnasium, not a higher
education institution, but to learn a trade.”
The branch in Panevėžys was registered in December
1921. In June 1939, bank director Beras Levinas was
elected chairman; deputy chairman was industrialist
Vulfas Gvintas. The branch ran a joiners’ workshop.
On 6 August 1940, ORT and its branches were closed in
Lithuania. The leaders of Panevėžys branch did not know
this and on 8 August put up notices in the city inviting
young people to enrol at the vocational school which was
to be opened in Panevėžys; small store owners and traders
were offered a trade course. An officer of Panevėžys
militia station interrogated the society leaders about this
issue, but the case was dropped.
After the ORT Panevėžys branch was closed, the -joiners’
and metalworkers’ tools were kept at the Panevėžys
premises of the Central Jewish Bank to support
cooperation in Lithuania. In January 1941 the city’s first
state vocational school took over 168 tools; another 45
were discarded as too old to use.
The society’s funds were transferred to the People’s
Education Commissariat and People’s Culture Fund.
ORT Panevėžys [Ponevezh] branch’s teachers and students,
1920–1930. World ORT Archive
Application by
Dobė Blinder, a
student of ORT
Panevėžys
[Ponevezh]
dressmaking
course, to grant
her financial aid
for studies, 12
September 1937.
LCVA
Application by Beras Vulfas Levinas, stating that he
agrees to be a board member of the ORT Panevėžys
[Ponevezh] branch, 1939. LCVA
Notice stating that a Jewish
vocational school will be
established: applications by young
people of 14–16, who wish to
attend metalworking and joiners’
school with Yiddish as the
language of instruction can be
sent in until August 15, 1940.
LCVA
ORT trade-courses students at work on
the interior of Panevėžys Ponevezh]
synagogue, 1920–1930. World ORT
Archive
Aron ha Kodesh (Torah ark), made by
the students of ORT in Panevėžys
[Ponevezh], 1920–1930. World ORT
Archive
Example of an ORT
Jonava [Yanova]
branch stamp, 1939.
LCVA
