When the society was established its ideas spread to Lithuanian cities and small towns ORT society branches were opened throughout Lithuania, and in the summer of 1940 there were 25 of them: in Alytus, Butrimonys, Jonava, Kalvarija, Kaunas, Kėdainiai, Naumiestis, Kybartai, Marijampolė, Mažeikiai, Panevėžys, Plungė, Radviliškis, Raseiniai, Seirijai, Simnas, Šakiai, Šiauliai, Tauragė, Telšiai, Ukmergė, Utena, Vilkaviškis, Virbalis and Vilnius. Industrialists, bankers, doctors, teachers, engineers, merchants, lawyers, bakers, joiners, hatters, tanners and others were usually elected to the chapters’ committees. The branches helped to achieve the main goals of ORT to: • educate the younger generation of Jews, train tradesmen and agricultural labour specialists, • improve the skills of the older  generation of Jews, • train Jewish workers to provide them with the chance to work, • get Jewish workers involved in industry and agriculture.

Map showing the society’s branches in 1940

The first graduates of the ORT Ukmergė [Vilkomir] crafts course, 1920–1930. World ORT Archive

Amatininkas (Tradesman), 9 May 1935, No 19 (64)

Application by Berelis Trubavičius, a shop owner from Radviliškis [Radvilishok], to let him join ORT, 1939.  LCVA The number of the society’s members was not limited. Men and women aged over 20 could join. Members had to pay a fee.