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.