Alternate names: Balbieriškis [Lith], Balbirishok [Yid], Balwierzyszki [Pol], Bal'verzhishki [Rus], Balberiskis, Balbirishuk, Balbirshuk, Balkerishki, Barbircheff, Bal'berishkis, Bal'biyerishkis, Balbieriškio, Russian: Бальвержишки. באַלבירישאָק-Yiddish. 54°32' N, 23°53' E, 21 miles E of Marijampolė, 11 miles NW of Alytus. 1897 Jewish population: 925. Yizkors: Pinkasim fun Balbirishuk, Zidik, Yurbarik, Kovne, Vilne, Shnadau, Shkod, Mestislav Hadash, Pruzhani . Pinkas ha-kehilot; entsiklopediya shel ha-yishuvim le-min hivasdam ve-ad le-aher shoat milhemet ha-olam ha-sheniya: Lithuania (Jerusalem, 1996). Lite (vol. 1) (New York, 1951). 2001 population: 1180. [March 2009]

MASS GRAVES: Prienai northern outskirts; 142; pic. # 215-216. Marijampole, near the barracks; 120; pic. # 159. Source: US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad

OLD CEMETERY: I visited the Balbieriskis Jewish cemetery on July 31, 1997 with guide Regina Kopilevich. Balbieriskis is north of Alytus in the Marijampole district of Lithuania. The Jewish cemetery is in a pasture just off the Alytus-Balbieriskis road, to the right before one reaches the town heading north. No road or path exists to the cemetery, so one must walk through a cow pasture to reach it. A wooden fence encloses the cemetery. The entrance is through a concrete archway marked with a plaque in Hebrew, Yiddish and Lithuanian reading "Old Jewish Cemetery." About 50 gravestones date from the 19th and 20th centuries, many with last names. The cemetery is in fairly good condition. The upright stones are very legible with very little overgrowth. Source: Eric L. Goldstein, 12 Monroe Place #2, Brooklyn, NY 11201, (718) 625-1058; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

UPDATE: There was not much evidence of a Jewish past left, but an existing Jewish cemetery just outside of the town is in a pasture just off the Alytus-Balbieriskis road to the right before one reaches the town heading north. No road or path exists to the cemetery. One must walk through a cow pasture to reach it. A wooden fence encloses the site. The entrance is through a concrete archway had a plaque in Hebrew, Yiddish and Lithuanian reading "Old Jewish Cemetery" that disappeared in 2004. About fifty gravestones date from the 19th and 20th centuries, many with last names. The site is about 1/4 mi (or km?) south of the town, not very visible from the road. photos of gravestones. [March 2009]

NEW CEMETERY: no longer exists. [March 2009]