Page 20 - Zydai Siauliu kraste EN

20 JONIŠKIS DISTRICT

ke the White Synagogue, it has more signs of Ju-
daism. There is a protrusion of the aron kodesh (in
Hebrew, a sacred chest) on the eastern wall of the
building. Small windows grouped on the pediment
of the western façade symbolize the tablets of the
Decalogue, and the Star of David is highlighted in
its centre. In the western part of the synagogue,
there is a porch with stairs leading to the women’s
gallery on the second floor. There is a restored
aron kodesh (storage place for the Torah scrolls)
with the tablets of the Decalogue on its both sides
in the hall of the synagogue. The walls of the hall
are decorated with painted columns, and the cei-
ling is decorated with embossed ornaments and
painted garlands of flowers.
The White and Red Synagogues are subdivi-
sions of the Joniškis History and Culture Museum
as well as the town’s important representative
objects and tourist attraction centres. Every year,
they host many different events, concerts of clas-
sical and popular music, presentations of artists’
works, celebrations and festivals.
Miesto Sq., 4A and 4B, Joniškis
56.240385, 23.616966
+370 426 52492
joniskiomuziejus.lt

20. The Shapochnikai family house

In the town of Joniškis, Jewish merchants had
so-called colonial (imported) goods shops, where
they traded not only food but also household
goods. Small Jewish bakeries neighboured by
tea-rooms or confectioner’s shops, where fresh
buns and bagels could be enjoyed, provided the
residents of the town of Joniškis with bread and
pastry products. According to archival data, from
1932 to 1937, in the building at the address Upy-
tės St. 7, Icik Shapochnik was engaged in the sale
of colonial goods. From 1938, this building also
housed his daughter Chiena Shapochnikaite’s
bakery and confectionery, an off-licence, and a
pub. These shops and catering establishments
were located on the first floor of the building, and
the Jewish family lived on the second floor.
Upytės St. 7, Joniškis
56.240732, 23.617173