Alternate names: Valkininkai [Lith], Olkieniki [Pol], Olkeniki [Rus], Olkenik [Yid], Olkienniki, Olkinik, Olknik, Volknik, Valkiniras, Valkininkas, Valkininkay, Valkėninkā, Walkenykai, Russian: Олькеники. אולקייניקי-Hebrew. 54°21' N, 24°50' E, 30 miles SW of Vilnius (Vilna), 20 miles SSW of Trakai (Troki), 14 miles SW of Varena (Aran). 1900 Jewish population: 1,126.Formerly Vilna guberniya
- Ha-ayara be-lehavot; sefer zikaron le-kehilat Olkenik pelekh Vilna (Tel Aviv, 1962) and (Valkininkas) (Haifa, 1967).
- Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego (1880-1902), VII, pp. 484-485: "Olkieniki".
- ‘To Life' Holocaust Survivor and Scholar Eliach Strives to Restore a Shtetl's Vibrant Past", Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle - April 21, 2000 [March 2009]
- Wikipedia: "The Jewish community built a wooden synagogue in Valkininkai at the end of the 18th century. It was rebuilt in 1801. According to a legend, Napoleon stopped in the town during his invasion of Russia and was greeted by the Jewish community. Impressed with the hospitality Napoleon gifted his red velvet saddle pad, richly decorated and bearing his initials.[7] The gift was prominently displayed in the synagogue. In 1880, a smaller synagogue was built nearby. The synagogues were burned during the first days of the occupation of Lithuania by Nazi Germany." [Aug 2015]
- "VALKININKAI was once given as a gift to Julijona, the second wife of Vytautas; it was famous for its armoury; it survived during the battle of the Sapieha and Oginski families; in the 19th century it became an industrial town with a paper mill and the first cement factory in Lithuania; it was known for one of the most impressive Jewish synagogues in Lithuania; it preserved a unique triangular town square; and now the village welcomes its visitors with peace and quietness." DEGSNĖ village, the former Jewish village, is about 3 km from Valkininkai with unusual houses. Source: Birstonas Tourism. photos [March 2009]
CEMETERY:
Sept. 8, 1997, we visited the Jewish cemetery at Valkininkai (Olkenik). This cemetery is especially hard to find. One has to drive off the main road and through a pine tree forest on a small dirt road. Three roads meet at one point. Take the road on the left. Suddenly, where the road ends is the cemetery on the left. There is a sign but no gate on the wood fence. This cemetery is huge. Many readable tombstones still stand. Also, many stones have sunken into the ground. Submitted by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Dayton, OH [Date?]
Cemetery information. [September 2010]
Cleanup: Valkininkai Jewish cemetery with German/French/Bulgarian volunteers from Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF) .[Aug 2015]
Lithuania Jewish Cemetery Project added 7 new photos. May 30 · · 
