Alternate names: Žarėnai, Žarėnų, Zharenai, Zharenay, Zorany, Zharan. 55°50' N 22°12' E, 146.1 miles NW of Vilnius and 10 miles S of Telšiai (Telz). .
CEMETERY: I met Eugenijus Bunka, Yossell's son, whom This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. had employed and highly recommended. Eugenijus summoned up from a back yard a friend who took us to the shul. Damaged heavily during the war and with no obvious Jewish architecture, it now serves as the community center. While an old man pounded the piano, a circle of young people practiced a native dance on a stage under which the ark might once have been located. At least the building has a useful purpose. We met the director, an earnest man, who with Eugenijus's friend walked us to the Jewish section. They, in their fifties, both said their fathers had told them about the murder of the Jews of Zharan. With Eugenijus, they chatted in Lithuanian; and all three laughed heartily. Eugenijus explained they said that the Jewish merchants employed many young Lithuanian girls as servants; people say there is still Jewish blood in Zharan. The towns have, as far as I could see, no tourist industry and therefore, no post cards nor is there a handy town hall with an eager to please researcher ready to delve into organized records as far as I could ascertain. Source: Richard Hyman; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. [31 Oct 199]7.
MASS GRAVE: Zarenai (not all facts are known); 175; pic. # 309 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad