Alternate names: Židikai [Lith], Zhidik [Yid], Zhidyki [Rus], Żydyki [Pol], Židiki [Latv], Židikų, Zidik, Zidikiai, Zydikiai, Žėdėkā, Russian: Жидыки. 56°19' N, 22°01' E, 25 miles NNW of Telšiai (Telz), 12 miles W of Mažeikiai (Mazheik). Yizkor: Pinkasim fun Balbirishuk, Zidik, Yurbarik, Kovne, Vilne, Shnadau, Shkod, Mestislav Hadash, Pruzhani. 1900 Jewish population: 914. Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego (1880-1902), XIV, p. 888: "Żydyki", #2. ShtetLink: http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Zidikai/Home.htm [March 2009]
CEMETERY: At the Museum of Satrijos Ragana, turn left and go a few hundred meters toward a new church on the right with a large Christian cemetery. Continue about another kilometer, On the right side is a field with a large silver birch grove in the middle. On the right over a ditch and some farmland is the remains of the Jewish cemetery of Židikai and possibly other nearby villages. photos [March 2009]
MASS GRAVES IN MAZEIKIA: Mazeikiai, Jewish cemetery; 123; pic. # 165-166 US Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad . The Germans entered Mažeikia (Mazheik) on Wednesday, June 25, 1941. Mass killings of the men occurred on August 3, 1941 and the women on August 9th--a total of possibly 1,000 people. On the outskirts of the town is a road-sign on the edge of thick woods is a sign marking the mass grave. A footpath inside the woods leads to the Jewish cemetery. A large rock with a memorial plaque on grassy areas with a low iron fence to mark the site where hundreds of Mazheik residents lie. Subsequently, none remained. Next to the cemetery, a series of narrow black granite pillars a few feet apart hold up a third cross-piece inscribed in Yiddish to commemorate the slaughter and mass burial site of 4,000 Jewish men, women and children, who perished at that spot with the Jews of Mazeikiai: Sede (Siad), Viekshniai (Veckshna), Tirksliai (Tirkshla), Zidikai (Shidik), Pikeliai (Pikeln), Klykoliai (Klilul) and other towns. a little further away are several non-Jewish graves (communists also killed there.) A few feet behind the tall granite Holocaust memorial is another shorter pair inscribed in Lithuanian on the top cross-column. [March 2009]
