Two commemorative plaques honoring the famous Litvaks Solomon Levit (1894-1938) and Chackelis Lemchenas (1904-2001) have been unveiled in Ukmergė (Vilkomir), Lithuania. Levit and Lemchenas were from the area. Levit is noted for his work in biology and medicine, and as the founder of the Genetic Medicine Institute in Moscow. He attended school in the city of Ukmergė. Lemchenas was a talented and respected Lithuanian philologist, lexicographer, linguistic reformer and cultural figure in his own right, and taught at the Jewish Real-Gymnasium in Ukmergė.

The ceremony on December 6 was attended by Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Amir Maimon, Ukmergė Regional Jewish Community chairman Artūras Taicas, Ukmergė regional administrator Rolandas Janickas and vicar Šarūnas Petrauskas, among others.

Chairman Taicas said at the ceremony he was encouraged to see so many people turn out for the event. He invited the Israel ambassador and the regional administrator to unveil the commemorative plaques.

After the event participants visited the Ukmergė Regional History Museum where the Israeli embassy presented an exhibition of photographs on Pope Francis’s trup to Israel. Ambassador Maimon presented the exhibit to the public. Ukmergė Regional Jewish Community chairman Artūras Taicas, Ukmergė regional administrator Rolandas Janickas and vicar Šarūnas Petrauskas also spoke at that event.

After the photo exhibit, participants were invited to attend a performance of the choir of the Sholem Aleichem school from Vilnius at the Big Stone Restaurant, organized by the Ukmergė Jewish Community. The children performed songs in Lithuanian, English, Yiddish and Hebrew under the choral direction of Rasa Belgerienė.

The Goodwill Foundation is the main supporter of the Ukmergė Regional Jewish Community.

More snapshots available here.