The world marks Victory Day, the end of World War II, on May 8 and 9, and every year the Lithuanian Jewish Community has honored the veterans and the fallen. This year Victory Day coincided with Israel’s national holidays to honor fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorism as well as the anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. This year Israeli veterans also attended the LJC ceremony.

As in prior years, veterans were singled out and congratulated and thanked, including this year Fania Brancovskaja, Riva Špiz, Tatjana Archipova Efros, Borisas Berinas and Aleksandras Asovsky.

LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky greeted veterans as did executive director Renaldas Vaisbrodas and Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon, himself a military veteran. Žana Skudovičienė moderated the ceremony.

“Victory Day is dear to all of us. This holiday includes the bitterness of loss and the great joy of victory. We mourn our family members, relatives, the Jews who died. We also mourn the loss of six million Jews we lost during the Second World War. We will always remember the cost of this victory,” chairwoman Kukliansky said.

The Jewish song and dance ensemble Fayerlakh prepared a special program of songs from during the war. Veterans and audience members joined and sang the songs. A banquet table followed the official program and our military veterans were served a hearty meal. Lithuanian Jewish Community representatives visited veterans unable to attend at their homes and personally delivered our greetings and gratitude.