Disagreements over the historical legacy of Kazys Škirpa and Jonas Noreika reached a sort of culmination yesterday. It was great to see how many journalists and historians treated the topic objectively. We thank them for their civic-mindedness. You have defended Lithuania’s history and conscience.

Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky has a difficult mission. She was forced to make a decision based on the painful experience of her family and all LJC members. It was a courageous and difficult decision.

Sadly, this situation did not lead to greater unity among the Jewish communities. At least not verbally.

The take by the president and prime minister on events and their assurances of security meant much to us.

Today the decision has been made together with the chairwoman to reopen the synagogue and community building.

I would like to reassure those who know about Judaism that the religious activities (prayer services) of the Vilnius Jewish Religious Community were not interrupted. There are a number of places to hold prayer services in Vilnius. This morning services resumed at the Choral Synagogue, we read from the Torah and prayers of remembrance, yortzait, were read for two Jews. Preparations began for the prayer service for the tragic holiday of Tisha b’Av.

Shmuel Levin, chairman
Vilnius Religious Jewish Community