Wooden Synagogue in Alanta Renovated
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LJC, International Comminission and Olga Lengyel Institute Holding Holocaust Seminars for Teachers
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LJC Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky Speaks at Commemoration of Grosse
Aktion in Kaunas
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Šiauliai Opens Righteous Gentile Square at the Intersection of Vilniaus and Ežero Streets at Former Ghetto Gates
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"Symphony from Jerusalem of the North” Mark Day of Lithuanian Jewish Victims of Genocide in Presidential Courtyard
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The renovated synagogue in Žiežmariai will become a new cultural center. The first synagogue in appeared sometime between 1690 and 1696. In the 19th century there three synagogues. Not surprising, since the majority of the population were Jewish. This synagogue which has survived and has now been renovated stands in the southern part of town between Vilniaus and Žalgirio streets, with the Strėva river flowing from southeastward from there.
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The Lithuanian Post Office has issued a stamp commemorating 300 years since the birth of the Vilna Gaon
The Lithuanian Post Office has issued a stamp commemorating 300 years since the birth of the Vilna Gaon
with a face value of 0.81 euros, enough to mail letters abroad.
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Lithuania Marks 300th Anniversary of Birth of Vilna Gaon, 2020 Named Year of the Gaon and Litvak History.
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Most important events at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in 2018
Most important events at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in 2018
Revival of Jewish Scouting in Lithuania: The first new Litvak scouting camping trip with children from Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Molėtai took place August 24 to 26.
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Jewish newspapers and advertisements from Vilnius in the period between the two world wars. Jews and other minorities were given equal rights in the reconstituted Lithuanian state. Yiddish thrived with many newspapers and books published in the language.
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History on Trial: Lithuania’s Unanswered Record

History on Trial: Lithuania’s Unanswered Record

by Grant Gochin, January 5, 2026

History is not preserved by monuments or institutions. It is preserved by accuracy, accountability, and the willingness to confront what is difficult. Nowhere is that obligation more binding than in nations whose soil carries the memory of mass murder. When a state chooses to defend dishonest institutional narratives instead of historical truth, the cost becomes permanent: the leadership that made those choices becomes inseparable from the legacy of distortion.

Lithuania refuses to confront that legacy.

The Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania

The Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania (LGGRTC) is a state institution charged with researching and memorializing the crimes of totalitarian regimes. Over the past decades, its conduct has drawn sustained criticism for minimizing Lithuanian participation in the Holocaust while promoting dishonest national narratives.

International Jewish organizations and independent observers have warned that the Centre’s activities approach Holocaust distortion and contradict established historical scholarship. https://www.timesofisrael.com/lithuanias-genocide-studies-center-accused-of-holocaust-denial/

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Does Greenland Dispute Spell the End for NATO?

Does Greenland Dispute Spell the End for NATO?

by Geoff Vasil

Not necessarily. What most people don’t realize is that numerous NATO member-states have standing territorial disputes with other NATO member-states and sometimes even attack one another militarily.

Cyprus is a prime example, the divided island split by the so-called Green Line between Turkey and the Greek population, reflecting a larger conflict going back to the Ottoman takeover of Greek territory in Anatolia and spilling over into bombing sorties into one another’s territories at times while both countries remained in NATO.

Denmark and Canada have a dispute over an Arctic island close to the Greenlandic shore. They’ve ritualized the conflict into an annual “occupation” where one side buries a whiskey bottle for the other “occupying army” to find.

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Israel Recognizes Somaliland

Israel Recognizes Somaliland

by Danielle Greyman-Kennard, December 26, 2025

Israel becomes first UN member state to recognize Somaliland, Netanyahu declares

Netanyahu congratulated Somaliland president H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi and praised his leadership and commitment to security, stability and peace.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Friday, making Israel the first UN member state to recognize the nation as a sovereign state.

Together with foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar and the Somaliland president, Netanyahu signed a joint and mutual declaration on Friday.

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Birthday Exhibition by Aleksandra Jacovskytė

Birthday Exhibition by Aleksandra Jacovskytė

Aleksandra Jacovskytė’s exhibit “Theater: Costume Sketches” will open January 20 at the Samuel Bak Museum of the Vilna Gaon Jewish History Museum with the artist in attendance. She’ll speak about the sources of her inspiration, theater life, how costumes are created from idea to stage and talk backstage. Aleksandra Jacovskytė designs theatrical scenes and is a graphic artist and photographer.

Time: 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 20
Place: Samuel Bak Museum, Naugarduko street no. 10, Vilnius

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 4:26 P.M. on Friday, January 16, and concludes at 5:29 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 4:08 P.M. and completed before sunset at 4:26 P.M. Friday is National Religious Freedom Day in the United States.

Sixteenth Liova Taicas Memorial Tournament in Šiauliai

Sixteenth Liova Taicas Memorial Tournament in Šiauliai

The Šiauliai District Jewish Community is pleased to announce the 16th Liova Taicas memorial sporting event starting at 11:00 A.M. on February 8 at the Šiauliai Sports Gymnasium.. Games include mini-soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, ping-pong, chess and volleyball.

To participate, please register by January 20 by calling the Šiauliai District Jewish Community at +370 99 10621

Šiauliai District Jewish Community to Mark UN Holocaust Day

Šiauliai District Jewish Community to Mark UN Holocaust Day

The Šiauliai District Jewish Community invites you to mark International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust together with the community on January 27. At 12 noon there will be a candle-lighting ceremony at the Shavl ghetto gate located at the corner of Ežero and Trakų streets. At 6:00 P.M. the Community will hold an evening to celebrate Vulf Visotski and tea called “Memory, Faith, Hope” at the Community at Višinskio street no. 24 in Šiauliai. Participants are to include the student theater from the Ąžuolynas Gymnasium in Klaipėda, vocalists from the Juventa Pre-gymnasium in Šiauliai District and guests from Pakruojis and Žagarė.

A Railroad Town and How Tragedy Was Suppressed: Jewish History Revived in Rūdiškės

A Railroad Town and How Tragedy Was Suppressed: Jewish History Revived in Rūdiškės

Rūdiškės is a small town in the Trakai district which most people pass on the road without a thought about its complicated and painful history. The railroad came through in the 20th century and brought business and a Jewish population, almost completely exterminated in the Holocaust. Now local residents, teachers and descendants of people from the town are trying to revive memories of the past there, through testimonies, initiatives and manual labor.

For people travelling between Vilnius and Alytus, Rūdiškės is mainly just a name on a road sign. It has a railroad stop, a main square. a school and stores. The tranquil façade hides a complex story. Lithuanian language teacher Loreta Masienė says Rūdiškės is different from most towns because it was established around the railroad station.

“This was the first railroad in Lithuania, the St. Petersburg to Warsaw line. Rūdiškės began to grow around the railway and the Geležinė River,” she said.

Full story in Lithuanian here.

Natalja Cheifec on Raising Children according to the Torah

Natalja Cheifec on Raising Children according to the Torah

In the first part of a series on raising children according to the Torah, Natalja Cheifec will discuss:

• Main phases of raising and disciplining chldren according to age;

• Democracy or authority: which sort of relationships lead to greater harmony between parent and child;

• Which should come first, instilling good behavior or imparting understanding;

• Can parents and children be equal?

To participate and receive zoom credentials, click here.

Time: 6:00 P.M., Thursday, January 16
Place: internet

Condolences

Grigorijus Jechvedovas has passed away. He was born in 1947. He was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to his surviving wife, son and friends and family.

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 4:14 P.M. on Friday, January 9, and concludes at 5:19 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:56 P.M. before sunset at 4:14 P.M.

Condolences

Ana Glaško has passed away. She was born in 1954. A longtime member of the Klaipėda Jewish Community, she served as chairwoman from 2000 to 2006. Our deepest condolences to her loved ones.

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 4:04 P.M. on Friday, January 2, and concludes at 5:10 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:46 P.M. before sunset at 4:04 P.M. on Friday. January 4 is World Braille Day.

Condolences

Alė Šimulynienė has died. She was born in 1936. She was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center, We extend our deepest condolences on her loss to her surviving family and friends.

Lithuanian Economics Ministry Likes Idea of Holocaust Museum at Shnipishok Cemetery

Lithuanian Economics Ministry Likes Idea of Holocaust Museum at Shnipishok Cemetery

The Lithuanian Ministry of Economics and Innovation has issued a press release on the Baltic News Service webpage expressing approval for the idea of setting up a Holocaust museum at the former Palace of Sports built on top of the Vilna Jewish cemetery by the Soviets in the Shnipishok neighborhood on the northern side of the Neris (viliya( River.. The building has been in serious disrepair for over a decade.

“Taking into account the position held regarding the possibility of adapting the former Palace of Sports, since this site is not suitable for modern and competitive conference tourism… it would be more appropriate to renovate the Palace of Sports and equip it for use as a new memorial and museum,” the Economics and Innovation Ministry posted on the BNS press release webpage.

Vilnius mayor Valdas Benkunskas after meeting with economics minister Edvinas Grikšas last week told BNS the Vilnius municipality and the Economics Ministry have a common position regarding the aging concert and sports complex.

Mayor Benkunskas said: “We perceive in the same way that the Palace of Sports has to be renovated and adapted as a memorial and museum space, and that it wouldn’t be competitive for conference tourism, and would pose a risk to our public image as such.”

The Economics and Innovation Ministry earlier posted the building was not fit to use as a conference venue following a study ordered by the Government.

“According to the current studies, this site could only host some of the requirements as a venue, there would be a lack of parking places, and the costs of reconstruction are difficult to predict,” the Ministry said.

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Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:57 P.M. on Friday, December 26, and concludes at 5:03 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:39 P.M. and completed before sunset at 3:57 P.M.. Tuesday, December 30, is Asarah b’Tevet, the fast day is to mourn the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia. December 28 and 29 are related days of fasting.

American Embassy Hosts Presentation of New Community Center

American Embassy Hosts Presentation of New Community Center

Goodwill Foundation co-presidents Rabbi Andrew Baker and Faina Kukliansky presented plans for a new Lithuanian Jewish Community Center at the US embassy in Vilnius last week.

World-renowned Litvak architect Massimiliano Fuksas’s team are drafting plans for the new building to be built at the site of the Great Synagogue complex in Vilnius Old Town.

Baker and Kukliansky provided details at the presentation on a planned YIVO exhibit at the new center telling the history of Litvaks, Litvak life, traditions, the people and their mass murder during the Holocaust.

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Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:53 P.M. on Friday, December 18, and concludes at 4:59 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:35 P.M. and completed before sunset at 3:53 P.M. The eight days of Hanukkah end at sundown on Monday, December 21. Hanukkah candles may be list according to Sabbath rules, at or before 3:35 O.M. on Friday.