Announcements

Passover Seder

Passover Seder

Dear reader,

The Bnei Maskilim progressive Jewish community invites you to Passover seder. Rabbinical students Emma Aaronson, Dani Pattiz and Viljamas Žitkauskas will lead ceremonies. Join us and celebrate the spirit of freedom and fellowship.

On this evening like no other we will remember the story of Exodus, read the Haggadah, sing the traditional prayers together and sample the holiday foods according to Passover tradition.

Registration is required. Confirm your participation by sending an email to viljamas@lzb.lt.

Time: 7:00 P.M., April 12
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 8:06 P.M. on Friday, April 4, and concludes at 8:59 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 7:43 P.M. and completed before sunset at 8:06 P.M. Tuesday is also International Romani Day.

Matzo Available

Matzo Available

Matzo is available at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius during working hours in packages of 450 grams and 1 kilogram.

Natalja Cheifec Lecture Series: Pearls of Wisdom from the Vilna Gaon

Natalja Cheifec Lecture Series: Pearls of Wisdom from the Vilna Gaon

Natalja Cheifec will present a new lecture Thursday featuring Sefer Even Shlema, a collection of commentaries by the Vilna Gaon.

Lecture to include:

-negative features (midot) and how to correct them;
-the ability to be satisfied with little;
-trust in the Almighty and how to serve Him;
-the war against innate sin;
-fear and love of the Most High and following His law;
-raising and teaching children;
-vain speech;
-prayer;
-reward and punishment;
-hell, paradise and final judgment.

To receive zoom credentials to participate via internet, click here.

Time: 5:30 P.M., Thursday, April 3
Place: internet

Lithuanian Makabi Getting Ready for 2025 World Maccabiah Games

Lithuanian Makabi Getting Ready for 2025 World Maccabiah Games

The Lithuanian Makabi Athletics Club is currently preparing for the 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Last week Lithuanian Makabi participated at the Maccabi Congress in Tel Aviv and were officially registered as participants.

Now Lithuanian Makabi is getting athletes ready. There are still plenty of spaces to fill and if you’d like to participate, register here.

For a complete list of included sports, click here

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Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 6:48 P.M. on Friday, March 28, and concludes at 7:44 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit and prayers begun at 6:30 P.M., and completed before sunset at 6:48 P.M.

Igor Epstein Klezmer Concert and Lecture

Igor Epstein Klezmer Concert and Lecture

The Lithuanian Jewish Community is pleased to announce a concert by Igor Itzik Epstein from Köln and his lecture on klezmer music called “Klezmer Music from Its Origins to Today.”

Epstein’s Klezmer Tov was founded by Igor (Itzik) Epstein in Cologne about 15 years ago. Igor’s musical journey did not begin, however, in Germany. Born in Vilnius, Igor grew up in Rostov-on-Don in a Jewish musical family. It was there that he received his music education, first as a classical violinist and later as a jazz bass performer, graduating from the Rostov State Conservatory.

The development of Igor’s unique style is the result of a lifetime of musical influence. Playing music and growing up in a talented musical family meant that he was always surrounded by different forms of music. Therefore, upon moving to Europe, he became known as a performer who seems to appeal to his listeners on multiple levels simultaneously by fusing together elements of folk, jazz and classical music with sparkling Jewish humor.

Epstein’s Klezmer Tov is a traditional acoustic band which communicates with the audience through their own native musical language called Klezmer. Although the number of musicians in the group can vary from duo to sextet (violin, clarinet, guitar, bass, accordion/piano and percussion) the genuine colorful emotions and the authenticity of its expressive melodies remain unchanged.

Epstein will speak and perfrom April 1 at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. Registration is required by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt. For more information, call (+370) 678 81514.

Time: 6:30 P.M., April 1
Place: LJC, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 6:34 P.M. on Friday, March 21, and concludes at 7:30 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 6:16 P.M. and completed before sunset at 6:34 P.M. Nowruz, Persian New Year, falls on the vernal equinox in 2025, Thursday, March 20, and is celebrated on multiple dates in multiple countries for several days following.

Natalja Cheifec Lecture on Vilna Gaon

Natalja Cheifec Lecture on Vilna Gaon

Natalja Cheifec’s continuing internet lecture and discussion club will address Thursday at 5:30 P.M. the topic of the Vilna Gaon. Who was he, where did he live, what were his teachings and why does he remain a central figure today?

To receive zoom credentials, click here.

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 6:21 P.M. on Friday, March 14, and concludes at 7:06 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 6:03 P.M. and completed before sunset at 6:21 P.M. Purim starts at sunset on Thursday, March 13. Friday is also the International Day of Mathematics and Monday is St. Patrick’s Day.

Ilan Club Meets Saturday

Ilan Club Meets Saturday

The Ilan Club for children aged 7 to 12 is meeting this Saturday at 1:00 P.M. at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. This session includes a shadow theater, Purim gifts and lots of fun.

Purim Celebration

Purim Celebration

The Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium invite you to a celebration of the happiest holiday of the year, Purim, on Thursday, March 13, at the Loftas performance space in Vilnius.

The program includes the customary costume ball, purimshpil skits and performances by Sholem students, the traditional games and many prizes, as well as a DJ and other entertainment. Michael Frishman will be master of ceremonies.

Tickets available here: https://topticket.lt/event/PURIM-2025

Time: 6:30 P.M., Thursday, March 13
Place: Loftas, Švitrigailos street no. 29, Vilnius

Two Klezmer Bands on World Theater Day

Two Klezmer Bands on World Theater Day

To celebrate World Theater Day on March 27, the Russian Drama Theater in Vilnius, now rechristened Old Drama Theater, will host two klezmer bands. Called “Klezmer on Pogulanka” (the older name of Basanavičiaus street in Vilnius where the theater is located), the Franco-Lithuanian ensemble Rakija Klezmer Orkestar“ and the Yiddish Atmospheric Touch trio from France will perform classics and improv. Stay tuned for more information.

Natalja Cheifec’s Special Purim Edition

Natalja Cheifec’s Special Purim Edition

Natalja Cheifec’s lecture series features a special Purim edition Wednesday. She will talk about the meaning of and traditions associated with the holiday, why it is considered a holiday of Jewish liberation and unity and about the Book of Esther and why it does not mention the name of God.

To register and receive zoom credentials, click here.

Time: 5:30 P.M., Wednesday, March 12
Place: internet

Righteous Gentiles Day in Vilnius

Righteous Gentiles Day in Vilnius

This year will be the third Lithuania has officially remembered her Righteous Gentiles who rescued Jews from the Holocaust. It is another opportunity to remember the bravery and shining example set by those who risked their lives to help their fellow man.

“Time is pitiless. Every year more rescuers and more survivors pass away, but the memory of their experience will never fade,” Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky said. She added that her family was also saved by Righteous Gentiles.

Time: 12:00 noon, Thursday, March 13
Place: Choral Synagogue, Vilnius

Target Shooting Contest

Target Shooting Contest

The Lithuanian Makabi Athletics Club invites members to a target-shooting contest using live rounds at the GSKA shooting club indoor gun range in Vilnius on March 23.

Competing in three age groups, shooters will get 15 shots including 5 practice rounds and 10 which count. Ammunition and revolvers will be provided to participants at the range.

The cost to participate is 11 euros.

Registration is open till midnight on March 20. To register, click here. For more information, click here.

Time: 10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M., Sunday, March 23
Place: GSKA shooting club, Mindaugo street no. 42, Vilnius

Hebrew Classes Continue

Hebrew Classes Continue

Ruth Reches’s Hebrew classes for the general public continue at the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium in Vilnius every Sunday. Beginners and more advanced students are invited to attend. For more information, contact Reches at ruthreches@gmail.com.

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 6:07 P.M. on Friday, March 7, and concludes at 7:02 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 5:49 P.M. and completed before sunset at 6:07 P.M. Additionally, Saturday, March 8, is International Women’s Day, and Tuesday, March 11, is Lithuanian Independence Day, marking the date in 1990 when the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet voted to leave the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Purim starts on the evening of Thursday, March 13, at sundown.

Knafaim Club Meets Fridays

Knafaim Club Meets Fridays

The Knafaim Club for adolescents aged 13 to 17 meets this Friday and every Friday with games and other activities to strengthen Jewish roots and deepen knowledge of tradition, followed by a ceremony to usher in the Sabbath. The club meets at 6:00 P.M. at the Lithuanian Jewish Community. For more information, contact Žana Skudovičienė at zanas@sc.lzb.lt.