The #ŽydiškiPašnekesiai discussion club invites the public to attend a panel discussion called “Judaism and Christianity: Attitudes towards Morality” at the Bagel Shop Café at 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 14. Arkadijus Vinokuras will moderate the discussion which will address Christian and Jewish positions on abortion and Lithuanian views of Russia’s war in the Ukraine. The discussion will take place in Lithuanian.
Vilnius Approves Restoration of Jewish Street
MadeinVilnius.lt
The city of Vilnius wants to reconstruct historical Žydų or Jewish street and decorate the territory of the former Great Synagogue with architectural accents recalling the 16th century. The Vilnius municipality and the Vilniaus Planas group of architects back in May presented the public proposed projects for the restoration of Žydų street and the Shulhoyf. The Vilnius city municipality approved a project this week.
The contours of historical Jewish street were established more precisely according to the location of fragments of street paving boards discovered. The current street trajectory has changed from the historical one and the proposal is to return it to its original course through the deconstruction and removal of existing street and sidewalk pavement. The paving stones on Stiklių street, which becomes Žydų street, would continue on into Žydų street, according to the current plan.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 9:36 P.M. on Friday, July 8, and concludes at 11:19 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Free Tango Lessons at Israeli Street Food Kiosk
The Cvi in the Park Israeli street food kiosk is hosting free tango dancing lessons open to everyone at the park across the street from the Lithuanian Jewish Community at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius at 7:00 P.M. on July 5. The vocalist Eudardo will perform tango music from Latin America and the Argentine.
Program:
7:00 P.M. – 7:45 P.M. Public tango lesson
8:00 P.M. First portion of concert (Argentine and Latin American tango music)
8:30 P.M. Milonga (tango dances)
9:00 P.M. Second portion of concert
10:00 P.M. Finale.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 9:40 P.M. on Friday, July 1, and concludes at 11:30 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Lithuanian Makabi Preparing for 21st World Maccabiah Games
The Makabi Lithuanian athletics club is training intensively for taking part in the 21st World Maccabiah Games to take place between July 12 and July 26 in Israel. This will be the ninth World Maccabiah Games where the Lithuanian Makabi delegation will compete under the tutelage of president Semionas Finkelšteinas.
The delegation includes 23 people of whom 17 are athletes, 2 trainers (chess and swimming) and 4 coaches. Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky is planning to attend the opening ceremony with the Lithuanian Makabi team. The entire team is expecting to make a good showing and to make new contacts and friends as well as learning about the country and culture in the host country, Israel.
Photos: The European Maccabi Games held in Dusseldorf from September 2 to 5, 2021, where all six Lithuanian Makabi competitors won medals.
Kaunas Jewish Community to Commemorate Lietūkis Garage Victims
The Kaunas Jewish Community will commemorate the victims of the Lietūkis garage massacre at 4:30 P.M. on Monday, June 27, at the monument to the victims located at Miško street no. 3 in Kaunas. Following that commemoration participants will go on to the Vilijampolė (Slobodka) Jewish cemetery on Kalnų street and the Žaliakalnis Jewish cemetery on the Radvilėnų highway to commemorate Holocaust victims.
On June 27, 1941, around 50 Jewish men were tortured to death in front of crowd of on-lookers at the Lietūkis garage. The men were simply grabbed at random off the street for the public execution and included people from all walks of life. They were derided and brutally tortured with crow bars and high-pressure water from hoses. The names of most of the victims and executioners remain unknown, although one of the victims was Jurgis Štromas, who had been the director of the Industry and Trade Department at the Lithuanian Finance Ministry.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 9:42 P.M. on Friday, June 24, and concludes at 11:33 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 9:40 P.M. on Friday, June 17, and concludes at 11:31 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Play “Ghetto” at Kaunas Drama Theater
Next Sunday, June 19, the two-part play “Getas” [Ghetto] will be performed at the Kaunas Drama Theater, directed by Gintaras Varnas.
Guided Tour of Gedimino Prospect Followed by Sabbath Ceremony
Jewish tour guide Mark Psonic will lead a walking tour of Vilnius’s main street, Gedimino prospect, on June 17 as part of a larger event being held by the Lithuanian Jewish Community’s Gesher and Kaveret Clubs.
Those wishing to take the tour will assemble at the bell tower of the Cathedral in central Vilnius at 6:00 P.M. Friday. The walking tour will conclude at the Cvi in the Park Israeli street food kiosk located in the former Petras Cvirka square across the street from the LJC, where the Sabbath will be ushered in in the traditional manner.
The cost per person is five euros with registration by internet till June 15 and no later. Send an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt to register.
Tzedekah Lecture
Tzedakah or Ṣedaqah, literally “righteousness” in ancient Hebrew, is the duty to charity in Judaism, often directed towards coreligionists living in poverty.
The Talmud says mercy is an essential Jewish characteristic, and that the rich man has a duty to give and the poor man a duty to receive. Giving charity isn’t so much a burden as a privilege and a mitzvah.
During this lecture Natalja Cheifec will present various aspects of tzedekah, including why we are obligated to give, to whom are we obligated to give, when charity should be given, how much should be given, how the giver should behave towards the receiver, charity and numerology, and others.
The lecture and discussion will take place via internet at 5:30 P.M. on June 16, most likely in Lithuanian and/or Russian. Register here: https://bit.ly/3K73kEE
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 9:35 P.M. on Friday, June 10, and concludes at 11:26 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Discussion Club #ŽydiškiPašnekesiai with Arkadijus Vinokuras
Back in the time of King David, 3,000 years ago, the king was considered the best singer, and under his reign the professional musicians dynasty of the Levites from the tribe of Levi began. Music schools were established for singers of hymns and players of instruments. Hymns and instrumental music accompanied rituals for the offering of sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem built by Solomon in 959 BCE. During sacred rituals the priests blew 120 trumpets at the same time.
Of course we won’t go that deep into history. We’ll just discuss the period of Jewish music from Smetona’s Lithuania till today, discussion club #ŽydiškiPašnekesiai initiator Arkadijus Vinokuras promises.
The next discussion is called “Jewish Music: What Is It, and Why Doesn’t It Ever Grow Old?” on June 14, 2022.
The club will meet outside this time at the site of the former statue to Petras Cvirka where the Cvi in the Park Israeli street food kiosk is operating for the summer. The meeting will take place inside the Bagel Shop Café due to rain at 5:00 P.M. It’s open to everyone and will be live-streamed on the LJC facebook page.
Participants are to include Leonidas Melnikas, Boris Traub, Boris Kizner and Masha Dushkina, moderated by Arkadijus Vinokuras. The discussion will likely take place in Lithuanian.
Amehaye Summer Camp for 2022
LJC children aged 7 to 14 are invited to attend the Amehaye Summer Camp for 2022. Registration is simple by filling out the questionnaire at https://forms.gle/aB5qGkyZ1xm3RW18A. The camp will take place from July 11 to 16. The cost is 190 euros per child. The location will be announced to parents during registration, which is open till June 26. For more information contact Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt or by calling +370 672 50699.
Silvia Foti Releases Paperback Edition Renamed “Storm in the Land of Rain”
A year after the publication of Silvia Foti’s book about her Lithuanian Nazi grandfather Jonas Noreika, she has published a paperback version renamed “Storm in the Land of Rain: A Mother’s Dying Wish Becomes Her Daughter’s Nightmare.” According to the press release, it is already available from internet vendors and the plan is to offer it for sale at supermarket chains including Costco, HEB, BJ’s, Target, Fred Meyer, Kroger and Meijer.
Full press release here.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 9:28 P.M. on Friday, June 3, and concludes at 11:16 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Shavuot Celebrations
Shavuot celebrations at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius:
Shavuot eve at 8:15 P.M. on June 4
Shavuot at 10:00 A.M. on June 5
Shavuot at 10:00 A.M. on June 6
Greetings on this special holiday and try not to work on June 6. We wish you a happy holiday and delicious dishes made with milk products!
Tour of Žiežmariai Wooden Synagogue and Wanderings of Moses Exhibit
The Vilnius Jerusalem of Lithuania Jewish Community is sponsoring a free tour of the wooden synagogue in Žiežmariai and the exhibit of works of art by Daumantas Todesas currently being held there. Daumantas Todesas himself will lead the tour. Transportation will leave the Lithuanian Jewish Community at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 7. Registration is required by calling lead secretary Liuba Šerienė at (8 5) 2613003 or by calling+370 685 06900, or by sending an email to office@lzb.lt. Please note that the exhibit of artworks is scheduled to end June 9, so this might be your last opportunity to view it.
Shavuot Brunch and Ice Cream Celebration for Children and Parents
The Dubi, Dubi Mishpoha. Ilan and Kaveret Clubs of the Lithuanian Jewish Community invite you and your children to a Shavuot holiday brunch at 12 noon on June 5 at the Cvi in the Park Israeli street food venue in the park across the street from the Lithuanian Jewish Community located at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius. There will be ice cream as well as food. Prior registration is required by sending an email to julija.lipsic@gmail.com indicating the number of adults and children and their names and surnames.