Announcements

Lithuanian Jewish Community Concerned by Recent Attacks on Civilians in Israel

Lithuanian Jewish Community Concerned by Recent Attacks on Civilians in Israel

The Lithuanian Jewish Community is deeply concerned by the recent terrorist attacks in Israel made against civilian residents of Israel.

We condemn these barbaric acts of terror by extremist groups and call upon responsible leaders of the religious and political communities to stop the spilling of blood immediately.

In the name of the Lithuanian Jewish Community we extend our deep condolences to the families of the victims who have died.

Wishing you the strength and courage needed to survive these difficult times,

Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community

Kabbalat Shabat

A Kabbalat Shabat ceremony will be held on the zoom platform at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, April 1. To register, write Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt.

Table Tennis Tournament

Table Tennis Tournament

All members of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, their family members and friends as well as students from the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium and their parents are invited to play ping-pong at a tournament to be held Sunday, March 27 at the Simonas Daukantas pre-gymnasium located at Naugarduko street no. 7 in Vilnius.

Starting at 10:00 A.M., the first group of young players born in 2010 and later will begin, with registration by 9:30. The second group of those born in 2008 or later takes to the tables at 10:00 A.M as well, with registration by 9:30. At 12:30 P.M. those born in 2004 or later play, with registration by 12 noon. Adults play at 12:30 as well with registration before 12 noon.

Players will be grouped in subgroups of four people each. The winners and runners-up enter the final while the other groups compete for a consolation prize. All competitions are comprised of three sets. If 8 or more girls arrive, there will be a separate girls subgroup. The rules for the competition are subject to change depending on attendance numbers.

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LJC and Sholem Aleichem School Collecting Donations for Ukrainians

LJC and Sholem Aleichem School Collecting Donations for Ukrainians

The Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium are collecting items for the people of Ukraine and invite you to donate the following:

Blankets
Folding beds
Portable heaters
Personal hygiene items
Baby items
Crutches and bandages
Electric blankets
Sleeping bags
Mattresses
Mobile telephones, computer tablets, laptops

Contact the LJC at info@lzb.lt

Justice and Courts according to the Torah

Justice and Courts according to the Torah

Natalja Cheifec will hold a lecture this week called “Justice and the Courts according to the Torah,” talking about criteria for selecting judges, the definition of theft in Judaism, crime and punishment, the death penalty, compensation for harm inflicted, the laws of warfare and other topics. To register, click here.

Purim Celebration for Children

Purim Celebration for Children

The Lithuanian Jewish Community will hold a Purim carnival with purimshpilen and a performance by Fayerlakh for children at 12 noon on March 20. To register and for more information, contact Margarita by calling 37061800577 or by sending her an email at margarita.kozevatova@gmail.com

Purim Lecture

Purim Lecture

Purim is almost here, the happiest spring holiday, but its true meaning is the Jewish struggle for physical survival, just as topical now as ever. Natalja Cheifec invites you to her internet lecture on the meaning and traditions of Purim. It will take place beginning at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, March 17, in the Lithuanian Jewish Community’s zoom room. Register here.

On War, Women and Sunflowers

On War, Women and Sunflowers

The Pakruojis synagogue will host this event at 3:00 P.M. on Friday, March 18. Neringa Latvytė will give a presentation called “We Were All Heroines: Experiences of Jewish Women in World War II.” An exhibit of photographs by Sošana Zaksaitė (1906-1959) featuring snapshots from the lost Jewish world will open at the synagogue and be presented by Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community chairman Sania Karbelis. Later in the afternoon Alina Shakhova from Kharkov in the Ukraine will perform a song. Everyone is invited to attend. The street address and telephone number for the Pakruojis synagogue is located to the right of this page.

Kabbalat Shabat

A Kabbalat Shabat ceremony will be held to usher in the Sabbath under the tenets of Progressive Judaism at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius at 6:30 P.M. on March 11. To register, write Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt.

Indoor Rock Climbing March 13

The Lithuanian Makabi Athletics Club invites everyone interested to an indoor rock-climbing exercise at noon on March 13. The event will take place at Kalvarijų street no. 143 in Vilnius. You need to dress in clothing which won’t restrict your movement, and we’ll provide the rest of the equipment. More information is available at vertical.lt and to register write an email to dubrovinas@yahoo.com or call 8 687 83 005. Students will be admitted free of charge, adults pay 4 euros.

Daniel Dubrovin, director,
Lithuanian Makabi Athletics Club

Concerning Matzo Ordered from Ukraine

Concerning Matzo Ordered from Ukraine

The Lithuanian Jewish Community has always maintained special ties with the Ukrainian Jewish community. In December last year we ordered matzo from the Ukrainian Jewish community which was supposed to be baked and certified kosher under the authority of chief Ukrainian rabbi Dov Yaakov Bleich and then packed and shipped in our original-style package.

We have received a query from Ukrainian Jewish community leaders in recent days asking whether they could return 9,000 euros already paid for this. While we appreciate their honesty and conscientiousness, our reply was that this constitutes a portion of our aid to the Ukrainian Jewish community and this money should be used for the needs of members of the Ukrainian Jewish community.

We reminded the Ukrainian Jewish community every Lithuanian Jewish family stands ready to help all Ukrainian Jews who need help.

We have a special telephone help hotline,+370 665 064 60, and may also be reached at ukraina@lzb.lt

Historical Prayer Service

Rabbi Nathan Alfred will deliver lectures via internet before an historic and historical Saturday prayer service and Torah reading at 10:00 A.M. on March 19 to mark the 100th anniversary of the bat mitzvah when Judith Kaplan read the Torah portion on March 18, 1922. To register contact Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt or call+37067250699.

Classes for Making Challa and Other Jewish Foods

Classes for Making Challa and Other Jewish Foods

The Lithuanian Jewish Community’s Bagel Shop Café is offering students and teachers the opportunity to learn Jewish cooking secrets in classes held every Thursday. The classes are intended for students in grades 5 to 10 and the cost is 12 euros per 60-minute class. For more information see the details in Lithuanian here.

Purim Celebrations

Purim Celebrations

Purim is coming up and as usual the Lithuanian Jewish Community is sponsoring multiple celebrations for all age-groups, including but not limited to the following three:

Purim celebration for seniors from the LJC Social Department starting at 1:00 P.M. on March 17. Register by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt or call +37067881514;

Family Purim celebration at 6:30 P.M. on March 18 at the Bagel Shop Café with Rabbi Nathan Alfred, including reading the Book of Esther, Sabbath ceremony and food. Cost is 15 euros. Register by contacting Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt or +3067250699;

Purim carnival for children at 12 noon on March 20 with a traditional Purim shpil with the Fayerlakh musical ensemble and our favorite madrichs. Purim foods including Hamen tashn and special guests. Children expected to wear costumes. Register by contacting Margarita at margarita.kozevatova@gmail.com or +37061800577. The event is free.

LJC and Partners Begin S4Change Project

LJC and Partners Begin S4Change Project

The Lithuanian Jewish Community in concert with the Lithuanian Human Rights Institute and the Padėk Pritapti organization are carrying out a project called S4Change which will assess anti-discrimination policies in Lithuania, present comprehensive recommendations and increase resistance among teachers and young people to anti-Semitic, anti-Roma and xenophobic narratives. Besides assessing the state of anti-Semitism and Romophobia and providing recommendations to legislators and national institutions to encourage a strategic response the discrimination and xenophobia, the project will work to increase Roma resilience to hate narratives in society and will hold workshops for Roma children, young people and women. The project will work with teachers and students in the majority population to encourage critical thinking regarding anti-Semitism, Romophobia and xenophobia with teaching workshops and an additional “inconvenient cinema” class for educators to acquire teaching methods and aides. The project will hold an international conference intended to strengthening the state’s strategic response to anti-Semitism, Romophobia and xenophobia and will include a public education campaign.

The full name of the project is “S4Change: Strategy for a Change in Anti-Discrimination Policies in Lithuania” and is financed jointly by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Program. The project will run from February of 2022 to January of 2024.