The Šiauliai District Jewish Community sincerely congratulates Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky on the occasion of her birthday!
May Success never leave you, accompanied by Litvak Strength!
Respectfully,
Šiauliai District Jewish Community
The entire Lithuanian Jewish Community wishes LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky a very happy birthday. Your attitude, perseverance and dedication set an example for us all. You don’t just talk about serving the Community, you embrace it with your actions every day and continue to grow the Community. On this day we wish you iron-clad health, energy, inspiration and people with whom you can share your work as well as your joys in life. Happy birthday, Faina! Mazl tov. Bis 120!
A gathering of members of the Panevėžys Jewish Community and family, friends and guests celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, last week at the Community building in the northern Lithuanian city with traditional dishes prepared by members. This year the start of Rosh Hashanah coincided with the onset of Sabbath and the celebration began with the lighting of candles and intonation of prayers.
Community member Nerijus Jakštonis, an accomplished trumpet musician, blew a small shofar horn, seen in photographs below. Panevėžys Jewish Community chairman Gennady Kofman spoke about what the holiday means and the ten-day period before Yom Kippur for self-reflection, taking responsibility for one’s past and future actions and reconciliation.
B”H
This Friday–the 11th of September–evening, at sunset when Rosh Ha’Shonoh begins, we usher in a New Year.
In Judaism a New Year is not just a new cycle of time, it represents a unique, unparalleled, new spiritual entity, with unprecedented fresh opportunities for each and every one of us. As reflected in our prayers on Rosh Ha’Shonoh ” …This day is the Beginning of Your work” (actions). This year in our calendar is 5787. 87 is the numerical equivalent of the Hebrew word for fine-gold “poz” (pei zayin), reminding us that this year we have an exceptional golden opportunity, for positive, constructive change and transformation.
The holy Master of the Good Name Rebbe Yisroel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), teaches us that nothing in the world, even the seemingly most insignificant thing, is random. Everything without exception is Guided by Divine Particular Providence. It follows that everything we see or hear in the world, contains a moral and spiritual lesson for us, also as an individual. It follows, that the fact that Rosh Ha’Shonoh this year begins on and follows “11th of September” must be communicating a timely inspirational teaching and life-lesson to us. “11th of September” reminds us of, and represents, destruction. Rosh Ha’Shonoh is about “Binyan Ha’Malchus,” Building a new and fresh, better world.
However deep the destruction might be, we can rebuild, even better.
This coming year we can and need to utilize the new golden opportunities that are being presented to us, wisely, to build and construct brick by brick, a better self, and a better world for Everyone.
With my very best wishes for a Good, Sweet and Meaningful New Year!
Kesivoh V’Chasimoh Tovoh!
Gut Shabbes! Gut Yom Tov! Shabbat Shalom! Chag Sameach!
The White House, September 11, 2026
Melania and I send our warmest greetings to the entire Jewish community on Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year and the first of the High Holy Days.
The Jewish community around the world marks the anniversary of when the Almighty created Adam and Eve and the story of humanity began. These two days open a solemn season of prayer, repentance and spiritual renewal in preparation for Yom Kippur.
My Administration reaffirms our steadfast commitment to ushering in a historic renewal of faith across our country, eliminating the scourge of anti-Semitism, and defending the sacred right of religious liberty for every single American.
May you be inscribed in the Book of Life. Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year!
September 11
7:00 P.M. Minchah and Maariv
September 12
10:00 A.M. Shacharit
12:00 noon Musaf
6:45 P.M. Mincha
September 13
10:00 A.M. Shacharit
12:00 noon Shofar horn
12:30 P.M. Musaf
6:45 P.M. Mincha and Maariv
Shana tova u’metuku!
Dear members of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and friends,
As we near Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, I want to wish you and your loved ones shana tova u’metuku, a happy and sweet new year!
Rosh Hashanah is not just the start of a new year, it’s a time reflect, to look back on the foregoing year, to take stock of what we’ve achieved and to look forward to the future in hope. It’s the time when we remember how important communication, friendship, being together and caring for one another is.
The Jewish prayer says: “He who makes peace in his high holy places, may he bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel.” Let these words usher us into the year 5787.
I wish the New Year brings health, peace, goodness and abundance to your house, and that there would be no lack of sincerity, warmth and warm moments. May our community remain strong and united, and may none of us lack faith and hope in a better future.
May 5787 be safer, more peaceful and full of good works, beautiful encounters and reasons to smile.
A good, sweet and meaningful New Year!
Shana tova u’metuku!
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky, members of the regional Jewish communities, the Israeli ambassador to Lithuania and embassy staff and others celebrated the Jewish New Year this week at the Vilna Gaon Jewish History Museum in Vilnius. Happy 5787.
Lithuanian Jewish Community member Aleksandras Asovskis just turned 105. His life spanning entire eras is an inspiration to all of us. We wish him good health, the love of family and friends, much joy and many happy moments to come. Mazl tov. Bis 120.
Congratulations to Community member and Lithuanian Makabi athlette Rafael Gimelstein who won three medals at the 52nd Lithuanian Table Tennis Veterans Championship last week. Gimelstein took bronze in the men’s 45-49-year-old group, silver in doubles with Vidas Stašauskas and silver in mixed-doubles play with Jurgita Jucytė. Well done!
The Lithuanian Culture Ministry awarded its order of merit to psychologist and school principal Ruth Reches and Kaunas Jewish Community chairman Gercas Žakas on Friday, Lithuania’s Cultural Minorities Day.
Gercas was recognized for his work in preserving Jewish identity, commemorating famous Litvaks, care for Holocaust victims and rescuers and Holocaust commemoration.
Lithuanian Ethnic Minorities Department director Dainius Babilas presented Reches the silver order of merit, third degree, for her consistent work in minority education, teaching Jewish culture and history and her work to have the Yiddish language included on Lithuania’s list of immaterial cultural treasures.
Reches is actually a Hebrew teacher as well as psychologist and principal. She earned a PhD in psychology several years ago and her publications and academic work include topics such as attachment disorders, trans-generational Holocaust trauma and developmental psychology. She has served as the principal of the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium in Vilnius, the capital city’s only Jewish primary and secondary school, for over a decade. She is the daughter of Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky.
Congratulations to Matanas Etinas who has become Lithuanian ping-pong champion for children born in 2015. Matanas didn’t lose a single set in the tournament and triumpher over the other contestants 3:0. Matanas following this latest victory and his great showing last week where he took 4th place in the age group for players born in 2014 will compete in the European Mini-Cadet Championship in France this August. Matanas began playing two years ago in the afterschool ping-pong group at Sholem Aleichem Gymnasium in Vilnius under the tutelage of Rafeilis Gimelsteinas and joined the New Stars club a year ago where he began to compete more widely.
The Šiauliai District Jewish Community came together to celebrate Lag b’Omer with potatoes baked in fire and assorted other meals, dishes and snacks.