News – Page 265 – Lithuanian Jewish Community

Rome to Open Jewish Catacombs to the Public

Rome plans to open the 2,000-year-old Villa Randanini Jewish catacombs to the public for the first time between May 1 and June 5 as part of a cultural initiative as one of the several initiatives taken by the Italian Cultural Ministry to promote the scope of the “Jubilee Year of Mercy” declared by the pope.

The Jewish catacombs were discovered beneath the vineyard of Villa Randanini in 1859. The maze of tunnels covers nearly 18,500 square meters (about 199,000 square feet) and has a depth of five to 16 meters (about 16 to 52 feet). The walls have inscriptions in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew providing information about people buried there. The catacombs have been vandalized over time, but still contain many colorful frescoes and tablets with Jewish candelabra depicted. The walls are covered with paintings of birds, dancing maidens, flourishes and grapevines. The catacombs also contain kokhim, a type of Jewish burial chamber.

2016-04-29

Israeli Jazzman Tamir Grinberg Visits Panevėžys

Israeli jazzman Tamir Grinberg visited Panevėžys April 25, giving a performance with his ensemble at the Panevėžys Music Theater to a large and enthusiastic audience.

Grinberg, 21, is already a star in his native Israel and plays at the big clubs and festivals, and in recent years has become better known in Europe as well. He has a loyal fan base in Lithuania. Last year the fiery and lyrical Grinman, scrupulous in his music to a fault and a master of his genre, became the favorite at the Kaunas Jazz Festival. He was declared a young musical phenomenon several years ago, and formed several bands in his teens at music school. Fans say his voice is both interesting and emotional, and that he is faithful to his funk, blues and jazz roots. They point to his stylish retro sound and his incredible energy as the reasons for Grinberg’s success and his cross-generational audience. They say his style doesn’t obey the dictates of time or fashion.

2016-04-29

Wooden Synagogue in Pakruojas, Lithuania

EEA and Lithuanian state support as well as from the Pakruojas regional administration has been allocated for fixing the wooden synagogue in Pakruojas, Lithuania.

The plan is to house a children’s literature section of the Juozas Paukštelis Public Library in the synagogue and to use it for educational activities and cultural events. The synagogue has no heat and will have to be outfitted with a heating system for year-round use.

A team of architectural experts, cultural heritage protection specialists, restorers and engineers visited Lithuania’s oldest wooden synagogue April 27. This mission organized by Lithuania’s Ministry of Culture was intended to come up jointly with experts the best solution to the heating problem and other outstanding issues at the site. Participants said the meeting was highly productive and hoped similar heritage issues would see the same sort of good practices applied in the future.

From EEA Grants for Culture in Lithuania

Photos from the trip here.

2016-04-29

Jewish Cultural Legacy Presented in Ukmergė

The Big Stone Hotel in Ukmergė Friday evening was the venue for Jewish music and the audience had the opportunity to try some traditional Jewish cuisine items recently included on the hotel restaurant’s menu. The Ukmergė regional administration, the Ukmergė Tourism and Business Information Center and Big Stone Hotel owners Tajana and Filionis August held a symbolic Passover seder to mark the Jewish holiday on April 23, with the requisite four glasses of wine (kosher, by the way).

The celebrants including members of the Ukmergė Jewish Community discussed the next steps in the life of the recently created Jewish Cultural Heritage Association and its Jewish Cultural Heritage Tourist Route, Lithuania’s largest newspaper, Lietuvos rytas, reported.

Full story in Lithuanian here.

2016-04-29

New Space Created for LJC Youth

The Lithuanian Jewish Student Union is pleased to announce the beta phase of the project Moadon Helimudim. We have officially opened the doors to the new educational space where young people can meet daily. It includes computers, internet, wifi connection, and coffee and tea!

Please come in and make use of the new space at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius.

Contact person: Ziv Atlas
For more information write lujsinfo@gmail.com with Moadon Halimudim in the subject line.
The space is open from 5:00 P.M. onward.

2016-04-29

Letter from Director of the Regional Administration of Molėtai

Director of the Regional Administration of Molėtai

March 3, 2016 No. B22-399
re: February 29, 2016 No. 190

To Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community

On Measures to Commemorate Father Jonas Žvinys and Bronius Žvinys

We thank you for the position expressed regarding activities to commemorate Father Jonas Žvinys and Bronius Žvinys. We understand your people’s pain and desire to expose the truth.

We inform you that there has been no discussion in the board of administrators of the Regional Administration of Molėtai on any sort of merits of Bronius Žvinys which might be deserving of commemoration. Regarding the commemoration of the activities of the priest Jonas Žvinys meritorious to Lithuania, his relatives represented by Antanas Žvinys have petitioned multiple times the Molėtai regional administration director and board of administrators and finally the President’s Office regarding the inadequate actions by the director and board of administrators in solving this issue.

The board of administrators of the Molėtai regional administration in considering the commemoration of Jonas Žvinys’s contributions to Lithuania do so based on the fact the President’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania, having investigated the circumstances, awarded him the Order of the Cross of Vytis, 4th degree, in 1999. We don’t have the right to question the decision of the President’s Office, and so long as it hasn’t been proved that he did participate in committing crimes against the Jewish people, the contributions of this person to Lithuania cannot be struck from the record. In view of the doubts concerning this person’s actions, causing great public discussion, however, we will propose to the board of administrators of the Molėtai regional administration not to consider the question of commemorating this person until an investigation is completed.

Respectfully,

Stasys Žvinys, director
Regional Administration of Molėtai

2016-04-29

Invitation to Literary Lecture “Hate is a Failure of Imagination”

The Tolerance Center of the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum invites you to the literary lecture Hate is a Failure of Imagination.

It will take place on May 5, 2016, at 5:30 P.M.,

at the Tolerance Center, Naugarduko street no. 10/2, Vilnius.

Narrator Gregorij von Leïtis is a winner of the New York Theater Club Prize, founding artistic director of Elysium and president of the Lahr von Leïtis Academy & Archive.

2016-04-28

Interwar Jewish Composers

a concert dedicated to the memory of
Jan Zwartendijk
Dutch diplomat and Righteous Gentile

5:00 P.M., Friday, April 29
at the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius

Program:

Rosy Wertheim (1888 – 1949)
6 Morceaux de Piano

Erwin Schulhoff (1894 – 1942)
Suite dansante en Jazz (1931)

Gideon Klein (1919 – 1945)
Sonata for Piano (1943)

Alexander Tansman (1897 – 1886)
Sonatine Transatlantique (1930)

Szymon Laks (1901 – 1983)
Blues

Anatolijus Šenderovas (1945 – )
Sonatina (1973)

Leo Smit (1900 – 1943)
Deux Hommages

Dick Kattenburg (1919 – 1944)
Tempo di blues (1940)
Two Waltzes

George Gershwin (1898 – 1937)
3 Preludes for Piano (1926)

2016-04-27

Passover Greetings from Vatican Ambassador Archbishop Pedro López Quintana

Nuncijaus sveikinimas

2016-04-26

Schedule for Hebrew Classes

Next Tuesday, April 26, Hebrew classes will not be held.

They will resume and take place at the usual time on May 10 and May 19.

The final class in the current course taught by Yehuda Vagneris will be held May 26.

2016-04-26

Lithuanian and Indian Jewish Communities Make Contact

On Sunday, April 16, Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky met with representatives of the Indian Jewish Community and discussed opportunities for working together.

Chairwoman Kukliansky visited synagogues, met with local Jews and learned about their history and activities in India.

Kukliansky was visiting Mumbai, formerly Bombay, India’s largest city and home to a number of religious minorities in the country.

In discussions with local Jewish leaders, Kukliansky spoke about the experience of Litvaks and proposed holding a screening in Mumbai of documentary films about the history of Lithuanian Jews.

Her visit took place with the help of the Lithuanian embassy in India. Until now there has been no official contact between the Indian Jewish community and the Lithuanian Jewish Community.

About 4,000 Jews call Mumbai home and the city of around 12.5 million people has 8 working synagogues.

Photos here.

Source

2016-04-26

How to Join the Vilnius Jewish Community

Those who desire to join the Vilnius Jewish Community may do so by submitting a free-form request to that effect to the VJC board of directors. According to the articles of incorporation of the VJC, members may be Jews of the age of majority living in Lithuania and their family members throughout Lithuania in areas where there are no regional Jewish Communities, and also foreign Jews and their family members who make a request in writing to become members of the Community who have acquainted themselves with the rules and regulations and have pledged to follow them. Proof of Jewishness is also required.

To streamline the process, a form is available here to include with your written request, proof of identity (copy of passport) and proof of Jewish origins.

For more information, contact Monika Antanaitytė in room 201 of the Lithuanian Jewish Community by email at info@lzb.lt or telephone, 85 261 3003.

2016-04-23

LJC Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky with Passover Greetings and a Message about Anti-Semitism

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Recently US State Department special envoy for Holocaust affairs Nicholas Dean visited the Lithuanian Jewish Community. This was not just a coincidence. The rise of Holocaust denial in Lithuania was the reason for his visit. Jews from Lithuania and their offspring living in Israel and South Africa have been receiving negative answers regarding their applications for Lithuanian citizenship for some time.

As the questions mount over why one set of people have received Lithuanian passports while others haven’t, despite similar circumstances, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, the Interior Affairs Ministry, Migration Department officials and members of parliament have begun to investigate. While the law on citizenship says one thing, officials are saying other things, and one wonders why it is left to each individual bureaucrat to interpret history. Yet another revision of history is being carried out in Lithuania, which is an essential element in denials of the Holocaust. The vitality of anti-Semitism in Lithuania is shown by the way citizenship is restored, attempting to foist upon Jews who fled persecution that they left Lithuania for other reasons, not for political reasons, not for opposing the occupational regime, not because of persecution by that regime. Another example of the upturn in anti-Semitism is provided by Laisvas Laikraštis, a newspaper which prints openly anti-Semitic articles without commentary. The Community has lodged a complaint against the newspaper with the prosecutor, but no action has been taken.

2016-04-22

Deputy Speaker Sends Passover Greetings

Former Lithuanian prime minister and current deputy speaker of parliament Gediminas Kirkilas has sent Passover greetings to chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and the Lithuanian Jewish Community. Kirkilas is also the chairman of the Lithuanian parliament’s European Affairs Committee.

“Please accept my sincere greetings to the Lithuanian Jewish Community and to you personally as the significant holiday of Passover draws near. Recently I visited Israel where I had the opportunity again to remember the miracle of the Jewish People’s liberation from slavery in Egypt,” the former Lithuanian prime minister wrote.

“On this occasion I wish success in your and your honored community’s further work, the wonderful fulfillment of your plans for the future and harmonious living as we face the challenges of the present. Let concord not lack in your families, nor human happiness in your hearts,” Kirkilas concluded in his Passover greetings.

2016-04-22

Prayer Schedule for Choral Synagogue in Vilnius

Morning prayer
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 A.M.
Workdays: 8:30 A.M.

Evening prayer
Workdays: 7:30 P.M.

2016-04-22

Kol Europe 16: First International Conference on Online Anti-Semitism

Jerusalem, April 19, 2016

The first-ever International Conference on Online Anti-Semitism took place in Jerusalem on April 19, 2016. The event was co-organised by the National Union of Israeli Students ISCA program and the International Network against Cyberhate and was hosted by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It brought together experts from multiple countries including Israeli legislators and the European Commission coordinator on combating anti-Semitism, Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein. CEJI director Robin Sclafani spoke on the panel “Towards Solutions: Coalition Building, Education, Counterspeech.”

Full story here.

2016-04-21

The Israel Lithuania Technology Hub (ILTH) 5th Newsletter

Newsletter No. 5 – April 2016

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the fifth issue of the Israel Lithuania Technology Hub Newsletter, in which we endeavor to keep you informed of the Hub’s activities, events, updates and further relevant information. The first quarter of 2016 has been fairly busy for the Hub Team, as is detailed below, with several exciting activities planned during the year. We are proud to advise that we have established new partnerships and would like to welcome aboard, Kaunas Free Economic Zone and Inova Baltics, whilst Teva Baltics remains our principal partner. We are appreciative and grateful to our sponsors!

For any suggestions, proposals or comments please contact us.

We, the Hub Team, wish you and your families a happy Passover.

Ronen Gruber
CEO, The Israel Lithuania Technology Hub
ronen@ilth.org
Tel:972-54-4578620

Full newsletter here.

2016-04-21

Panevėžys Jewish Community Receives Guests

The Panevėžys Jewish Community received honored guests April 20, the family of Dr. Charles Borowsky from the USA.

Members of the Panevėžys city council, deputy mayor Petras Luomanas and Alfonsas Petrauskas received the guests over tea. Borowsky spoke about his family, the beginnings of his musical career, his travels around the world and all the famous people, politicians and scholars he’s met who are in one way or another connected with the world of music. Panevėžys Jewish Community chairman Gennady Kofman said at the meeting the Community works closely with the municipality and carry out joint projects and activities.

Deputy mayor Luomanas praised the Jewish Community for its activities. He also spoke about his family’s connection with music: his wife is a music teacher and has a small orchestra. His wife’s sister is a music teacher in Vilnius and his relatives perform in an Israeli orchestra.

2016-04-21

Oldest Jewish Community in South Africa Looks Back over 175 Years

The oldest Jewish congregation in South Africa, Cape Town’s Gardens Shul, celebrated its 175th anniversary recently. The community was established in 1841. The initial service was held in the house of Benjamin Norden and under the leadership of Joel Rabbinowitz the first synagogue in South Africa, the Gardens Shul, was erected in 1862. Philip Krawitz, a recipient of the prestigious Yakir award from Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal in Jerusalem and called “the unofficial mayor of the Jewish community in Cape Town,” in other words, the Cape Town Jewish Community chairman, spoke at the birthday celebrations.

Address by Philip Krawitz
Gardens Synagogue 175th Anniversary Celebration
March 31, 2016

The Role of Jewish Business in South Africa: “A Light unto Nations”

Cast your mind back a few years… You leave your Sea Point Apartment designed by Dennis Fabian and built by the Berman Brothers. You hop into your Toyota bought from the Sanks. You pop into Pick ‘n Pay (founded by Raymond Ackerman) for some groceries. You’re off to Artscape to watch a matinee starring Aviva Pelham in La Traviata. Thereafter you’re off to the Spur (don’t tell the Rabbi!) created by Allen Ambor. (By the way, they now serve kosher burgers.) Tomorrow you’ll visit the V&A where you’ll find an outfit for your granddaughter from Jonni Katz’s Earthchild. Perhaps you’ll even get a chance to get a new down jacket from Cape Union Mart, sneakers from Barry Selby’s “The Athletes Foot” or a suit from Arie Fabian’s Fabiani. And if you’re feeling peckish, you grab a cappuccino from Ian Halfon’s Balducci. Charge it all to Kantor & Koseff’s Investec Card. Fortunately your Liberty Life Pension cheque (thanks to Donny Gordon) will more than cover your expenses. Indeed you could be forgiven for believing that the whole world is Jewish!

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