News

Holocaust survivors’ descendants help keep memory alive in new book

By Philip Pullella

 

ROME, Dec 9 (Reuters) – As the liberation of Auschwitz approaches its 70th anniversary next year, descendants of Holocaust survivors face a dilemma that will deepen as time passes – how to transmit "received memory" to future generations.

In a book named "God, Faith and Identity from the Ashes: Reflections of Children and Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors," 88 of them tell how they inherited the memory and how they hope to pass it on.

"Many if not most children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors live with ghosts," Menachem Rosensaft, a son of survivors, writes in the introduction of the book he edited.

"We are haunted much in the way a cemetery is haunted. We bear within us the shadows and echoes of an anguished dying we never experienced or witnessed.".

Essayists are from 16 countries and aged between 27 to 72. A few were born in Displaced Persons camps in Europe at the end of World War Two but many are grandchildren in their 20s and 30s. None had any actual memory of the Holocaust, in which the Nazis murdered some six million Jews.

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Dr. Lara Lempertienė: Golden Age of Lithuanian Jewish Books Began in Early 19th Century, Lasted until Holocaust

Written by Živilė Juonytė Bagel Shop Tolerance Campaign volunteer, translated by Geoff Vasil.     ,

December 4, 2014

bk lgo

 Meet Dr.Lara Lempertienė, historian of Jewish culture and bibliographer. Although she denied during the interview being a qualified Jewish book specialist and added that there were none such in Lithuania, she has worked for two decades now at the Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library in the retrospective bibliography section. She seemed able to go on for hours about her field, the Jewish book and book culture, providing many interesting facts and unexpected discoveries.

Both Student and Teacher

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Tomas Venclova Speaks Out on Banderism and its European Analogues

Editor’s note: Our colleague Prof. Pinchos Fridberg drew our attention to a page on Radio Svoboda’s website, by Elena Fanailova, featuring both the audio and transcript of a recent interview conducted by Donata Subbotko for the Polish weekly Gazeta Wyborcza with the famed Lithuanian humanist, poet, essayist and professor Tomas Venclova. Text of the Polish version appears in Gazeta Wyborcza. The Russian text also appeared, at Prof. Fridberg’s initiative, in Obzor.

The following brief excerpt, concerning Banderism in Ukraine and analogous tendencies in Lithuania and elsewhere, has been translated into English (from the Russian) by Ludmila Makedonskaya. See also Defending History’s section dedicated to Tomas Venclova. Our page on bold Lithuanian truth tellers includes some of Prof. Venclova’s writings from the 1970s onward. His famous essay from the period, Jews and Lithuanians, is available in his collection of essaysForms of Hope.

More at Defendinghistory.com

The new book ОНИ ЗДЕСЬ ЖИЛИ… [Here They Lived]

The new book ОНИ ЗДЕСЬ ЖИЛИ… [Here They Lived]

This is a book for everyone interested in the history of Vilnius and Jewish Vilna and the many personalities the city gave to the world, those who built the city and fostered its culture. The book by Genrich Agronovski is ideally suited for use as a personal guidebook on an individual tour of the city, with little-known information about almost every part of the urban landscape and those who lived here. Many years of research by the author have gone into making this unique guide to the lost city of Vilna. It makes no pretense of being academic, and is accessible to everyone and written in an easy-to-read style. 

The growing demand in recent times for more information about the Jewish history of Lithuania and specifically the rich Jewish heritage of Vilnius is satisfied by Agranovski's work in the Russian language, and points to the need for translation into English and Lithuanian. 

The book is on sale at the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Pylimo street No. 4, Vilnius. The cost is 48 litas, or 13.90 euros.

World criticism of ‘Jewish state’ bill exacerbated by lack of peace talks Read more: World criticism of ‘Jewish state’ bill exacerbated by lack of peace talks

World criticism of ‘Jewish state’ bill exacerbated by lack of peace talks Read more: World criticism of ‘Jewish state’ bill exacerbated by lack of peace talks

Netanyahu will eventually agree to a softened version of his controversial legislation, a former aide says. ‘But the damage is done’

rime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called “Nationality bill,” which would cement in law the country’s status as a “Jewish state,” is far from a done deal. It has yet to even pass a first of three readings in the Knesset, and it is likely that the current version will undergo many changes before it enters the law books, if it does so at all.

And yet, the government already finds itself at the receiving end of considerable domestic and international flak over it.

Within Israel, critics of the bill include Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, President Reuven Rivlin, Culture Minister Limor Livnat, former defense minister Moshe Arens, former justice minister Dan Meridor (the last four of whom are all Likud veterans), Jewish and Arab opposition parties, some coalition members, and many other Israelis, emphatically including conservative-minded ones.

More at timesofisrael.com

 

Opening ceremony

Opening ceremony

Opening ceremony of the monument dedicated to

Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz, z”l ( 1864 – November 17, 1939)

November 26, 2014 at 14:30

Vilnius Old Jewish Cemetery  (Olandu Str.)

Member of Lithuania’s Jewish Community Speaks Out on Neo-Nazi Parades, and Govt. Flowers at Monument to Hitler’s Soldiers

by Jacob Piliansky

 

Iam proud to be a Litvak, and I am proud to be a citizen of independent and  democratic Lithuania. I very much enjoy walking in our city’s delightful VingisPark, as well as downtown in the beautiful city center area.

However, I feel suddenly both sad and shocked, when I see neo-Nazi parades with swastikas and other fascist symbols  along  Gedimino Boulevard on our independence day repeating the yelled chants of “Lithuania for [Ethnic] Lithuanians.”

 More at defending history.com

 Israel: Not Just a Conflict 

 Israel: Not Just a Conflict 

What with the recent operation in Gaza rightfully grabbing all the headlines, it is sometimes easy to fall into the trap that Israel is best seen through the prism of conflict.
Whilst thousands of rockets rained down on the country during the latest conflict, Israelis have – between running to bomb  shelters – been creating technologies and devising strategies to make the world a better place.
In this newsletter, we are taking a well-earned break from the conflict and highlighting a few great stories of success and innovation that Israel is gaining a reputation for being a world leader in.
Here at EFI, showing our friends and supporters that Israel is about so much more than politics is in our DNA.
Speaking of medical terms, whilst millions of us have been pouring cold water over our heads with the ice bucket challenge to highlight ALS, an Israeli treatment to ease symptoms and slow the progression of ALS and other incurable neuromuscular diseases is going into Phase 2 clinical trials in three major US medical centres.
Israel is a trailblazer in health technologies, from a revolutionary battery-powered set of legs enabling paralysis sufferers to walk again, to mobile apps that connect diabetes patients or help pregnant mums. It is little wonder that of the top 10 best health tech companies in the world, half were from Israel.
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Bloodbath at Jerusalem synagogue: WJC shocked at heinous terror attack against peaceful worshipers

Bloodbath at Jerusalem synagogue: WJC shocked at heinous terror attack against peaceful worshipers

 

Press Release

NEW YORK/JERUSALEM – Leaders of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) on Tuesdayexpressed shock and outrage at yet another terrorist attack against Jews in Jerusalem. At least four people, including a rabbi, were killed and more than a dozen others wounded when two Arab terrorists burst into the synagogue during morning prayers and attacked worshipers with a gun, a meat cleaver and an ax. The two perpetrators were killed by police officers arriving at the scene. It was the deadliest terror attack in Jerusalem in many years.

WJC President Ronald Lauder said: “Our hearts go out to the victims of this heinous crime and to their families.” Lauder said the bloodbath in the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue in Har Nof was “obviously the result of an orchestrated campaign by Palestinian groups whose sole aim is to incite to hatred and violence against Jews.”

He welcomed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ condemnation of the attack but said that in order to be credible Abbas had to stop the “vicious incitement against Israelis that is happening on his watch.”

“Instead of opposing the extremists in his own ranks, Mr. Abbas has been placating them. If he wants to retain any credibility he must show strong, unequivocal leadership now. Failure to do so would have catastrophic consequences and would probably put a stop to the peace process for many years to come. The next weeks will show if he is a credible Palestinian leader,” Lauder said.

The WJC president called it an outrage that houses of prayer were now being deliberately targeted by Palestinian terrorists. “Houses of worship anywhere in the world must be sacrosanct. Whoever attacks peaceful worshipers in a synagogue, a mosque or a church is nothing but a despicable criminal.”
About the World Jewish Congress

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.

Media contact

Brussels: Michael Thaidigsmann
Director, Media relations, World Jewish Congress
Tel: +32 2 552 09 24
Cell: +32 495 510 917
Email: mthaidigsmann@wjcmail.org

www.worldjewishcongress.org

 

Condolences

The Jewish (Litvak) Community of Lithuania laments the passing of South African Jewish leader Mervyn Smith, a wise leader and a great friend. We extend our most sincere condolences to his children and grandchildren. May his memory never be forgotten.

Faina Kukliansky
Chairperson of the Jewish (Litvak) Community of Lithuania

Exhibition “Hello, Paris! The Path of Litvak Artists” opens in London

Exhibition “Hello, Paris! The Path of Litvak Artists” opens in London

On 11 November, representatives of the British, Jewish and Lithuanian communities in London attended the opening of the exhibition “Hello, Paris. The Path of Litvak Artists” at Europe House, Lihtuania’s Embassy in London reports.

The Lewben Art Foundation exposition presents long-accumulated works by famous Litvak (Jews from the lands of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania) representatives of the École de Paris: Pinchus Kremegne, Michael Kikoine, Theo Tobiasse, Emmanuel Mane-Katz, Max Band, Neemiya Arbit Blatas.
“I am happy that London hosts this impressive exhibition. We put a lot of heart and effort into promotion of the Jewish heritage of Lithuania in the UK. Each year we organize the traditional Litvak days in London – an annual conference dedicated to the history and culture of the Lithuanian Jews,” Lithuanian Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė-Liauškienė said.

Exhibition opening. Photo courtesy of MFA

More at delfi

Which Issues Did the Exhibition Neglect to Cover?

by Milan Chersonski

These observations do not claim to be a review of the traveling exhibition “Lithuanian Jews behind the Iron Curtain,” which was mounted by the Tolerance Center of the Vilnius Gaon Jewish State Museum in Vilnius (hereinafter “the state Jewish museum”) from 13 March to 31 July 31 this year. By and large, issues raised refer to the fate of Lithuanian Jewry during World War II and contemporary issues regarding some issues in Lithuanian history.

The design, composition and execution of the March-to-July 2014 exhibit at the state Jewish museum were all excellent, with state of the art utilization of both sides of exhibition boards. There was a wealth of material, particularly photographic, on spheres of life including individual, family, children and adults, group, duets, “before and after” photos of the prewar and postwar periods, official photos of events, documents, newspaper clippings, posters, quotes from academic papers of academics, quotes from letters and literary works, memoirs of the eye-witnesses to the events, cartoons and captions to them, correspondence of public officials, etc. One side of each stand presents the materials in the Lithuanian language, the other in English. The exhibition is mobile: it can be quickly assembled, prepared for inspection, quickly disassembled, folded and transported. This allows us to suggest that the exhibition can be (or is even meant to be?) exhibited not only in Vilnius or Lithuania, but also abroad: it has recently become a fashion among the Lithuanian academic community, while exploring the tragedy of Lithuanian Jews during World War II (the Holocaust issues), to arrange conferences, symposia and other scientific events on this subject and related Jewish questions, not only in Lithuania, but also for foreign tours in the UK, the USA, South Africa and further afield.

More at defendinghistory.com

Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly

Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly on Monday and said that the United States will never abandon Israel.

“Were there not an Israel, US would have to invent one. We will never ever abandon Israel – out of our own selfinterest,” he said.
Biden also said that Israel has the right to defend itself, and that the US supports Israel with $8.5 million per day.

THE GA IS THE PREMIER LEADERSHIP RETREAT for Federation volunteer leaders and professionals engaged in the business of Jewish philanthropy from across North America and around the world. With Israel in crisis, it is more important than ever.

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PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

Exibit dedicated to 100 years of the Joint Distribution Committee’s work in Panevėžys (Ponevezh) and Lithuania.

The exhibit, to open on November 6, 2014, at Respublikos street No. 14 in Panevėžys, includes photographs and documents from the Lithuanian Central Archive and the Panevėžys archive detailing and documenting the Jewish American charity’s work. It also includes photographs and documents from the Joint’s own archive, the City of Panevėžys’s Jewish Archive, the Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Panevėžys Regional History Museum archive.

We Often Hear the Word “Charity,” But How Often Do We Think to Thank Those Who Help Us?

We Often Hear the Word “Charity,” But How Often Do We Think to Thank Those Who Help Us?

The Joint Distribution Committee, or Joint, renewed aid to the regional Jewish communities and Jews in trouble in Lithuania and the other Baltic states following independence.

This year, to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish American charity, the Panevėžys (Ponevezh) Jewish Community undertook a project which culminated in a public event on November 6, 2014. The goal of the project was to showcase the Joint’s charitable work in Panevėžys and Lithuania.

The event began on the sunny morning of November 6 at the city’s G. Petkevičaitė-Bitė Public Library. A large audience of esteemed guests took part in the conference staged by the Panevėžys Jewish Community. Community chair Gennadu Kofman opened the conference with a speech about the Joint’s unique and historical activities during and after World War II.

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In Memoriam

MEILACH STALEVICH

(1923—2014)

by Dovid Katz (www.dovidkatz.net)

The Jewish Community of Lithuania has just lost one of its most powerful and authentic Litvak personalities, and one of the very last Vilna-born prewar Jews in Vilnius, Meilach Stalevich, who was born on June 28th 1923. The funeral: Wednesday November 12th, at 2 PM at the Vilnius Jewish cemetery.

Born on June 28th 1923 in the city (then Wilno, Poland; forever in Yiddish: Vílne), Meilach grew up on Kíyever gás (now: Kauno gatvė), opposite the Mishmères-Khéylim (Mishmeres Cholim) hospital which had a kloyz (prayer-house) where his grandfather Avigdor was the gábe (gabbai). Afterwards his family lived in a flat rented to them by a friendly Catholic priest on the grounds of nearby All Saints Church (Visų šventųjų; in local Yiddish: Kolanshómes [from: kol haneshómes ‘all souls’]). Meilach studied at the Yiddish secular Reál-gimnàzye on Rudnítsker gas (today’s Rūdninkų). He is a highly decorated hero of the war against Hitler (the only Jew in a Red Army unit of Cossacks). Most of his relatives were murdered at Ponár (Paneriai). He had received a letter in 1944 (after Vilna fell, but while he was still fighting at the front) that nobody of his family survived.

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Century-Old Jewish Mural Was Hidden For Decades In Vermont

Century-Old Jewish Mural Was Hidden For Decades In Vermont

Apr, 29 2014 — (All Things Considered) —
There was a time in Eastern Europe when the landscape was dotted with wooden synagogues, some dating to the 1600s. Inside, the walls and ceilings were covered with intricate painted designs. Almost all of these structures were destroyed during the Holocaust, and with them, a folk art. But in Burlington, Vt., a synagogue mural has been uncovered where it lay hidden for a quarter century.

Aaron Goldberg grew up in Burlington. His family was among the Jewish immigrants, most of them from Lithuania, who settled in a section of the city known as Little Jerusalem in the late 1800s. Goldberg first saw the mural in the 1970s when he was in middle school and accompanied his mother to a carpet store.

More at northcountry

Double genocide – contemporary revisionism

The founders of The Seventy Years Declaration on the Anniversary of the Final Solution Wannsee Conference are urging Australian individuals and organisations to support their movement against Holocaust revisionism.

They have recently launched the ‘Defending Truth in History’ campaign with a brand new website:www.seventyyearsdeclaration.org.

Against the backdrop of rising ultra-nationalism and anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe, the campaign aims to fight an insidious form of Holocaust revisionism – double genocide. This notion, which equates the Nazi genocide with Stalinist atrocities and calls for joint memorialisation of the two tragedies, is gaining popularity across Europe, and even in America.

More at jwire.com

Toronto’s new mayor, a member of the United Church, is Jewish

Renee Ghert-Zand is a reporter and feature writer for The Times of Israel.

There have been three Jewish mayors in Toronto’s history, and now it seems there will be a fourth—at least according to halacha, or Jewish law.

Archival records obtained by The Times of Israel indicate that Mayor-elect John Tory has a maternal Jewish grandmother. According to the Jewish law of matrilineal descent, this makes Tory himself Jewish.

During a pre-election debate hosted last month by the Centre for Jewish and Israel Affairs and the United Jewish Appeal, mayoral candidate Doug Ford caused a stir by rattling off a list of all the Jews in his life (his doctor, his accountant, his lawyer, etc.) as a means of defending his brother, scandal plagued Mayor Rob Ford, against accusations of anti-Semitism. Ford even mentioned for the first time publicly that his evangelical Christian wife is actually Jewish on her mother’s side.

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