The Sabbath begins at 6:18 P.M. on Friday, March 13, and concludes at 7:14 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 6:00 P.M. and completed before sunset at 6:18 P.M. Tuesday, March 17, is St. Patrick’s Day (March 16 in Labrador and Newfoundland).
by Geoff Vasil
Even if president Trump declares mission accomplished, as many Americans are urging, the was with Iran won’t end. The new hidden imam ayatollah has issued official if non-credible instructions to keep the Hormuz chokehold closed in order to strangle world oil supply. Raising on a busted flush, Iran’s terrorist regime thinks by dictating to its neighbors and attacking them it can hold onto power until US public opinion comes to their rescue.
The problem with that is the neighbors and the world can’t afford to play that game. France seems to be the only country willing to say so out loud, sending naval vessels whose ultimate goal seems to be the Persian Gulf. The new doctrines of drone warfare have scared off the world’s largest navy from conducting safe-conduct escorts as they did back in the 1980s in response to threats from the same regime.
The only sane response to Iran’s gambit is to fight it out along the Iranian coast, from Basra to Hormuz, targeting drones and missile launchers. The neighboring Gulft states have never been fans of the Islamic Republic, but now almost the entire world has an interest in protecting the oil supply militarily.
An explosive device detonated before dawn outside a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège, damaging the building and nearby homes; officials condemned the blast as a serious anti-Semitic incident, as police launched an investigation
An explosion occurred early Monday morning outside a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liège, causing property damage but no injuries.
The blast happened around 4:00 A.M. local time near the synagogue on Rue Léon Frédéricq. The synagogue’s main window was shattered, and windows in buildings across the street were also blown out by the force of the explosion, according to local residents cited by the French-language Belgian public broadcaster RTBF.
Liège mayor Willy Demeyer described the incident as a “criminal and anti-Semitic act.”
“I absolutely condemn this violent act of anti-Semitism which runs counter to Liège’s tradition of respect for others,” Demeyer said.
Full story here.
The Sabbath begins at 6:05 P.M. on Friday, March 6, and concludes at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 5:47 P.M. and completed before sunset at 6:05 P.M. Sunday is International Women’s Day. Wednesday, March 11, is Lithuania’s Day of Restoration of Independence, a national holiday marking the act passed by the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet on March 11, 1990, restating the country’s independence from the Soviet Union.
by Holly Evans, Friday, March 6
The four men, an Iranian national and three dual British-Iranian nationals, were arrested on Friday morning
Four men have been arrested on suspicion of aiding Iran’s intelligence service by spying on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in London.
Detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing London said the men, one Iranian national and three dual British/Iranian nationals, were detained shortly after 1:00 A.M. on Friday at addresses in Barnet, Watford and Harrow as part of a pre-planned operation.
The Metropolitan Police said the men arrested were 52, 40, 55 and 22, with searches ongoing at their addresses.
Six other men aged 29, 39, 42, 49 and two aged 20 were arrested at the same location in Harrow on suspicion of assisting an offender.
by Geoff Vasil
The next phase of hostilities in Iran includes degrading missile launch pads and freeing up the Persian Gulf for shipping. Iran has a limited number of longer-range missiles and is seeking to use them before they’re destroyed. That means there will be a tapering off in attacks on Israel within two or three days but probably an increase in attacks on nearer neighbors with shorter-range rockets. The attacks so far seem to be a dead-man’s-switch response to the assassination of the ayatollah, a policy to enflame the region, almost literally running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Saudi Arabia could strike back; Kuwait has already demonstrated their readiness to fight, and Qatar reported shooting down Iranian “aircraft,” presumably fighter jets rather than drones.
The Iranian Persian Gulf coast has been undergoing fortification for decades according to various sources. Freeing shipping lanes from attack could mean targeting numerous launch pads and artillery all along that coast as well as degrading the Iranian Navy and the infamous “Iranian gun boats.”
If the military and security command structure continues to be destroyed, power vacua will probably arise in different areas of the country. Only about 50% of the population are native Persian (Farsi) speakers with numerous ethnic groups distributed throughout. The Kurds are probably the largest dissatisfied group, but the Arabic-speaking province Khuzestan adjacent to Kuwait and Iraq is supposed to be a hotbed of discontent. Even if the Islamic Republic can hang on in the Tehran basin, the outer provinces could fall to dissidents.
Natalja Cheifec continues her lecture series and discussion club with a discussion of Purim symbols, traditions and the deeper significance of the Jewish holiday. To receive zoom credentials and participate, click here.
Time: 6:00 P.M., Thursday, March 5
Place: internet
The Palanga Jewish Community invites you to visit an exhibit of photographs called “Jews of Palanga: An History in Photographs” at the Palanga Youth and Volunteer Center, Vytauto street no. 110, Palanga, opening March 3 and running till March 31.
With more than 20 authentic period portraits of interbellum Palanga, the exhibit tells the story of the Palanga Jewish community’s daily life, urban spaces and communal and cultural sites integrated in the landscape of the Lithuanian seaside resort town.
The exhibit is a joint project of the Palanga Jewish Community and the Palanga Youth and Volunteer Center. Mindaugas Surblys is the curator.
Dear Community members,
A happy and colorful Purim!
Our ancestors taught us a very important thing: to make use of every opportunity to enjoy life. Even as history has been full of challenges, we chose light, unity and joy. Therefore laughter, music and song ring out in our homes and community today.
May your tables be laden with fruit, your friendships be sincere and your hearts open. May there be no lack of homentashn, symbolizing the ear of the vizier Haman who sought to harm the Jews as a reminder to us that evil and falseness never win, but courage, hope and unity do.
I hope the joy of Purim inspires in us strength, a sense of belonging and togetherness and faith in the future.
Hag Purim sameakh!
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
The Sabbath begins at 5:51 P.M. on Friday, February 27, and concludes at 6:46 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 5:33 P.M. and completed before sunset at 5:51 P.M. Purim begins at sundown on Monday, March 1 and continues through Tuesday, March 2, extending into Wednesday in Jerusalem and other cities in Israel which were walled during the time of Joshua.
Publisher Alma Littera will present “Dainos iš mėlynos užrašinės” [Songs from a Blue Notebook] at the Vilnius Book Fair Friday.
The book tells the story of the family of the author, Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky.
Covering three generations of Litvaks, the recorded memories move from her grandparents who miraculously survived the Holocaust, her parents in the concentration camps to the youngest generation, Faina and her sister Sulamita, the generation of Jews who came out of survivors of the Holocaust.
Readers say the book reads like a film with one frame following another painting a moving picture of the Jewish spirit: culture, heritage, traditions, holidays, cooking, children’s games and communal life. It’s also about a people who were condemned to death who, despite the great love of their families, carry grief from generation to generation, but also boundless courage, resolution, energy and an unstoppable ability to take joy in those things which make up daily life.
“Sometimes people ask me why I spend so much energy on the status of Jews in the world and history, especially since the majority of my people are gone. My only answer is, to safeguard their memory. We no longer have our parents’ candelabra which held the Sabbath candles in every Jewish home. All we have left is memory and respect,” Faina Kukliansky said.
The public is invited to the presentation with Faina Kukliansky who will sign books from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M. on Friday and from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. on Saturday in Hall 5 at the Alma Littera Stand at the Litexpo pavilion in Vilnius. The Vilnius Book Fair starts Thursday.
Members of the Dubi and Ilan Clubs and their parents are invited to take part in a Purim workshop in preparation for the upcoming holiday. We’ll make masks and hamantashen along with many other fun and interesting activities. Registration required by 12 noon on Friday by sending an email to levickajasimona@gmail.com.
Time: 1:00 P.M., Saturday, February 28
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
The Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community is staging the musical a Modern Story of Esther to celebrate Purim and invites you to attend. It happens at 6:00 P.M. on March 3 at the Laiptai Gallery in Šiauliai. Students under professors Sabina Martinaitytė and Audronė Eitmanavičiūtė from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas will perform. The event is free and open to the public. Purim is March 3.
Natalja Cheifec’s internet discussion club continues Thursday. To register and participate, click here.
Time: 6:00 P.M., Thursday, February 26
Place: internet
The Sabbath begins at 5:36 P.M. on Friday, February 20, and concludes at 6:33 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 5:18 P.M. and completed before sunset at 5:36 P.M.
You’re invited to an evening of music by Markas Volynskis and friends. Vocalists Marija Duškina and Rima Šechter, pianist and composer Vitalijus Neugasimovas and Choral Synagogue cantor Shmuel Yaatom will perform in homage to Volyniskis. The concert is being organized by writer and director Žaneta Berlin. Snacks and surprises to be provided. To register call Liza at +370 684 73592.
Time: 5:00 P.M., Sunday, February 22
Place: Vilnius Jewish Community, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius
Lithuanian Jewish Community members are invited to a special Sabbath celebration with a performance by the Israeli actress Tatyana Khazanovskaya of “Wandering Stars,” a play by Nina Michoels based on the novel by Sholem Aleichem. The play will be in Russian. The cost is 10 euros and registration is required by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt. The event will last about 75 minutes.
Time: 7:00 P.M., Friday, February 20
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
The Sabbath begins at 5:32 P.M. on Friday, February 13, and concludes at 6:19 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 5:14 P.M. and completed before sunset at 5:32 P.M. Friday is World Radio Day and Saturday is International Book Giving Day and Valentine’s Day. Monday, February 16, is a state holiday in Lithuania, Restoration of the State Day, originally celebrated in the interwar Republic of Lithuania marking the declaration of Lithuanian independence on February 16, 1918. Monday is also Washington’s Birthday in the United States, commonly known as Presidents’ Day and originally intended to combine the celebration of the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Tuesday is the Lithuanian holiday Uzgavenės and the Chinese New Year, the year of the Red/Fire Horse.
Natalja Cheifec continues her lecture series with the fifth instalment on raising children according to the principles of the Torah.
To receive zoom credentials and participate, click here.
Time: 6:00 P.M., Thursday, February 12
Place: internet
The Sabbath begins at 5:07 P.M. on Friday, February 6, and concludes at 6:06 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 4:49 P.M. and completed before sunset at 5:07 P.M.