Religion

Hanukkah Celebration at Kaunas Jewish Community

Hanukkah Celebration at Kaunas Jewish Community

The Kaunas Jewish Community celebrated Hanukkah with an evening of music with guests from Israel, Scotland and the USA. The celebration at the Višta Puode restaurant included traditional foods and a holiday quiz as well.

“Be healthy, curious, positive. Dream bravely and make your plans, even if they seem unrealistic to others and to you yourself at first, come true. May happiness and success visit you and your homes ever more, and more and more light and peace visit the world,” Kaunas Jewish Community chairman Gercas Žakas wished the audience.

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Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 4:06 P.M. on Friday, January 3, and concludes at 5:11 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:48 P.M. and completed before sunset at 4:06 P.M.

Hanukkah Celebration Monday, December 30

Hanukkah Celebration Monday, December 30

Everyone is invited to attenda 3-D light show, accompanied by music and traditional Hanukkah treats and warm tea. Boris Kizner and the Faylerkh ensemble will perform.

Time: 6:30 P.M., Monday, December 30
Place: Outside the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:58 P.M. on Friday, December 27, and concludes at 5:04 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Friday is also the third night of Hanukkah. Hanukiya and Sabbath candles should be lit before the onset of Sabbath, starting at 3:40 P.M.

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah

Hanukkah starts today, December 25. Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky sends her holiday greetings to everyone and wishes you light in your life, love in your family and friendship in your surroundings.

Happy holidays! Hag Hanukkah sameakh!

Jewish Charity Helps 83 Righteous Gentile Holocaust Heroes Celebrate Holidays

Jewish Charity Helps 83 Righteous Gentile Holocaust Heroes Celebrate Holidays

by Michelle Rosenberg

In its largest one-time seasonal award, Jewish Foundation for the Righteous sends £250k to rescuers in 10 countries including Australia, Hungary, Romania and Sweden

The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous is sending more than £254k to 83 Righteous Gentile rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust living in 10 different countries–the largest one-time seasonal award in the foundation’s history.

The JFR provides financial stipends for aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, helping to repay a debt of gratitude on behalf of the Jewish people for their heroism.

Since its founding, the foundation has provided more than £35 million to an estimated 3,600 rescuers in more than 34 countries.

As the years pass since the Holocaust the number of living rescuers has dwindled. The remaining Righteous Gentiles receiving this year’s holiday awards live in Australia, Belarus, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Ukraine.

Full story here.

Jewish School in Toronto Shot Up Third Time

Jewish School in Toronto Shot Up Third Time

School was target of previous overnight shootings in October and May. Hate crime unit investigating shots fired at Jewish elementary school, 3rd this year.

Toronto police are investigating another incident of gunshots fired outside a Jewish girls elementary school in North York. Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School was the target of two previous overnight shootings in October and May.

Toronto police are investigating after a Jewish girls elementary school in North York was shot at for the third time this year.

The most recent shooting at the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School happened shortly after 2:30 A.M. Friday, according to superintendent Paul MacIntyre.

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Hanukkah Kabalat Shabat

Hanukkah Kabalat Shabat

The Progressive Judaism association Bnei Maskilim invites you to attend the lighting of the third Hanukkah light while greeting the Sabbath with psalms and blessings, followed by holiday foods and kiddush. The ceremony will take place on third floor of the Lithuanian Jewish Community followed by kiddush and treats at the Bagel Shop Café at street level.

The cost is 20 euros for adults and 10 euros for children from 3 years of age. Registration is required by sending an email to viljamas@lzb.lt.

Time: 4:00 P.M., Friday, December 27
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Bagel Shop Café, Vilnius

Hanukkah Is Here

Hanukkah Is Here

Dear parents and children and young adults in the Dubi, Ilan and Knafaim Clubs,

The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to a holiday celebration called Hannukah Is Here! The event includes:

• Havadala ceremony
• Fire show “Lords of the Flame”
• Performance by magician with bewitching tricks and a good dose of fun
• Traditional Hanukkah foods
• Gifts

Please note: registration is only open till 2:00 P.M., December 20. To register, send an email to levickajasimona@gmail.com with the names of all attendees including parents and children plus their ages. If your plans change and you cannot attend, please send an email indicating that as well. Please be on time, the doors close at 4:15 P.M. For more information, write or call (+370) 678 81514.

Time: 4:00 P.M., Saturday, December 21
Place: Bagel Shop Café, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius

Ghost of Facebook Past Comes to Haunt Rookie MP

Ghost of Facebook Past Comes to Haunt Rookie MP

On Wednesday, December 11, the Lithuanian parliament’s Ethics and Procedures Commission met to discuss facebook posts made in the past by newly-elected MP Petras Dargis, who belongs to the controversial Nemuno Aušra party led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis.

In the posts in question, Dargis published an indecent picture of a prostitute leaning into the driver’s side window of an automobile, saying, “I’ll do everything your wife doesn’t.” The speech balloon of the driver says, “Can you make me a tasty goulash?”

More troubling are older posts dating back to September of 2011 where Dargis repeats anti-Semitic jokes. In one, a father asks his sons how the good Santa Claus differs from the evil Jew. Santa is good and the Jew is bad, one says. Another chimes in: Santa gives gifts from out of his bag, but the Jew takes them and puts them in the bag. That’s all true, the father says, but more importantly, Santa enters by coming down the chimney, and the Jews exits by going up the chimney.

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Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club: Holiday Edition

Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club: Holiday Edition

Natalja Cheifec continues her series of discussions with “The Miracle of Hanukkah” which will address:

• The holiday of Hanukkah as a conservator of tradition;
• What the Most High does during Hanukkah;
• Why Jews observe the burning of candles during Hanukkah;
• What the doughnuts are about and what Hanukkah geld means.

It’s happening this Thursday, December 19, at 5:30 P.M. via zoom.

To register and receive zoom credentials, click here. Remember to includes which topics interest you for possible future discussion while registering.

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights

Everyone is invited to come view a 3-D light show, accompanied by traditional Hanukkah treats and warm tea.

Time: 6:30 P.M., Monday, December 30
Place: Outside the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:34 P.M. on Friday, December 13, and concludes at 4:58 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Saturday is also International Shareware Day.

Hanukkah Doughnut-Making Workshop for Children

Hanukkah Doughnut-Making Workshop for Children

The Lithuanian Jewish Community has a special Hanukkah events planned for the Dubi Club and Ilan Club. Dubi is for children aged 4 to 6 and Ilan for those 7 to 11.

At 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 14, we’ll make and eat delicious sufganiyot doughnuts.

Please note the clubs on these dates will not be meeting at the LJC but at the HEY HEY Kaip Skaniai space located at Odminių street no. 3 in Vilnius.

Space is limited, so make a reservation by sending an email to levickajasimona@gmail.com. Please call +370 678 81514 for more information.

The first evening of Hanukkah falls on December 25 this year.

Australian Hamas Targets Synagogue Congregations

Australian Hamas Targets Synagogue Congregations

by Geoff Vasil

Last Thursday Australian supporters of Hamas targeted the Great Synagogue in Sydney’s Central Business District with a loud protest across the street. Members of the congregation sheltered in place inside with outer doors locked. Two Jews ventured out and waved an Israeli flag. New South Wales state police crossed the street to arrest both.

The next day in the early hours of Friday two arsonists entered the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, spread accelerants and put the shul to the torch. One man inside was wounded with severe burns on his arm and remains hospitalized. Priceless Torah scrolls and other texts were also damaged.

Monday other locations in Australia were the site of protests by native Hamas and ISIS terrorists featuring anti-Semitic chants.

Awaiting Hanukkah

Awaiting Hanukkah

In the run-up to Hanukkah, the Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to an evening of music called Awaiting Hanukkah with performances by the jazz group Stardust Trio and violin duo Double Cores with Boris Kirzner and Michail Bolshun.

The cost is 20 euros and prior registration is required via email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt, For more information call (+370) 678 81514.

Time: 7:00 P.M., Friday, December 20
Place: Bagel Shop Café, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:36 P.M. on Friday, December 6, and concludes at 4:59 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Monday is also World Genocide Commemoration Day.

Events for Children in Run-Up to Hanukkah

Events for Children in Run-Up to Hanukkah

The Lithuanian Jewish Community has several special Hanukkah events planned for the Dubi Club and Ilan Club. Dubi is for children aged 4 to 6 and Ilan for those 7 to 11.

At 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 7, we’ll make menorahs together out of clay.

At 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 14, we’ll make and eat delicious sufganiyot doughnuts.

Please note the clubs on these dates will not be meeting at the LJC but at the HEY HEY Kaip Skaniai space located at Odminių street no. 3 in Vilnius.

Space is limited, so make a reservation by sending an email to levickajasimona@gmail.com. Please call +370 678 81514 for more information.

The first day of Hanukkah falls on December 25 this year.