Religion – Page 6 – Lithuanian Jewish Community

Lithuanian Prime Minister Sends Hanukkah Greetings

Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė released a video Hanukkah greeting. An unofficial translation follows.

I sincerely greet all Jews of Lithuania and the world on the Hanukkah holiday! Hanukkah tells the story of the strength of the human spirit. It reminds us that even the most fragile flame can dispel the darkness, overcome evil and light the way forward. This holiday is dedicated to expressing gratitude for the miracles in our life, big and small, seen and unseen, from the most ancient times till today. It reminds us that nothing is impossible. That’s so important now when there is so much hatred, brutality and growing anti-Semitism in the world. I am convinced the miracle of Hanukkah, faith and wisdom will help us overcome all obstacles. May the light of the Hanukkah candles bring peace and tranquility into your homes and hearts! Happy Hanukkah! Hag Hanukkah sameakh!

2023-12-12

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:35 P.M. on Friday, December 8, and concludes at 4:57 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.

2023-12-08

WJC Hanukkah Greetings

Dear Friends,

The Festival of Lights will soon be upon us, but it is a dark time for the Jewish people. We recently witnessed the horrific scenes of the slaughter perpetrated by Hamas in Israel and the abduction of children, women and men. This vile hatred has spread like a malignant cancer and has led to an exponential rise in anti-Semitism around the world.

When the Maccabees stood up to those who sought to suppress Jewish life and traditions and found the Temple in ruins, they persevered. With only enough oil to light the Menorah for one night, they didn’t lose faith. Tragically, the story of Hanukkah takes on greater relevance and urgency this year.

We are all encouraged some points of light have been able to penetrate the darkness with the release of dozens of individuals who had been held captive, and we pray for the speedy release of all the remaining hostages.

It is my fervent hope that you are fortunate enough to be able to celebrate Hanukkah with your loved ones, and that the light of the Menorah will illuminate a path toward better days ahead for us all.

With warmest wishes to you this Hanukkah,

Ronald S. Lauder, president
World Jewish Congress

2023-12-08

Hanukkah Greetings from LJC Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky

Dear readers,

The light always shines brightest at the darkest of times! Greetings to all on the holiday of light and miracles, Hanukkah, and may peace and serenity fill your home.

Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community

2023-12-072023-12-07

Let’s Make a Hanukkah Miracle Happen

Hanukkah begins today at sundown. The eight-day holiday symbolizes the miracle of the victory of light over darkness. Today Sandra Cohen from Lithuania and her two sons Liam and Dylan need that kind of miracle.

Sandra, a Lithuanian citizen, lived peacefully with her three children in the Be’eri kibbutz until October 7, when Hamas attacked.

The terrorists entered Sandra’s home. Her husband Oher was brutally murdered and her son Liam was wounded by ricochet fragments. Her 10-month-old daughter Mila was shot in her mother’s arms. The bullet passed through the baby and wounded Mila. Her three-year-old son Dylan survived but experienced extreme trauma. Everything took place in front of the family.

Sandra has been recovering at Ikhilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for two months now. She still needs surgery to remove the bullet from her body. Liam is also recovering from his wounds, and all three surviving family members still need a good deal of time to return to some semblance of normal life.

They have no home to which to return. The terrorists burnt their home and those of others on the kibbutz to the ground. Everything they had and treasures was lost–photographs, children’s drawings, toys… Only one photo survived, that of Mila, on her Lithuanian passport, which Sandra still hadn’t received on October 7.

The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites everyone to help make a Hanukkah miracle happen by helping Sandra’s family. Even the smallest donation is very welcome for helping Sandra and her children.

In Lithuania donations can be made by addressing a bank transfer to “Lietuvos žydų (litvakų) bendruomenė” at the bank account LT167044060000907924 for Sandra Cohen.

In other countries address your donation to Sandra Cohen at Bank Hapoalim B.M., IBAN number IL84-0126-3400-0000-0168-502, SWIFT code POALILIT.

Thank you.

2023-12-072023-12-07

2023-12-07

2023-12-072023-12-07

Maria Krupoves Lecture and Concert

Eastern European folklore and folk-song expert and performer Maria Krupoves-Berg will present a lecture and concert at the Lithuanian National Library’s Hall of Statehood at 6:00 P.M. on December 14. The event is free and open to the public.

The event called “The Sounds of Eastern European Jewish History and Music” sponsored by the National Library’s Judaica Studies Center will talk about and demonstrate genres of Yiddish song and how some songs became a kind of national anthem, accompanying Ashkenazi and especially Litvaks at crucial points in history, reflecting yidishe neshama, Jewish identity. Krupoves will perform with Boris Kizner on violin. The scheduled duration is one and a half hours.

2023-12-07

Big Hanukkah Finale

The Lithuanian Jewish Community, the Vilnius Religious Jewish Community and the Shalom Aleichem ORT Gymnasium invite you to a big event to mark the eighth and final day of Hanukkah on Friday, December 15. It all happens at the Litexpo exhibit and concert center in Vilnius starting at 7:00 P.M. Students will perform a play called “Hanukkah: The Festival of Light,” the musical group Yes Duet will perform, the dance troupe Simcha will appear and Arkadijus Vinokuras will be there with another quiz/game show, along with more singing, dancing and dinner. Michailas Frišmanas will serve as master of ceremonies and madrichs will be on hand to provide child-care and children’s holiday activities.

The cost is €20 for adults and €10 for children under 13. Payment can be made by bank transfer to the LJC’s account LT067044060005757425 with purpose of payment indicated as Hanukkah and the names of the people for whom payment is being made. Registration must be made before December 13 by filling out the internet form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR6VpFNmGPs9k_1z42Jwt20x563ULujZoIFInjcJuLi1VuDQ/viewform

For more information, call (+370) 659 52604.

Hope to see you there!

2023-12-072023-12-07

Light the First Hanukkah Light with Us

Hanukkah begins this Thursday, an eight-day winter holiday symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to attend the lighting of the first Hanukkah light with Rabbi Aharon Baskin at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius at 5:00 P.M. this Thursday, December 7. There will be wine, the traditional doughnuts and many new friends.

2023-12-05

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:40 P.M. on Friday, December 1, and concludes at 5:00 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.

2023-12-01

Invitation

Dear reader,

Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky sends heartfelt greetings on the occasion of the upcoming Hanukkah holiday and wishes you light and strength in your heart during this complex time.

You are cordially invited to attend the lighting of the first Hanukkah light at 5:00 P.M. on December 7 at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius.

Chag Hanukkah sameach!

Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community

2023-11-27

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 3:47 P.M. on Friday, November 24, and concludes at 5:05 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.

2023-11-242023-11-24

Outrage Sparks Riot in Dublin

The capital of the Irish Republic saw on-going rioting overnight as public outrage over the stabbing of three kindergarten students and two adults grew into violence.

According to initial reports, a man began stabbing children outside their daycare facility early Thursday afternoon local time. Passers-by intervened, disarmed the man and held him for police. He had to be protected from an angry mob which formed at the scene. Sources close to the scene said the man was around 50 years old and was an Algerian immigrant. Police have refused to confirm that and Irish newspapers are now saying he is a naturalized Irish citizen who has lived in Dublin for 20 years, without reference to his country of origin. A male immigrant from Brazil working as a delivery person apprehended the attacker along with an Irish woman and both were wounded by the man wielding the knife. The children victims were two girls and a boy all under the age of six. One girl is in critical condition at hospital.

Rioters chanted slogans for the removal of all immigrants from Ireland and one held a sign reading “Irish Lives Matter.” The preschool the children attended is located next to a school where Gaelic is the language of instruction.

2023-11-242023-11-24

Kabalat Shabat

Maria Dubrovsky, founder of Moishe House WithOut Walls (MH-WOW) in Israel, invites you to a Kabalat Shabat celebration at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius this Friday.

“During these difficult times it is more important than ever to come together, to feel the sense of home, the warmth of tradition and our common history,” Maria said, inviting everyone to come light a candle, perform kaddish, sing the Sabbath hymns and share bread.

Registration is required due to increased security concerns. Please register at https://forms.gle/YyUyu3zSUNtG3A7S7.

Time: 4:30 P.M., Friday, November 24
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius

More information available via facebook here.

2023-11-23

Eightieth Anniversary of Liquidation and Uprising of Vilnius Ghetto: International Conference “Ideologies of Hate and Hope in Modern Jewish History”

You’re invited to the final event in our commemoration of the 80th anniversary of liquidation of the Vilnius ghetto this year, the international conference “Ideologies of Hate and Hope in Modern Jewish History” in Constitution Hall in Building 1 at the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.

Participants must register by internet before 3:00 P.M. on Monday, November 27, here: https://bit.ly/40NAUZ3

The conference will be conducted in Lithuanian and English with translations. It is being held through the efforts of the Polish Jewish History Institute, YIVO and the Lithuanian Jewish Community. It will be streamed on the LJC’s facebook page.

Program:

2023-11-222023-11-23

Standing with Israel in Pakruojis

The Pakruojis wooden synagogue hosted an event yesterday to support Israel, organized by the Šiauliai Jewish Religious Community.

Before the Holocaust the wooden synagogue–one of only a handful still standing in Europe–was the center of Jewish life and religion.

The one-day photography exhibit there was actually two related exhibits: 22 photographs out of the 724 victims to mark the 80th anniversary of the Kinder Aktion or children’s mass murder operation in the Šiauliai ghetto collected and arranged by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Authority in Israel and the Šiauliai Jewish Religious Community, and pictures of the 242 hostages taken by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including babies, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.

2023-11-212024-02-26

Solidarity Bracelets

The World Zionist Organization has embarked on a project to distribute commemorative prayer and spirit-strengthening bracelets, which combine the feelings of cohesion, unity, and victory.

The bracelets consist of three values:

In their memory – Dedicated to the memory of the civilians and martyrs who were murdered and fell since the beginning of the war. “And I have cleansed their blood I have not cleansed, and the Lord dwells in Zion” (Joel 4:21)

For their safe return – represents the hope and prayer for the return home of the abductees; those who were cruelly separated from their families, who are experiencing hell, and were taken captive by bloodthirsty enemies. “And I took you from the nations and gathered you from all the countries and brought you to your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24)

For victory – represents the aspiration and confidence in the eternity of the people of Israel, in the victory of its soldiers, in the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. “Blessed are you, Israel, who is like you, a people saved by God, He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword, your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights” (Deuteronomy, 33: 29)

We invite you to take part in the project, receive the bracelets free of charge, wear them, and spread this message widely, as an expression of support and partnership in the fate of the people of Israel.

To receive a bracelet, please click here: https://www.wzo.org.il/department/haravotbarzel/spirit-strengthening-bracelets/en

Sincerely,
Or Cohen

2023-11-21