Lithuanian Jewish Community

Serge Cwajgenbaum Has Died

1946-2019 z”l

The World Jewish Congress joins the European Jewish Congress and our Jewish communities throughout Europe in mourning the passing of long-time EJC secretary-general and friend Serge Cwajgenbaum z”l.

Serge was a pivotal figure for European Jewry who began his communal engagement with the French Jewish students union, joined the WJC in 1974, headed the French section of the World Jewish Congress and then served as director of World Jewish Congress Europe for many years before the founding of the European Jewish Congress in 1986.

2019-10-08

History of the Destruction of the Šiauliai Jewish Cemetery

Nerijus Brazauskas, PhD, has written a history of the destruction of the old Jewish cemetery in the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai up to 2016. The newspaper Šiaulių kraštas has published the study in Lithuanian on their website. He attempts to determine whether the former cemetery, which is state-protected heritage site, should be protected by the Šiauliai Jewish Community or whether it is a matter for the local municipal administration. He details the partial destruction of the cemetery, along with the complete destruction of the Lutheran cemetery, in the 1964-1965 period by the Soviet authorities and calls it an attempt to erase Jews from public memory. He concludes it should be restored and maintained as a sacred site of memory and says both institutional and civic efforts could be harnessed to that purpose.

Full paper in Lithuanian here.

2019-10-072019-10-15

Lost Yanishok: Two Synagogues and the Last Jewish Woman

15min.lt

Note: On October 3 Irena Gečienė passed away. The Lithuanian Jewish Community expresses its condolences to her daughter Jurgita and brother Eduardas.

Before the tragic losses of World War II, Joniškis in northern Lithuania was a very Jewish town known as the shtetl of Yanishok with a vibrant Jewish community. Nothing was left after the Holocaust which only a few Jews survived here, as was the case throughout Lithuania. Now only the two restored synagogues and the only living Jew recall that Yanishok.

They Donned White Armbands and Went to Shoot Jews

Irena Gečienė remembers November 27, 1944, when the war hadn’t ended yet, in the town of Žagarė.

2019-10-072019-10-10

Rosh Hashanah at the Panevėžys Jewish Community

The Panevėžys Jewish Community celebrated Rosh Hashanah September 29 at the Park Café. It began with the lighting of candles, then Community chairman Gennady Kofman read a prayer for the new year, 5780, and Michailas Grafman blew the shofar horn.

Community member ate traditional foods such as apples dipped in honey, pomegranates, gefilte fish and challa bread. Children received presents and learned about Jewish traditions. At the end of the celebration the new Jewish calendar published by the Lithuanian Jewish Community.

Chairman Kofman read out greetings from Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and from Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Yossi Levy. Greetings were also received from LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and the heads of Lithuania’s regional Jewish communities.

2019-10-07

Chaim Frankel Sculpture Vandalized

Local resident reported Saturday evening the statue commemorating Jewish Lithuanian industrialist Chaim Frankel in the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai had been vandalized. Male genitalia were painted on his trousers with what appeared to be white paint. This follows the appearance of a swastika at the Lithuanian Jewish Community headquarters in Vilnius in August. The male genitalia remained on the Frankel statue as of midnight as Sunday turned to Monday, October 7.

LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky commented on the incident: “Maybe the Frankel statue was vandalized by drunken youth, or maybe not, but this again is an opportunity to talk about anti-Semitism, especially as we prepare to participate in International Holocaust Day events in January and to mark 2020 as the Year of the Vilna Gaon and Litvak History in events around Lithuania.”

Lithuanian television channel TV3 ran the incident as their top story on Sunday with an interview with chairwoman Kukliansky, who said Frankel put Šiauliai on the map and his factory later served as a life saver for Jewish ghetto inmates who were allowed to work there, “as in Schindler’s List.”

Speaking directly to www.lzb.lt, Faina Kukliansky said: “This was just one Jewish family whose contribution to Lithuanian industry was priceless and whose memory has been desecrated so brutally just as the Jews were brutally murdered during the second half of 1941.”

2019-10-062019-10-17

Yom Kippur at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius

Yom Kippur ceremonies will be held at the Choral Synagogue, Pylimo street no. 39, Vilnius, according to the following schedule:

Monday, October 7:

6:30 P.M. preparations for Yom Kippur, lessons on the holy day, Kaparot ritual

Tuesday, October 8:

5:30 P.M. dinner before fast
6:10 Kol Nidre
6:20 fast begins

Wednesday, October 9:

9:30 A.M. Shakharit
12 noon Izkor
5:30 P.M. Minkha
6:30 Niila
7:29 fast ends, dinner

2019-10-042019-10-08

Holocaust Commemoration in Švenčionys October 6

There will be a Holocaust commemoration held in Švenčionys on Sunday, October 6. At 11:00 A.M. there will be a remembrance ceremony at the Menorah sculpture in the city park. At 12 noon there will be a commemoration at the mass murder site at the Švenčionėliai military base in Platumai village.

For those wishing to attend, a bus will depart from the Lithuanian Jewish Community at 9:00 A.M. Sunday. Register by calling +370 5 261 3003 or writing info@lzb.lt

Moisej Šapiro, chiarman
Švenčionys Jewish Community

2019-10-042019-10-07

Another Scandal: It’s Becoming Clear Not All Names on Martyrs’ Wall Were Angels

by Vytautas Bruveris for Lietuvos rytas, photo by R.Danisevičius courtesy lrytas.lt

Are all the people murdered by the Soviets whose names are engraved on a building right in the center of Vilnius worthy of this sort of exceptional respect? Documents from researchers which Lietuvos rytas examined raise this question.

They helped in murdering Jews and seizing their property. They murdered and raped family members–women and children–of Soviet collaborators. There was a thief who pretended to be a partisan. Most of them fought on the side of the Nazis and in their military.

These hair-raising shadows darken the biographies of many of the people whose names are inscribed on the outer wall of the former KGB headquarters on Gediminas prospect across from Lukiškių square in Vilnius.

It’s becoming clear the Center for the Study of the Genocide and Resistance of Residents of Lithuania was likely too hasty in so exceptionally honoring people murdered by the Soviet occupiers and many of them probably don’t deserve commemoration.

This is clear from documents the Center itself has.

2019-10-032019-10-04

Rimvydas Valatka on Rehabilitating Lithuanian Nazis as National Heroes

Not Only the Names of Angels Decorate the Wall of Martyrs in Central Vilnius

Another scandal is brewing: it’s becoming clear not just the names of angels decorate the wall of martyrs in central Vilnius

by Rimvydas Valatka, lrytas.lt, from facebook

It would appear the hunger to rehabilitate the looters and murderers of Jews by incorporating them in the ranks of those who have laid down their lives for their country, the partisans, has become a sort of auxiliary to the discipline of history for the Genocide Center.

Six murderers and looters of innocent people commemorated as heroes–this is not just a plaque commemorating General Storm [Jonas Noreika] who collaborated with the Nazis on this question. This is already a very brown matter. Perhaps some Pro Patria Lithuanian teacher will splash brown paint upon the wall?

The forces of the defenders of Nazi collaborators should move quickly to the former KGB headquarters because the historians are beating “our own people.”

2019-10-032019-10-08

Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius Awards Best Teachers of the Year

Photo: Sholem Aleichem teacher Rasa Belgerienė with mayor Remigijus Šimašius at awards ceremony

In anticipation of World Teachers’ Day on October 5, Vilnius mayor Remigijus Šimašius presented awards to Vilnius teachers of the year. The prize commission selected 11 from 42 nominations, with the winners including Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium teacher Rasą Belgerienė.

“Education is undoubtedly one of the most important areas for Vilnius and the country. We want to encourage cooperation between the schools of Vilnius and institutions of higher learning as we create the concept of the modern school. You are crucial as the engines of daily wins, but also of our great shared goals and as forces for reform. I feel pride to see before me so many professionals in their field whose daily work is to raise independent, free and responsible people,” the mayor said.

Full story in Lithuanian here.

2019-10-032019-10-03

Concert to Celebrate 90th Birthday of Grigoriy Kanovitch

A series of several concerts with world-famous performers, composers and material from the works of Grigoriy Kanovitch will be held to celebrate Kanovitch’s 90th birthday. Kanovitch is the author of a number of classics in Jewish literature and is a recipient of the Lithuanian National Art and Culture Prize. Lithuanian Jewish Community members will receive a 40% discount on the ticket price.

For more information, see here.

2019-10-03

Easy Anti-Semitism Test

by Sigitas Parulskis

When I think about Lithuanian anti-Semitism, there is a lack of reasoning. How can you hate someone who isn’t there? And there are almost no Jews left in Lithuania. It would be the same as being afraid of or hating the Wizard of Oz because he didn’t give you a brain.

Lithuanian anti-Semitism’s list of grievances, its casus belli, was fully formed in the period from 1939 to 1941. The loss of the Klaipeda region, the Soviet occupation, deportation, massacres, the Nazi invasion–all good reasons to look for a culprit. And here we are, still afflicted by this hapless anti-Semitism. Is it in our subconscious? In our genes? We are no longer living under conditions of occupation and war, so where does this anachronism come from?

Is it possible for us to overcome our warped relationship with Jews? Everything’s possible, if there’s a will and reason. And this is a political rather than a cultural relationship. The political man proclaims truth is on my side, while the cultural man asks what in the hell truth is anyway, and to me this question seems more interesting, more imaginative and more human.

Full text in Lithuanian here.

2019-10-032019-10-08

Lithuanian President Visits YIVO

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda and his wife Diana visited YIVO on the last day of the president’s trip to the United Nations in New York City. They met staff, viewed exhibits and learned about the world-famous Jewish research institution founded in Vilnius in 1925.

“Jewish history and culture have formed the identity of all countries of the world, not just Lithuania. Since the 15th century the Lithuanian and Jewish communities have been united by a common rich history. Vilnius was even called the Jerusalem of the North. Activities of Lithuanian Jews have left behind a priceless religious and philosophical legacy for the entire world Jewish community which is celebrated by the YIVO institute in New York,” the newly-elected president said.

information from the President’s Office

2019-10-032019-10-03

New Israeli Ambassador Tells Lithuania to Look in Mirror

Photo by J. Stacevičius/LRT

by Mindaugas Jackevičius, LRT.lt

We’re not ordering you, we’re only asking you to take a mirror and take a look at yourself, to open the history books and check out what happened in the dark chapters. That’s what Israeli’s new ambassador to Lithuania Yosi Levy said in an exclusive interview with LRT.lt . He thinks most Lithuanians don’t know what happened to the Jews of Lithuania during the war, that it is a story which hasn’t been told appropriately.

At the same time, he says, Israel doesn’t blame today’s Lithuania, and emphasizes mature and good relations between the countries.

On the person of Jonas Noreika, Levy said: “He wasn’t a murderer, but he collaborated with the devil.”

Levy, who began his work in Lithuania over a month ago, is a well-known writer and has worked as ambassador in Belgrade and worked at the embassies in Bonn, Berlin and Warsaw. In the interview we spoke about the fate of Lithuania’s Jews, bilateral relations and an intriguing book which will open the eyes of Lithuanians to a different side of Israel and its ambassador.

2019-10-022019-10-07

President Congratulates Lithuanian Jewish Community on New Year

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda greeted Lithuanian and European Jewish communities, the people of Israel and everyone around the globe celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Watch the video here.

2019-09-292019-10-03

Rosh Hashanah 5780 at the Choral Synagogue

Rosh Hashanah 5780 at the Choral Synagogue, Pylimo street no. 39, Vilnius:

Sunday, September 29

6:00 P.M. Minkha/Maariv, prayers, Kiddush/pastry table

Monday, September 30

9:30 A.M. Shakharit (morning prayer)

12:00 noon Blowing of the shofar horn. Special souvenir for participants and new 5780 Jewish calendar

12:30 P.M. Musaf (prayer)

5:00 P.M. Tashlikh (prayer at the river, Bokšto street no. 19, Vilnius)

6:00 P.M. Rosh Hashanah celebration: blowing of shofarhorn, presentation of new Jewish calendar, treats, special Rosh Hashanah souvenir

7:51 P.M. Maariv prayer

Tuesday, October 1

9:30 A.M. Shakharit
12:00 noon Blowing of shofar
6:30 P.M. Blowing of shofar horn (at Bokšto street no. 19 with entrance from Kazimiero street no. 12)

2019-09-27

The Lithuanian Jewish Community Wishes You a Happy and Sweet New Year

Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky, Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Yossi Levy, embassy aide Adi Cohen and writer Kristina Sabaliauskaitė wish you a good, happy and sweet new year. It’s customary to invite friends and relatives over for New Year’s both to have a party and to keep a mitzvah.

Rosh Hashanah is a happy holiday with pomegranate, round challa bread and apples essential elements. Pieces of apple are immersed in honey and eaten while wishing others a good and sweet new year.

2019-09-272019-09-27

Kaunas Jewish Community Holds Holocaust Commemoration at Ninth Fort

The Kaunas Jewish Community and the Ninth Fort Museum held a Holocaust commemoration on the morning of September 23. Kaunas students and cultural workers also participated in the civic initiative called “Way of Memory.”

Georgian musician Davit Kldiashvili performed and attendees viewed a Ninth Fort exhibit on the Holocaust.

After the event a group of Kaunas Jewish Community members attended the Holocaust commemoration held in Balbieriškis which also commemorated the vitality of Jewish life in the Lithuanian shtetlakh and Volfas Kaganas, Lithuanian military volunteer and twice recipient of the Order of the Cross of Vytis.

2019-09-27

New Year’s Greetings from Israeli President and Israeli Ambassador to Lithuania

Dear friends,

Yossi Levy, Israeli ambassador, sends you his greetings on the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah, and sends you greetings from Israeli president Reuven Rivlin,

We wish you tranquility, concentration and a happy and sweet 5780!

Shana tova u’metuka!

__________________________________________________

Embassy of Israel to Lithuania

rIVLIN Image_00061

2019-09-272019-10-04

Moisiejus Preisas, Survivor of Three Concentration Camps, Dies at 89

Moisiejus Preisas, survivor of Auschwitz, Dachau and Stutthof, passed away September 24 at the age of 89. He was born February 27, 1930 and was a member of Lithuania’s Union of Former Ghetto and Concentration Camp Inmates. We send our deepest condolences to his son Leonidas and his grandchildren.

Preisas is believed to be the only Lithuanian Jew to have survived three concentration camps. He was an eye-witness to the brutal murder of the Jewish children in the Kaunas ghetto. He also witnessed an officer at a concentration camp chop people in half with a shovel.

Photo: Preisas with his collection of photographs of the Holocaust and concentration camps.

Several years ago we translated and published an interview and article about Moisiejus Preisas on the Lithuanian Jewish Community website here.

2019-09-272019-10-04

Israeli President Isaac Herzog Visits Lithuania

On the War in Israel and the Situation in Lithuania