Wooden Synagogue in Alanta Renovated
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LJC, International Comminission and Olga Lengyel Institute Holding Holocaust Seminars for Teachers
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LJC Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky Speaks at Commemoration of Grosse
Aktion in Kaunas
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Šiauliai Opens Righteous Gentile Square at the Intersection of Vilniaus and Ežero Streets at Former Ghetto Gates
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"Symphony from Jerusalem of the North” Mark Day of Lithuanian Jewish Victims of Genocide in Presidential Courtyard
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The renovated synagogue in Žiežmariai will become a new cultural center. The first synagogue in appeared sometime between 1690 and 1696. In the 19th century there three synagogues. Not surprising, since the majority of the population were Jewish. This synagogue which has survived and has now been renovated stands in the southern part of town between Vilniaus and Žalgirio streets, with the Strėva river flowing from southeastward from there.
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The Lithuanian Post Office has issued a stamp commemorating 300 years since the birth of the Vilna Gaon
The Lithuanian Post Office has issued a stamp commemorating 300 years since the birth of the Vilna Gaon
with a face value of 0.81 euros, enough to mail letters abroad.
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Lithuania Marks 300th Anniversary of Birth of Vilna Gaon, 2020 Named Year of the Gaon and Litvak History.
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Most important events at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in 2018
Most important events at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in 2018
Revival of Jewish Scouting in Lithuania: The first new Litvak scouting camping trip with children from Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Molėtai took place August 24 to 26.
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Jewish newspapers and advertisements from Vilnius in the period between the two world wars. Jews and other minorities were given equal rights in the reconstituted Lithuanian state. Yiddish thrived with many newspapers and books published in the language.
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Tsemakh Shabad

Tsemakh Shabad

Monday marks the 90th anniversary of Tsemakh Shabad, the renowned doctor from Vilnius. Besides being a medical doctor, Shabad was a philanthropist and served on the Vilnius city council and in the Polish Senate. He was a founding member of the YIVO. Legendary during his own lifetime, Shabad was immortalized in literature as Dr. Aybolit in the work of the same name by the extremely popular Russian-language children’s author Korney Chukovsky. Dr. Aybolit was the main character in three Soviet films and spawned a Soviet cartoon series as well. Janina Valančiūtė from the Lithuanian Library of Medicine wrote a study of the man in Lithuanian several years ago, available below.

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Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Irena Giedraitienė celebrated a milestone birthday Tuesday. An engineer by profession, she is also an accomplished photographer with many exhibits under her belt. The LJC and the Union of Former Ghetto and Concentration Camp victims wish her continuing good health, strength of spirit, love and quality time spent with friends and loved ones. We wish her continued success in carrying out the goals she has set for herself. Happy birthday, Irena. Mazl tov. Bis 120!

Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club on Tu b’Shvat

Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club on Tu b’Shvat

Natalja Cheifetz’s discussion club will discuss the greenest of Jewish holidays, Tu b’Shvat, at their next meeting via zoom at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, January 16. Sometimes described as Jewish Arbor Day, the 15th day of the month of Shvat falls on February 13 this year. Everyone is invited to attend. To gain zoom credentials and indicate topics of interest for discussion, click here.

Two More Synagogues Attacked in Australia

Two More Synagogues Attacked in Australia

Australian media outlets reported two more attacks on synagogues in the last two days. The Allawah Synagogue in Sydney was spay-painted with anti-Semitic phrases and swastikas early Friday morning local time. The Newtown Synagogue was graffitied and fire officials detected accelerant intended to set the house of prayer ablaze. Times of Israel reports Australian police and government officials are undertaking counter-terrorism measures to prevent the continuing anti-Semitic attacks.

Full story here.

Condolences

Petras Kaplanaitis passed away January 9. He was born in 1933 and was a member of the Klaipėda Jewish Community. We extend our deepest condolences to his brother, daughters and many friends and family members.

Condolences

Gennady Pinkhasevich passed away January 8. He was born in 1940 and was a member of the Kaunas Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We send our deepest condolences to his family and many friends.

Sabbath Times

Sabbath Times

The Sabbath begins at 4:14 P.M. on Friday, January 10, and concludes at 5:20 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:58 P.M. and completed before sunset at 4:14 P.M. Friday is also Asarah b’Tevet, a fast day to mourn the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia.

Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club

Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club

Jewish tradition expert and educator Natalja Cheifec’s Shalom discussion club is starting the new year with a zoom meeting at 5:30 P.M. on January 9. To receive log-on credentials click here. Please indicate your topics of interest on the registration page. Everyone is welcome.

Public Menorah Display in Šiauliai

Public Menorah Display in Šiauliai

A public menorah display in the city of Šiauliai’s central square and walking mall was lit on each consecutive night of Hanukkah to remind passers-by of the victory of the light over darkness. Chabad Lubavitch also provided holiday food at the Šiauliai District Jewish Community.

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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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Condolences

Michailas Kravecas passed away Sunday. He was born in 1952 and was a member of the Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to his daughter, his sister and his many friends in the Community.

Condolences

Mina Levitan-Babenskienė died Sunday at the age of 92. She was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. She was known as one of Lithuania’s best tapestry makers and her works were demonstrated at numerous exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad over many decades. Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and the entire Community extend our deepest condolences to her son Edmondas and her many friends and family.

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.

Condolences

Galina Bugelskaya died on December 29. She was born in 1934 and came from Druskininkai. She was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We send our deepest condolences to her son and many friends and family members.

Condolences

Oktyabriana Tulchina passed away December 28. She was born in 1924 and was a member of the Kaunas Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. The entire Lithuanian Jewish Community extend our deepest condolences to her family, including her children and grandchildren.

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!

Truth at Last

Truth at Last

by Grant Gochin

The government of Lithuania’s threats of criminal charges against me remain open. These threats were instigated as an intimidation tactic to silence me. My supposed crime was investigating the truth about who perpetrated the Holocaust in Lithuania.

I began my efforts towards exposing the truth about the Holocaust in Lithuania in the early 2000s. I was perplexed by the apparent acquiescence of some major Jewish organizations to the rampant Holocaust frauds committed by the government of Lithuania. My repeated outreach made me realize that if I did not address the issues myself, they would be ignored. Over the course of the past 15 years, this revelation has repeatedly proven itself to be accurate.

Approximately thirty legal actions I launched against Lithuania displayed how resolutely the Lithuanian government coalesced to invert Holocaust truth, while continuing their intimidation tactics against history researchers and activists. The Lithuanian courts took instruction from members of the government to deny legal review of governmental Holocaust fraud. Historical researchers such as Evaldas Balčiūnas and Andrius Kulikauskas were insulted, intimidated and threatened by the Lithuanian government simply for conducting research on inconvenient subjects and exposing the truth.

There was an attempt to bribe documentarian Michael Kretzmer to create a falsified narrative. Their conduct revealed to Kretzmer the country’s Holocaust inversions. His response was to make the documentary J’Accuse! which revealed to the world the full ghastly truth about Lithuania’s Holocaust frauds.

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