We wish Kaunas Jewish Community chairman Gercas Žakas a very happy 70th birthday. Mazl tov. Bis 120!
Wooden Synagogue in Alanta Renovated
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog Visits Lithuania
Happy Birthday to Gercas Žakas
Commemorate Yom haShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, on April 28
The world will commemorate Yom haShoah–Holocaust Remembrance Day–on April 28 this year.
The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to mark the day with us and to remember the victims of the Holocaust together. You are invited to attend a commemorative ceremony at the Ponar Memorial Complex outside Vilnius at 12 noon. Those needing transportation will be able to catch a bus there and back from the LJC at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius. Passengers must register by sending an email to office@lzb.lt or by calling 868506900. The bus leaves the LJC at 11:00 A.M. sharp on Thursday, April 28.
Happy Birthday to Jakovas Mendelevskis
We wish a very happy birthday to Jakov who turned 90 April 26. He is an active member of the minyan at the Choral Synagogue. It’s said a man’s life isn’t measured in years, but in deeds. In that case, given his experience and wisdom, wishing him “bis 120” might not be nearly enough. Mazl tov!
Ping-Pong Continues
The Lithuanian Jewish Community is pleased to announce the ping-pong or table tennis program for children and adults will continue. Adults are invited to attend and play between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M. on Sundays at the LJC, and weekdays from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Simonas Dauklantas pre-gymnasium in Vilnius. Children and adolescents are invited to meet Mondays and Tuesdays at the Sholem Aleichem ORT gymnasium with 1st to 4th grades from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. and 5th to 12th-graders from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. For more information contact the trainers, Neta Alon at 862957005 or Rafael Gimelštein at 866283856.
Twelfth Annual Liova Taicas Memorial Tournament in Šiauliai
The Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community will hold their 12th annual Liova Taicas athletics tournament at the Uniqa Arena there starting at 11:00 A.M. on Sunday, May 8. The games are to include indoor soccer, 3-on-3 basketball, volleyball, squash, table tennis and chess. For more information call Rašella at 869910621 or Sania at 864025950.
Condolences
Yitzhak Segal passed away April 21 at the age of 84 following a long battle with chronic illness. He as an inmate of the Kaunas ghetto. We mourn the loss of our friend and a sincere, just and principled man. Our condolences to his wife Tereza and son Markas as well as all the other friends and family who have been left behind.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 8:17 P.M. on Friday, April 22, and concludes at 9:39 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Friday is the 7th day of Passover and Saturday, April 22, is the 8th and final day.
Saturday Prayer Service
Saturday=morning prayer service or shakharit will be held at 11:00 A.M. on April 23 at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius with the Torah portion read by Rabbi Nathan Alfred.
Making Kugel with the Community’s Children on Passover
A #KinderTiš culinary workshop was held at the Lithuanian Jewish Community on Passover eve. The topic was Passover foods, of course, incorporating matzo bread. Many parents and children had the opportunity for the first time to try matzo kugel with raisins, curds and forest berry-jam, with butter on top, made by Riva Portnaja.
To make Passover breakfasts more interesting, Riva also showed participants how to make Mexican matzo brei with avocado, red beans, corn and fresh-squeezed lime juice.
Condolences
In the name of the members of the Goodwill Foundation and the Lithuanian Jewish Community’s executive board we extend our deepest condolences to the widow, mother and entire family of the late Charles Temel. Temel was recently appointed to serve on the investment committee of the Goodwill Foundation.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 8:04 P.M. on Friday, April 15, and concludes at 9:23 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Sounding North Jerusalem Children and Youth Orchestra Camp
The LJC is pleased to announce registration is open for the Sounding North Jerusalem children and youth orchestra camp to be held from August 15 to August 25 in the Lithuanian resort of Preila.
Registration consists of selecting a musical work you’ve learned over the last academic year, filming yourself performing it for at least five minutes, and sending the video or a link to the video to dariusmazintas0@gmail.com, which is also the address to write for more information. Submissions are encouraged from outside Lithuania as well.
Matzo On Sale Now
Matzo is now available for Passover in the foyer on the first floor of the Lithuanian Jewish Community located at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius. A half-kilogram box costs 5 euros, 1 kg costs 10. Purchases may be made between 10:00 A.M and 6:00 P.M. on weekdays until April 15.
Happy Birthday to Leonidas Melnikas
Happy 65th birthday to our friend Leonidas Melnikas. Leonidas recently won the Ona Narbutienė prize for his two-volume biography “Maestro Saulius Sondeckis” (Vilnius 2020, 2021), among his many other achievements and recognitions.
Happy birthday, Leonidas. Mazl tov. Bis 120!
Rabbi Who Fled Moscow: Jewish Life in Russia Coming to End
by David Stromberg
After war in Ukraine broke out, Motl Gordon moved to Israel where he’s working with Russian-speaking Jews to nurture a vision of an audaciously welcoming new diaspora
On the morning of February 24, 2022, Motl Gordon woke up to the news that Russia had invaded Ukraine.
“It dawned on me that it’s another epoch now,” Gordon told the Times of Israel in a recent interview in Jerusalem. Within two hours he, his wife and their two kids had airline tickets, and within 10 hours they were on a plane to Warsaw.
Gordon spent the last five years leading an independent Jewish community in Moscow, Sredi Svoih (Among Our Own). Just minutes after deciding to leave, Gordon went to the synagogue to lead a Torah lesson and morning prayers. He didn’t tell his congregants about his plans–it wasn’t clear to him yet that he would succeed in actually boarding the flight.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 7:50 P.M. on Friday, April 8, and concludes at 9:09 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Yom haShoah
On April 28 the world will mark Yom haShoah, Holocaust Day. The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites everyone to attend a ceremony to commemorate Holocaust victims on that day. The commemoration will take place at the Ponar Memorial Complex outside Vilnius at 12 noon on Thursday, April 28. It is expected to last 30 minutes. This is an initiative by the Lithuanian Jewish Community.
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
A bus will transport people from the LJC at Pylimo street no. 4 in Vilnius. Prior registration is required by calling 868506900 or sending an email to office@lzb.lt