On May 12 the senior citizens club Abi Men Zet Zich (Yiddish for “as long as we’re together”) celebrated the club’s birthday at the Jasche Heifetz hall of the Lithuanian Jewish Community.

Seventeen years ago elderly Litvaks met to see old friends, share Jewish happiness and sorrow and formed the club which continues today.

The seniors celebrated the club’s anniversary with a dramatic musical presentation called “Amol in Pilimovke…” (“Once on Pylimo…”). The performance was a highly entertaining, imaginative and sincere musical drama which was received well by the audience.

There was no lack of warm wishes for the future and food at the birthday party, and there was a large birthday cake as well.

Those who came to celebrate included Jewish Claims Conference representatives from America Lori Schuldiner Schor and Hannah Miller, JDC director for the Baltic states Moni Beniosev and welfare regional director for the JDC in the Baltic states Marina Astanovskaja, Lithuanian Jewish Community Social Center director Simas Levinas, deputy chair of the LJC Maša Grodnikienė, Gesher Club director Junona Berznitski and the Jewish song and dance ensemble Fayerlakh. Guest swished the seniors good health and energy, happiness, activity, strength and a positive outlook on life.

Lithuanian Jewish Community chair Faina Kukliansky presented Abi Men Zet Zich Club director and LJC Social Center Programs coordinator Žana Skudovičienė with a letter of commendation and gratitude for her professionalism and important and valuable contributions to the development of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and for the wisdom and devotion with which she carries out her work.

Snapshots from the event are available for viewing on the internet<<