A meeting of the newly appointed rabbis Kalev Krelin and Shimshon Daniel Izakson (Isaacson) was held at the Lithuanian Jewish Community February 29. Participants included representatives of foreign embassies in Vilnius, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, Parliament, the Catholic Church, the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture and the regional Jewish communities in Lithuania. Also attending was Vilnius auxiliary bishop Arūnas Poniškaitis.

Shmuel Levin, director of the Lithuanian Jewish Religious Community, spoke at the meeting and said: “The physical genocide by the Nazis and the spiritual genocide by the Soviet regime destroyed the Jewish communities in Europe and especially in Lithuania. Today Judaism is an exotic religion, not just for the other religions, but for us ourselves. We hope Rabbi Izakson and Rabbi Krelin will be successful in reviving and preserving the Litvak tradition, Jewish spiritual life.”

Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky welcomed the new rabbis to the community and wished them every success in their work.

Deputy chairwoman of the LJC Maša Grodnikienė expressed happiness the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, the European Parliament and the embassies in Vilnius had sent representatives to attend the public presentation of the new rabbis, and that the Catholic Church had sent Vilnius auxiliary bishop Poniškaitis. “I believe the rabbis will now take part in the traditional Prayer Breakfasts in common with the leaders of all of Lithuania’s religious faiths. The Jewish community has always been, is and will remain open to everyone,” Grodnikienė said.

Rabbi Kalev Krelin said it was an honor for him to be a rabbi in Lithuania. “I see my task as providing to every Jew and to everyone who is interested in Judaism the truths of the Almighty, and in this way I will strive to help bring people closer to the Most High,” he said.

Rabbi Shimshon Daniel Izakson recalled the famous yeshivas of Lithuania which were important center for the study of Talmud and attracted students from around the world. “Today, after the horrific Holocaust, there are Jews who do not know what it means to be a religious Jew. Every person, whether he wants to believe or not, should know what he does or does not believe. I believe we will be successful in sharing knowledge, that we will be able to help everyone find answers to their questions. I have to admit that I am impressed by the Lithuanian Jewish Community, its leaders and staff,” he said.

Vilnius auxiliary bishop Poniškaitis greeted the Lithuanian Jewish Community in the name of archbishop Gintaras Grušas, welcomed the new rabbis and expressed the wish that everyone would grow “closer to God.”