Photo: Saulius Žiūra
by Vytautas Budzinauskas, BNS
A star of David was composed of stones on Rūdninkų square in Vilnius Sunday to mark the 75th anniversary of the final destruction of the Vilnius ghetto. Pope Francis is expected to say a prayer in memory of Holocaust victims at the square on Sunday as well, the final day of his visit to Lithuania. More than 50 people turned to wait for the Pope and slowly filled a metal frame with stones in line with the Jewish tradition of placing stones on grave markers. The crowd included entire families and visitors from around Lithuania and from abroad.
Photo: Vytautas Budzinauskas
The star of David composition was formed on the ground near the former gate to the ghetto just off Pylimo street. There were readings from the Vilnius ghetto diary of Yitzhak Rudashevski by students of the theater director Oskaras Koršunovas.
Participants Say This Was the Entire World’s Tragedy
Participants with whom BNS spoke at the event called for remembering the tragic events of the past.
Džiuljeta Kirkilaitė said this day is important to her personally and to every Jew. The 26-year-old mother said the tragic events must never be allowed to repeat themselves.
“This date is important to every Jew, no matter where they are, in Lithuania or a different country. This tragedy affected everyone. For me, this is a very important date, I am part of this. My mother is a Jew and my father a Lithuanian. In any event, I am a Jew according to all Jewish laws. It’s very important people understand what happened and that it wouldn’t repeat itself. Because this is just the tragedy of the Jews alone, but of the entire world,” she told BNS.
Rimantas Stankevičius has been researching the topic of Jewish rescuers for many years and said he has lived in the Vilnius Old Town for a long time. In his childhood contact with Jews was broken off and that it had had a great influence on his worldview.
“Emotionally I am also part Jewish. Thus this loss which we are marking, the 75th anniversary of the liquidation of the Vilnius ghetto, is lodged deep in my heart. More so because I personally know and knew a number of people who were in the ghetto, whose families died here. So for me this isn’t just something you read about in books,” the 66-year-old said.
Seventy-three-year-old Elena said it’s crucial not to forget the painful events of the past.
“I came because I live nearby and it would be a sin not to come. One must hope for everything, and memory is the most important thing. If you have it, memory will erase you. … My roots are Polish but I’m loyal to Lithuania. Closer to Lithuania, I go to Lithuanian Mass,” Elena said.
Jokūbas Brazys, 23, said it’s important for Vilnius residents to know their city’s history and not to forget the suffering people experienced here.
“It’s a painful topic, and while it doesn’t affect me personally, it’s important for everyone to understand–especially those of us who live here–the stories with which this street is filled. This event reminds us of that,” Brazys said.
The Pope’s Visit: A Humane Gesture
Pope Francis is scheduled to make a short stop Sunday next to the statue commemorating ghetto victims and to say a prayer.
“This is a humane gesture. The main thing in this world is to stay human, and only after that comes religion, profession or some sort of status. The most important thing is being human and that each life is precious. His prayer has meaning, especially when the dates coincide so well,” Kirkilaitė commented to BNS.
Stankevičius said the Pope’s visit is especially significant in terms of the 75th anniversary of the liquidation of the Vilnius ghetto.
“I think it’s significant that visiting this sight appeared on the Pope’s agenda… This accent is very significant to us as well to the leadership of the Jewish community, as I understand it, the Jewish community is accepting this gesture by the Pope very positively,” Stankevičius said.
Vilnius Mayor: Never Again
Vilnius mayor Remigijus Šimašius attended the event and said we must remember the suffering of the past and resolve to never let similar tragedies repeat.
“Vilnius was, is and will be multicultural, a city where different peoples live together, but we are probably in debt to no people more than to the Jewish people. This is perhaps a reminder to every Lithuanian, to each one personally, that perhaps we or our ancestors didn’t do everything we could have to keep this from happening… It is our duty to remember this date, to always remember and to say from deep in our hearts, ‘never again.'” mayor Šimašius said.
Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky said commemorations of Holocaust perpetrators in Vilnius need to be fully removed to commemorate the victims of genocide.
“A plaque commemorating one of the organizers of the Šiauliai ghetto is still hanging in this city. Honorable mayor, dear assembled, in the name of all Holocaust victims and rescuers of Jews I call upon you. As we mark the Day of Remembrance of Lithuanian Jewish Victims of Genocide, as we celebrate our centennial of statehood and as we great the Pope who is visiting Lithuania, let’s remove this dark shame casting a shadow over Vilnius and the entire country,” Kukliansky said.
Moshe Ben Atar, a member of the Israeli executive committee of the World Jewish Congress, also attended the event by invitation of the Vilnius municipality.
Full text in Lithuanian here.
