Condolences

Condolences

Markas Petuchauskas passed away Sunday. He was born in 1931. He was a prisoner in the Vilnius ghetto. After the Holocaust he went on to study the theater and to produce works for the stage. He achieved academic heights and was the author of many articles and books on the theater in Lithuanian and English. He was a founding member and a chairman of the Jewish cultural club which became the Lithuanian Jewish Community as Lithuania regained national independence.

His loss is the loss of all of us and of the nation.

Our deepest condolences to his wife Sofija and his entire family and many friends.

Condolences

Ilya Skulovich from Ignalina passed away November 4. He was born in 1937 and was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We send our deepest condolences to his children and loved ones.

Condolences

Anna Yakoleva passed away November 4. She was born in 1936 and was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to her son Andrejus and her friends and family.

Yehuda Bauer is Dead

Yehuda Bauer is Dead

Holocaust survivor and scholar Yehuda Bauer passed away October 18. He was 98. He was buried at Shoval kibbutz in the Negev.

Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky, the entire Community and the World Jewish Congress mourn the passing of Yehuda Bauer and extend our deepest condolences to his family members and all who knew him.

WJC president Ronald Lauder said: “I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Prof. Yehuda Bauer, who taught generations of students and others about the Holocaust. I will never forget our last discussions at the International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism in Malmö, Sweden, in October 2021 and the passionate speech he gave on that occasion.”

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Condolences

Maratas Šeimanas passed away October 13. He was born in 1937. He was a Lithuanian Jewish Community member and Saul Kagan Welfare Center client. Our deepest condolences to the wife and son he left behind.

Condolences

Irina Felgina passed away September 27. She was born in 1931 and was a member of the Union of Former Ghetto and Concentration Camp Prisoners as well as a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to her daughter Anna, grandson Alex and her other friends and family members.

Condolences

In deep sadness we report the death of Fania Brantsovskaya on September 22 in Vilnius. She was born in 1922.

Fania was a Jewish partisan who originally served as a courier. Several films have been made about her life. She was one of only a handful of Jewish partisans who remained in Lithuania after the Holocaust. In her later years she continued to speak out publicly and teach younger generations about what happened in Lithuania.

Our deepest condolences to her family and many friends.

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Condolences

We report in deep sadness the death of Yuri Smirnov on Septmber 20, 2024. He was born in 1935 and was a member of the Panevėžys Jewish Community and a client of the Saul; Kagan Welfare Center.

Yuri was born in the Pskov region. He, his mother, two brothers and sister were sent to the concentration camps in Panevėžys and Šiauliai during the Holocaust. He survived thanks to his mother.

An active member of the Panevėžys Jewish Community, he served for many years as deputy chairman there.

We extend our deepest condolences to his grandson Viktoras and daugher-in-law Jovita.

Condolences

Yelizaveta Rodionova passed away September 9. She was born in 1927. Our deepest condolences go to her son Viktoras and other members of her family.

Condolences

We are saddened to report the death of Elli Rubin on August 10. He was born in 1941. He was a member of the Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. Our deepest condolences to his widow Aldona, children and many friends and family members.

Condolences

Jurijus Rafas passed away August 10. He was born in 1964. He was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to his mother Aldona, sister Ania and his many friends and family.

Condolences

In deep sadness we report the death of Borisas Tsveigas. He was born in 1960 and was a beloved member in long standing. The Lithuanian Jewish Community extends our sincere condolences to his wife Vita, his sons and to his many friends and family members.

Commemoration of Sania Kerbelis

Commemoration of Sania Kerbelis

Members and friends of the Šiauliai Jewish Community gathered at the Community building Monday to commemorate the late Sania Kerbelis who served as chairman for many years.

Special guest Rabbi Kalev Krelin provided a simple and enlightened exegesis of Torah as the basis for his eulogy of Sania and reminded those assembled that the best commemoration and compensation of loss is prayer and good works.

Community member Ričardas Pikelis recited his poem in memory of Kerbelis.

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A Tribute to Žilvinas Beliauskas

A Tribute to Žilvinas Beliauskas

by Rabbi Moshe Martin Levin

Žilvinas Beliauskas WAS ALWAYS:

Tall and handsome;
Brilliant and articulate;
Talking in long sentences without taking a breath;
He always listened with both ears.

Always was an encyclopedia of so many subjects.

A true patriot who knew the shortcomings as well as the achievements of his homeland.

A husband in love with his wife Ieva.

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Condolences

Žilvinas Beliauskas suddenly died Friday. A teacher at the Mykolas Romeris University, he was a qualified psychologist and for a time, according to his friends, worked at the United Nations in New York. In the early 2000s a private donor attempted to donate a large collection of “Jewish books” in the broadest sense of the term to the Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum, which eventually resulted in the Vilnius Jewish Public Library with sponsorship and funding from the Government chancellor. Žilvinas took the concept of the library and ran with it, acquiring many more important books on Jewish culture and religion and fictional works by Jewish authors. He created more than an open and friendly public library by hosting numerous speakers, panels, discussions and book launches in the humble space. Ever cheerful, friendly with all, always willing to lend a hand, Žilvinas will be sorely missed by all who knew him. We extend our deepest condolences to his many friends and family members.

Condolences

Romanas Šechteris passed away unexpectedly last Thursday. He was born in 1958. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Galina, daughter Diana, son Borisas, his grandchildren and his many friends.

Condolences

We report with deep sadness the death of Sania Kerbelis on July 11. He was born in 1963. His death followed his struggle with a chronic illness. Sania Kerbelis was the chairman of the Šiauliai District Jewish Community and the Šiauliai Jewish Religious Community. Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and the entire Lithuanian Jewish Community extend our deepest condolences to his sons Doyvdas and Simonas and his many friends and family members. Baruch Dayan ha’Emet.

Condolences

We are sad to report the death of Vitalijus Karakoskis. A long-standing member of the Community, an accomplished journalist, he was also the director of Menora, the Lithuanian state radio and television Jewish cultural affairs program which has been running weekly for decades. He was awarded the Stasys Lozoraitis prize by the Lithuanian Journalists Union for his work. Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and the entire Lithuanian Jewish Community extend our condolences to his wife Lilija, son Daniel and to his many family members and friends who knew and loved him.

Condolences

We are saddened to report the death of long-time member Itzhak Solomon on July 1. He was born in 1946. Our deepest condolences to his widow Marija and to his many friends and family members.

Condolences

We are saddened to report Mikhail Filippov-Yablonsky died June 12. He was born in 1947. He was a great soul beloved by everyone, an artist, musician and singer and a long-time member of the Fayerlakh Jewish song and dance ensemble. May he rest in peace. We extend our deepest condolences to Misha’s wife, children and many friends and family members.