Photo: Simonas Gimelšteinas at premiere on left.
Congratulations to young composer and Lithuanian Jewish Community member Simonas Gimelšteinas who did the musical score for the Lithuanian documentary film “Irklais per Atlantą” [Rowing across the Atlantic] which premiered last week.
Simonas Gimelšteinas also created the sound track for the award-winning Lithuanian short film “Blausos” [Through the Gloom] back in 2022.
Our Community faced many challenges over the last year, but we also increased our focus and sense of community. As we usher out the last year and ring in the new, we pray for the hostages who haven’t come home and our brothers and sisters still undergoing bombardment in Israel. With great love and fondness we remember all of those whom we have lost and thank them sincerely for being together with us. This is the greatest gift we can give one other. A happy and peaceful 2024.
“In lighting the final, the eighth Hanukkah candle, we wish all hope and faith, that light overcome the darkness, but we wish for victory to be reached as early and rapidly as possible there were it is most needed,” Kaunas Jewish Community chairman Gercas Žakas said at a ceremony marking the final day of Hanukkah in Kaunas.
The Lithuanian Writers Union announced they were awarding their bi-annual prize to writer and thinker Tomas Venclova for his latest book of poetry entitled “Už Onos ir Bernardinų” [Behind/Beyond the Church of St. Anne and the Church of the Bernardines (aka Franciscans)]. The book was published by the Apostrofa publishing house and contains 31 poems Venclova wrote over the past seven years.
The Lithuanian Writers Union awards their prize to one author every two years in recognition of high literary value. They will present the prize to Venclova on January 6 at Union headquarters in Vilnius.
Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė released a video Hanukkah greeting. An unofficial translation follows.
I sincerely greet all Jews of Lithuania and the world on the Hanukkah holiday! Hanukkah tells the story of the strength of the human spirit. It reminds us that even the most fragile flame can dispel the darkness, overcome evil and light the way forward. This holiday is dedicated to expressing gratitude for the miracles in our life, big and small, seen and unseen, from the most ancient times till today. It reminds us that nothing is impossible. That’s so important now when there is so much hatred, brutality and growing anti-Semitism in the world. I am convinced the miracle of Hanukkah, faith and wisdom will help us overcome all obstacles. May the light of the Hanukkah candles bring peace and tranquility into your homes and hearts! Happy Hanukkah! Hag Hanukkah sameakh!
Dear Friends,
The Festival of Lights will soon be upon us, but it is a dark time for the Jewish people. We recently witnessed the horrific scenes of the slaughter perpetrated by Hamas in Israel and the abduction of children, women and men. This vile hatred has spread like a malignant cancer and has led to an exponential rise in anti-Semitism around the world.
When the Maccabees stood up to those who sought to suppress Jewish life and traditions and found the Temple in ruins, they persevered. With only enough oil to light the Menorah for one night, they didn’t lose faith. Tragically, the story of Hanukkah takes on greater relevance and urgency this year.
We are all encouraged some points of light have been able to penetrate the darkness with the release of dozens of individuals who had been held captive, and we pray for the speedy release of all the remaining hostages.
It is my fervent hope that you are fortunate enough to be able to celebrate Hanukkah with your loved ones, and that the light of the Menorah will illuminate a path toward better days ahead for us all.
With warmest wishes to you this Hanukkah,
Ronald S. Lauder, president
World Jewish Congress
The Saul Kagan Welfare Center of the Lithuanian Jewish Community greets you all on Hanukkah and invites our clients to come celebrate Hanukkah at 1:00 P.M. on December 13 on the third floor of the LJC in Vilnius. Registration is required by calling (+370) 678 81514. Please register before 3:00 P.M. on Monday, December 11.
Hag sameakh!
Dear readers,
The light always shines brightest at the darkest of times! Greetings to all on the holiday of light and miracles, Hanukkah, and may peace and serenity fill your home.
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
Dear reader,
Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky sends heartfelt greetings on the occasion of the upcoming Hanukkah holiday and wishes you light and strength in your heart during this complex time.
You are cordially invited to attend the lighting of the first Hanukkah light at 5:00 P.M. on December 7 at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius.
Chag Hanukkah sameach!
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
We wish Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community member Ieva Rafael a very happy birthday. Since the Šiauliai Jewish Community was formed in Šiauliai in December of 1988, Ieva has been an active participant in community life and a member of the board of executives. Along with everything else she’s done for the Šiauliai Jewish Community, she’s also been responsible for the organization’s bookkeeping over its entire existence.
We wish Ieva endless health, happiness, joy, unceasing energy and that all her dreams come true. Mazl tov. Bis 120!
On November 12 our tireless scout leader Adomas and his sister Adelina, also a scout, turned 20. Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and the entire Lithuanian Jewish Community wish them a wonderful birthday, that all their dreams would come true, endless new adventures and the love of all around them. Mazl tov!
We wish our favorite journalist, publicist, writer, quiz master, actor and professional clown Arkadijus Vinokuras a very happy and meaningful birthday! Mazl tov. Bis 120!
The Lithuanian Jewish Community and chairwoman Faina Kukliansky wish a happy birthday to Lithuanian independence leader and our good friend Vytautas Landsbergis, who turned 91 Monday, October 16.
We wish you health, stamina, peace and many more years to come. Mazl tov. Bis 120!
The Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community celebrated the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, at the Žemaitis restaurant in Šiauliai. Community chairman Naumas Gleizeris greeted celebrants and wished everyone a good and healthy year. Vadimas Kamrazeris performed live music and Community members took to the dance floor. The shofar horn was blown during the celebration. Some snapshots follow below.
The Kaunas Jewish Community ushered in the Jewish new year 5784 with greetings from chairman Gercas Žakas to a large number of members who assembled for the celebration, tables laden with holiday dishes, singing, games and lively conversation.
Snapshots from the party below.
Rosh Hashana is one of the most important Jewish holidays. The new year 5784 has begun. A small picnic took place in the courtyard of the Panevėžys Jewish Community on September 17 with apples and honey and challa bread, and warm wishes were expressed for Jews around the world.
This year for the first time this century Lithuanian Jewish scouts from Vilnius visited the Panevėžys Jewish Community. They were returning from the Žalioji Forest where they had camped for two days with scouts from Panevėžys. The Panevėžys Jewish Community treated them to a tour of the town including stories about the Jews of Panevėžys and the Holocaust.
After a brief rest at the Community, the scouts joined Community members for a holiday meal including the traditional dishes which according to custom should be sampled in greeting the Jewish New Year.
Last Friday the Lithuanian Jewish Community hosted a bnei maskilim–followers of Progressive Judaism–Kabalat Shabat ceremony and marked the Jewish New Year or Rosh Hashana, 5784, at the same time. Shana tova!
Thanks to Viljamas Žitkauskas for providing photos of the event below.
We wish a very happy birthday to our chairwoman Faina Kukliansky. Few know how much effort she puts into making everything run smoothly at the Lithuanian Jewish Community. We wish you great joy, limitless energy, success in all your and our endeavors and many happy and wonderful moments with your family, friends, Community members and staff, and many new friends here and around the world. Mazl tov. Bis 120!