With deep sadness we report the death of Henry Kissinger. He was born May 27, 1933, to a German Jewish family and went on to serve as secretary of state and national security advisor under US presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and remained the main voice of American foreign policy under president Jimmy Carter. He was the architect of US foreign policy who engineered the withdrawal of US troops from South Viet Nam “with dignity” (for which he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973), Nixon’s overture to Red China, NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Yugoslavia–calling for the “Finlandization” of the constituent break-away republics–and of policy surrounding the dismantling of the Soviet Union and the emergent Russian Federation. An outstanding proponent of the State of Israel, although he refused to take up the cause of Soviet refuseniks as antithetical to US interests–and he seemed to have a personal antipathy towards Soviet Jews–, in more recent times he was an outspoken proponent for peace in the Ukraine, calling upon NATO to take Russia’s security concerns seriously and for the parties involved to develop a real post-Cold War security architecture for Europe which would take Russia’s legitimate security interests into account. He died aged 100. Our deepest condolences to his many friends and family members.
Special Guest from Israel to Perform Concert for Vilnius Audience
Professor David Shemer is a professor at the at the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, the founder, director, art director and conductor of the Jerusalem Baroque Orchestra and a world-renowned harpsichord player as well as the organizer of different musical projects and festivals in Israel.
On November 30 David presents an extraordinary musical program for chamber orchestra and harpsichord to the Vilnius audience. Many of the works will be played for the first time ever in Lithuania. The program includes classical music performed by the professor and the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra from Vilnius. This is the cultural event of the month in Vilnius.
Time: 7:00 P.M., Thursday, November 30
Place: St. Kotryna Church, Vilniaus street no. 30, Vilnius
Condolences
We are sad to report the death of Markas Javičius. He was born in 1938 and was a member of the Kaunas Jewish Community, and a client of the LJC Saul Kagan Social Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, son and many friends and family members.
Kabalat Shabat
Maria Dubrovsky, founder of Moishe House WithOut Walls (MH-WOW) in Israel, invites you to a Kabalat Shabat celebration at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius this Friday.
“During these difficult times it is more important than ever to come together, to feel the sense of home, the warmth of tradition and our common history,” Maria said, inviting everyone to come light a candle, perform kaddish, sing the Sabbath hymns and share bread.
Registration is required due to increased security concerns. Please register at https://forms.gle/YyUyu3zSUNtG3A7S7.
Time: 4:30 P.M., Friday, November 24
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius
More information available via facebook here.
Eightieth Anniversary of Liquidation and Uprising of Vilnius Ghetto: International Conference “Ideologies of Hate and Hope in Modern Jewish History”
You’re invited to the final event in our commemoration of the 80th anniversary of liquidation of the Vilnius ghetto this year, the international conference “Ideologies of Hate and Hope in Modern Jewish History” in Constitution Hall in Building 1 at the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.
Participants must register by internet before 3:00 P.M. on Monday, November 27, here: https://bit.ly/40NAUZ3
The conference will be conducted in Lithuanian and English with translations. It is being held through the efforts of the Polish Jewish History Institute, YIVO and the Lithuanian Jewish Community. It will be streamed on the LJC’s facebook page.
Program:
Scout Hike
Scouts and parents are invited to a fall hike Sunday, November 26. The hike is a free event and open to all children and their parents. Please register by internet before midnight, November 24, by clicking here: https://forms.gle/fbDdB1HDhBUQKw976
For more information, contact hike leader Adelina Kofman by telephone at 860581922 or write skautai@lzb.lt.
Ilja Bereznickas Exhibit
The Jewish Culture and Information Center in Vilnius is hosting an exhibit this week till November 26 of works by Ilja Bereznickas, the Lithuanian animator, caricaturist, author and filmmaker. The exhibit celebrates Ilja’s 75th birthday. The Jewish Culture and Information Center is located at Mėsinių street no. 3a/5 in the Vilnius Old Town.
Standing with Israel in Pakruojis
The Pakruojis wooden synagogue hosted an event yesterday to support Israel, organized by the Šiauliai Jewish Religious Community.
Before the Holocaust the wooden synagogue–one of only a handful still standing in Europe–was the center of Jewish life and religion.
The one-day photography exhibit there was actually two related exhibits: 22 photographs out of the 724 victims to mark the 80th anniversary of the Kinder Aktion or children’s mass murder operation in the Šiauliai ghetto collected and arranged by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Authority in Israel and the Šiauliai Jewish Religious Community, and pictures of the 242 hostages taken by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including babies, children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.
Solidarity Bracelets
The World Zionist Organization has embarked on a project to distribute commemorative prayer and spirit-strengthening bracelets, which combine the feelings of cohesion, unity, and victory.
The bracelets consist of three values:
In their memory – Dedicated to the memory of the civilians and martyrs who were murdered and fell since the beginning of the war. “And I have cleansed their blood I have not cleansed, and the Lord dwells in Zion” (Joel 4:21)
For their safe return – represents the hope and prayer for the return home of the abductees; those who were cruelly separated from their families, who are experiencing hell, and were taken captive by bloodthirsty enemies. “And I took you from the nations and gathered you from all the countries and brought you to your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24)
For victory – represents the aspiration and confidence in the eternity of the people of Israel, in the victory of its soldiers, in the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. “Blessed are you, Israel, who is like you, a people saved by God, He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword, your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights” (Deuteronomy, 33: 29)
We invite you to take part in the project, receive the bracelets free of charge, wear them, and spread this message widely, as an expression of support and partnership in the fate of the people of Israel.
To receive a bracelet, please click here: https://www.wzo.org.il/department/haravotbarzel/spirit-strengthening-bracelets/en
Sincerely,
Or Cohen
Darna Festival a Success
Thank you to all the participants and attendees for making this year’s Darna Festival to celebrate the International Day of Tolerance a success.
Some snapshots from the festival:
Hanukkah
The first light of Hanukkah will be lit at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius with Rabbi Aharon Shmuel Baskin, singing, dancing, Hanukkah treats and smiles. Stay tuned for more details.
Everyone is invited. The event starts at 6:00 P.M. on December 7 at the Choral Synagogue, Pylimo street no. 39, Vilnius.
Pakruojis Wooden Synagogue Hosts Photo Exhibit on Kinder Aktion and Hamas Hostages
The Šiauliai Jewish Community is holding a half-day photography exhibit at the wooden synagogue in Pakruojis on November 20 detailing the painful past of the Jewish people and current events.
The first part of the exhibit is a joint project between the Šiauliai Religious Jewish Community and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem to mark the 80th anniversary of the Kinder Aktion or children’s mass murder operation at the Šiauliai ghetto. It only contains a small number of photographs of victims conserved by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.
The second section features the 240 people taken hostage by Hamas and held in the Gaza Strip, including fathers, mothers, children, teenagers, the elderly and the disabled.
Time: 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday, November 20
Place: Pakruojis synagogue, Kranto street no. 8, Pakruojis, Lithuania
DJ A at Darna Festival
DJ A, also known as Anuška, will display her skills at the Darna Festival to celebrate the International Day of Tolerance at the Lithuanian Jewish Community on Thursday, November 16. The festival is free and open to the public and begins at 6:30 P.M.
Algirdas Davidavičius to Speak at Darna Festival
Philosopher and ethics teacher Algirdas Davidavičius will share his ideas about harmony and tolerance at the Darna Festival to celebrate International Day of Tolerance at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius on Thursday, November 16.
“At the current time it isn’t sufficient for being a good person to speak abstractedly of good behavior, to criticize or comment on military actions from a safe distance. We are all moral if not actual soldiers for a better common culture. Each one of us must choose which values we defend, because if we don’t defend them we will become hostages and participants of regimes of superstitious fear and violence,” Davidavičius said.
The Darna Festival opens at 6:30 P.M. and is free and open to the public.
Duettissimo Concert at Darna Festival
One Dutch newspaper called them the Dream Duo. Violinist Dalia Dėdinskaitė and cellist Gleb Pyšniak’s Duettissimo have been performing since 2009 and have earned a name for themselves as one of the most remarkable groups of young people performing classical music in Lithuania.
They’re performing as part of the Darna Festival to celebrate the International Day of Tolerance at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius Thursday, November 16. The festival starts at 6:30 P.M. and is free and open to the general public.
Happy Birthday
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!
Condolences
We are sad to report the death of Boris Pojurovskis in September. He was born in 1936. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, daughter Eleonora and grandson Artūras as well as to his many other relatives and friends.
Jewish and Other Composers Rarely Heard in Lithuania at This Year’s Darna Festival
The Lithuanian Jewish Community and Cvi Parkas are holding the third annual Darna Festival to celebrate the International Day of Tolerance tomorrow, November 16, with a series of readings and musical performances.
The classical music group Duo Andersson, Julija Andersson on violin and brother Paulius on piano, will present a series of rarely-heard classical and contemporary works by Lera Auerbach, Jewish Lithuanian composer Anatolijus Šenderovas and Philip Glass in the Jascha Heifetz Hall on the third floor of the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. The Darna Festival is free and open to the public.
Australian Musician Skye Magnus to Perform at Darna Festival
Australian composer and musician Skye Magnus will perform her musical works at the Darna Festival on Thursday, November 16, at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. Her music touches on themes of love, misfortune, the spirit and God. The festival starts at 6:30 P.M.