Learning, History, Culture – Page 2 – Lithuanian Jewish Community

Celebrated Litvak Architect Visits Lithuanian Jewish Community

By invitation of the Goodwill Foundation and the Lithuanian Jewish Community, world-renowned Litvak architect Massimiliano Fuksas paid a visit to Vilnius this week.

The author of extraordinary projects around the world, Italian Litvak Fuksas and Studio Fuksas director Giovanni Podesta met with the co-chairpeople of the Goodwill Foundation–Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and American Jewish Committee International Jewish Affairs Department director Rabbi Andrew Baker–as well as GWF director Indrė Rutkauskaitė and toured Jewish Vilna, met members of the GWF board of directors, spoke with Israeli Antiquities Authority architect Jon Seligman, met the architects Daina and James Ferguson and also met with Lithuanian ambassador to Italy Dalia Kreivienė and Italian embassy to Lithuania chargé d’affaires Alice Barberis.

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Condolences

Mina Levina passed away Wednesday, December 18. She was born in 1937 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 family members and friends.

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Condolences

Tamara Adrinovskaya has died. She was born in 1934 and was a member of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and a client served by the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. We extend our deepest condolences to her daughter Liudmila, her grandchildren and many loved ones.

2024-12-19

Goodwill Foundation Board Members Meet Speaker of Parliament

The co-chairpeople of the Goodwill Foundation–Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky and American Jewish Committee International Jewish Affairs Department director Rabbi Andrew Baker–have met with the new speaker of the Lithuanian parliament and former prime minister Saulius Skvernelis.

They discussed the Middle East and the rising tide of anti-Semitic incidents in Europe. Speaker Skvernelis affirmed Lithuania is a safe country for Jews.

“The fight against anti-Semitism must be a constant on the political agenda. Everyone knows my views of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism from the time when I was prime minister, and my views haven’t changed even a little. We will not tolerate expressions of anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial or disrespect towards Holocaust victims. I believe we as a country under the rule of law will judge anti-Semitic expressions as a legal matter, and our newly-formed ruling coalition will be a reliable and trustworthy partner in that,” Skvernelis said during their meeting.

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Hanukkah Kabalat Shabat

The Progressive Judaism association Bnei Maskilim invites you to attend the lighting of the third Hanukkah light while greeting the Sabbath with psalms and blessings, followed by holiday foods and kiddush. The ceremony will take place on third floor of the Lithuanian Jewish Community followed by kiddush and treats at the Bagel Shop Café at street level.

The cost is 20 euros for adults and 10 euros for children from 3 years of age. Registration is required by sending an email to viljamas@lzb.lt.

Time: 4:00 P.M., Friday, December 27
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Bagel Shop Café, Vilnius

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Ghost of Facebook Past Comes to Haunt Rookie MP

On Wednesday, December 11, the Lithuanian parliament’s Ethics and Procedures Commission met to discuss facebook posts made in the past by newly-elected MP Petras Dargis, who belongs to the controversial Nemuno Aušra party led by Remigijus Žemaitaitis.

In the posts in question, Dargis published an indecent picture of a prostitute leaning into the driver’s side window of an automobile, saying, “I’ll do everything your wife doesn’t.” The speech balloon of the driver says, “Can you make me a tasty goulash?”

More troubling are older posts dating back to September of 2011 where Dargis repeats anti-Semitic jokes. In one, a father asks his sons how the good Santa Claus differs from the evil Jew. Santa is good and the Jew is bad, one says. Another chimes in: Santa gives gifts from out of his bag, but the Jew takes them and puts them in the bag. That’s all true, the father says, but more importantly, Santa enters by coming down the chimney, and the Jews exits by going up the chimney.

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Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club: Holiday Edition

Natalja Cheifec continues her series of discussions with “The Miracle of Hanukkah” which will address:

• The holiday of Hanukkah as a conservator of tradition;
• What the Most High does during Hanukkah;
• Why Jews observe the burning of candles during Hanukkah;
• What the doughnuts are about and what Hanukkah geld means.

It’s happening this Thursday, December 19, at 5:30 P.M. via zoom.

To register and receive zoom credentials, click here. Remember to includes which topics interest you for possible future discussion while registering.

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Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights

Everyone is invited to come view a 3-D light show, accompanied by traditional Hanukkah treats and warm tea.

Time: 6:30 P.M., Monday, December 30
Place: Outside the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius

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Condolences

Boris Spevak has died. He was born in 1932 and was a long-standing member of the Klaipėda Jewish Community and more recently a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. He passed away on December 10. Our deepest condolences to his children, relatives and many friends.

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Condolences

Nina Baitlerytė passed away December 10. She was born in 1937. She was a member of the Šiauliai Jewish Community for many years and was beloved by all. The entire Lithuanian Jewish Community mourns her loss and extends our deepest condolences to her sister Frida and her many loved ones.

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IHRA Member-State Reps Meet in London

Delegations and representatives of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance met in congress in London from December 2 to 5 to discuss current events in Holocaust and Roma genocide commemoration, education and combating anti-Semitism. Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky was part of Lithuania’s legation.

The plenary session discussed rising anti-Semitism in Europe and conflicts in the Middle East.

Eric Pickles who serves as chairman of IHRA said Jews are more afraid now than ever before, making fighting hatred and preserving memory more important than ever as well.

Lithuanian ambassador for special assignments Arvydas Daunoravičius led the Lithuanian legation. Other members of Lithuania’s team were chosen by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, Education Ministry, Ethnic Minorities Department, the International Commission for the Assessment of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupational Regimes in Lithuania and the Vilna Gaon Jewish History Museum. Kukliansky represented the Lithuanian Jewish Community among the Lithuanian delegates.

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EJC and UNESCO Reps Meet in Paris to Discuss Combating Anti-Semitism

Representatives from the EJC and UNESCO have been meeting for several days in Paris to discuss better ways of fighting anti-Semitism through public education. Faina Kukliansky represented the Lithuanian Jewish Community at those talks.

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Natalja Cheifec’s Discussion Club Continues

Natalja Cheifec’s #ŠALOM discussion club will meet via zoom at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, December 12. Register here. Don’t forget to mention topics of interest to you on the registration form!

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Ping-Pong at Sholem

The Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium and the Lithuanian Makabi Athletics Club invite everyone to take part in a table tennis tourney called Hanukkah Special with five separate groups competing.

To register, click here.

Time: 12:30 P.M., Wednesday, December 11
Place: Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium, Kraševskio street no. 5, Vilnius

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Gita-Enta Broydy Performs Yiddish Song in Šiauliai

The Šiauliai Jewish Community invites you to a concert by internationally-acclaimed songstress Gita-Enta Broydy, former resident of Šiauliai, performing Yiddish favorites at the Šiauliai Jewish Community this Friday, December 13, starting at 5:30 P.M. Everyone is welcome.

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Awaiting Hanukkah

In the run-up to Hanukkah, the Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to an evening of music called Awaiting Hanukkah with performances by the jazz group Stardust Trio and violin duo Double Cores with Boris Kirzner and Michail Bolshun.

The cost is 20 euros and prior registration is required via email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt, For more information call (+370) 678 81514.

Time: 7:00 P.M., Friday, December 20
Place: Bagel Shop Café, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius

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News from Šiauliai

Ričardas Pikelis launched his first book “Čia mano žemė” [My Land Is Here] at the Šiauliai Jewish Community Friday. The publication of his book was the idea of the late Sania Kerbelis, the long-standing chairman of the Community who passed away this year.

It contains poetry and prose with an emphasis on the author’s appreciation of the beauty and pathos of the natural world. Monika Šaltytė and Vladas Baranauskas recited his poetry. Jūratė Adomavičiūtė played the kanklės, a Lithuanian folk instrument, and Morta Meiliulytė played violin. Albertas Martinaitis gave guests gifts hand-carved from stone.

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