The Union of Former Ghetto and Concentration Camp Prisoners mours the passing of Jevgenija Kolman. She was born in 1934 and was a prisoner in the Kaunas ghetto. Deepest condolences are extended to her daughter Diana, son Eduardas and her many friends and relatives. Her loss is our loss.
Lithuanian Parliamentary Speaker Visits Israel
Lithuanian speaker of parliament Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen toured Yad Vashem and opened an honorary Lithuanian consulate in Netanya Monday. During her visit she met with Israeli president Isaac Herzog and Knesset speaker Mickey Levy.
She plans to visit Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh in the occupied territories as well, and to attend a round-table discussion with Palestinian women’s organizations. The trip to Israel and the occupied territories is scheduled from February 6 to 10.
She pledged Lithuanian support to Israel in the international arena.
Šiauliai’s First Professional Photographer Reveals Interwar World
The Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community is hosting an exhibit of photographs from their archive by Sošana Zaksaitė, the city’s first professional photographer. Zaksaitė’s photos capture Jewish life in Šiauliai before the Holocaust.
This is the Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community’s second exhibit of Zaksaitė’s photography.
Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community chairman Sania Kerbelis says the current exhibit continues where the last one left off. The Community has a digitized collection of Zaksaitė’s work numbering around 300 photos.
Full story in Lithuanian here.
Kabbalat Shabat
A Kabbalat Shabat ceremony will be held via internet under the tenets of Progressive Judaism at 6:30 P.M. on February 11. To register, write Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt
Panevėžys Jewish Community Receives an Extraordinary Guest
The Panevėžys Jewish Community received an unusual guest on January 26: modern art genius from South Africa William Kentridge-Geffen and wife.
The artist was invited to Lithuania to participate in the “Kaunas, Cultural Capital of Europe 2022” program. An exhibition of his work is now showing at the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum.
Kentridge-Geffen is an intellectual and a person who causes others to think and feel. His sources of inspiration range from science to literature and his artistic methods are the most varied, from sketches with coal to painting, textiles, animated films and opera productions, demonstrating his broad education and broad field of interests.
William Kentridge-Geffen said Lithuania made a deep impression on him because of its natural beauty and architectural legacy. He said with obvious emotion:
Happy Birthday to Aleksandras Rutenbergas
Aleksandras Rutenbergas celebrated his 75th birthday Monday.
We wish our always active member a very happy birthday, good health and good times. Aleksandras, your contribution to maintaining Jewish heritage is great. You helped build the Tolerance Center of the Vilna Gaon Museum at the site of the former theater there. You were always there in the middle when there was work to be done. You introduced Europe to Litvak heritage, organizing two exhibitions of Vilnius ghetto posters in Padua and Strasbourg.
We would like to express our great respect for your good work and your tolerance.
Mazl tov. Bis 120!
Condolences
Lithuanian Jewish Community member and social department client Michali Soloveičik has passed away. He was born in 1930. We extend our deepest condolences to his sons Maksas and Igoris, his grandchildren and other family members.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 4:44 P.M. on Friday, February 4, and concludes at 6:03 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Art Classes
The Raimondas Savickas School of Art and the Lithuanian Jewish Community invite you to attend art classes under the tutelage of Raimondas Savickas, including drawing, painting and art history basics. Color and form composition, still life, sketching, life-drawing–these are just some of the topics to be covered. Classes will be held on Sundays starting February 6. To register call 8 699 63 522 or send a letter to savickogalerija@gmail.com
Condolences
Meri Dobrynina passed away February 1 at the age of 100. She was a member of the Community and a social department client. We extend our deepest condolences to her daughter Tatjana, grandson Jevgenijus and other family members.
Sergei Liser Exhibit Opens
The opening of an exhibition of paintings by Sergei Liser called “Išlikę indai” [Surviving Vessels] was held January 30 at the Bagel Shop Café at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius with the painter and his family, many friends and some famous artists. LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky, Vilnius Art Academy rector and teacher Ieva Skauronė and LJC programs director Žana Skudovičienė welcomed visitors at the event.
“Surviving Vessels is my second individual exhibit. It’s strange tales about the history of dishes where the fates of people as well as dishes are intertwined. Dishes, like people, change in appearance over time–they mature, grow old and die, they change color and form, they wear out,” Sergei Liser said. “But sometimes they become members of the family, preserving important memories and pass biographies and stories on to us. And for that, we love and honor them, even when they get grey and old, break down and become dysfunctional.”
The exhibit will run till February 28 and the paintings are available for purchase.
Project “Young Leaders of the Jewish and Roma Communities for the Preservation of Historical Memory and Justice”
The year 2021 reminded us all of the suffering and misfortune the people of Lithuania had to live through in the 20th century, finding themselves at the intersection of the interests of the world’s great powers. There were commemorations, conferences and exhibitions throughout Lithuania. Even so, we haven’t done all our homework to insure the preservation of historical memory and teaching the younger generation a deeper sense of history don’t merely become annual events, but an inalienable part of national politics where all institutions work towards a common goal in a coordinated way, so that the combined resources of the state and society work together according to a clear strategy.
The Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Roma Social Center are beginning the implementation of a project called Young Leaders of the Jewish and Roma Communities for the Preservation of Historical Memory and Justice organized by Germany’s EVZ Foundation aimed at teaching the public the importance of the history of the Roma and Jewish communities with the goal of including and engaging the younger generation of both communities.
Do members of these communities feel safe living in their own country?
Parliamentary Amendments to Law on Citizenship to Allow for Restoring Lost Ties
The Lithuanian Jewish Community welcomes the decision by the Lithuanian parliament to approve amendments to the Law on Citizenship correcting long standing gaps (since 2017) in legal regulations and creating opportunities for closer ties between the Litvak communities in Lithuania and the world.
“The Lithuanian state often underlines its connection with notable Litvaks and their descendants, takes pride in their achievements and invites them to visit Lithuania. At the same time, it has to be stated that for many years these same people had to have iron constitutions when attempting to restore Lithuanian citizenship. I have called consistently on all Lithuanian institutions to solve this problem and I am pleased to say that today we can see the result of that joint effort,” Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman, attorney Faina Kukliansky said.
These amendments broaden the circle of people with the right to restore Lithuanian citizenship. The procedure until now demanded those seeking to restore their Lithuanian citizenship prove that their ancestor who had Lithuanian citizenship (or if they themselves had it) was a citizen on April 15, 1940. This requirement demanded exhaustive research of historical facts which demonstrated and proved which citizenship documents the person or his or her ancestor had in their possession until April 15, 1940 (exclusively), and at what moment and on what basis these people acquired the citizenship of another country. Moreover, there are no institutions which issue certificates showing that a person was a Lithuanian citizen on April 15, 1940. With the adoption of these amendments, now one only has to prove they were a Lithuanian citizen at any time, and that they didn’t lose that citizenship at that time in a manner prescribed by law. Implementation of these amended regulations means the bureaucracy will be reduced for those seeking to restore their Lithuanian citizenship and opportunities will be insured for members of the Litvak community around the world to restore their connection with Lithuania.
Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe on Šnipiškės Cemetery
PRESS RELEASE by the Committee for the Protection of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe
(CPJCE)
January 18, 2022
The Lithuanian Government reaffirms its commitment to follow CPJCE guidelines on future plans of the Sports Palace Building situated in the Snipiskes Jewish cemetery in Vilnius.
The future function of the existing Sports Palace Building was discussed at a meeting held in Vilnius on November 25, 2021, between first deputy chancellor Mr. Rolandas Krisciunas, accompanied by his working team, and Mrs. Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, together with Rabbi H. Gluck OBE and Rabbi Y. Schlesinger representing the CPJCE.
Rabbi Gluck pointed out that regardless what the future plans hold, the Government must respect the agreements signed between the Government and the CPJCE in 2009 and 2015 and therefore no movement of soil is allowed in the entire cemetery area, and the Government should continue to work hand-in-hand with CPJCE to ensure the safeguarding of the cemetery and other cemeteries in the framework of the halachic guidelines.
Challenges of the Holocaust to Commemorative Culture and the Legal System
Arkadijus Vinokuras will host a discussion on the topic “Challenges of the Holocaust to Commemorative Culture and the Legal System” in Lithuanian as part of the #ŽydiskiPašnekesai series of discussions at 5:00 P.M. on February 9. The discussion will likely include a streaming video available via the Community’s facebook page.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 4:30 P.M. on Friday, January 28, and concludes at 5:50 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Moshe Kantor Calls for a Change of Direction towards Youth in Fight against Anti-Semitism
Wednesday, January 26, 2022–European Jewish Congress president Moshe Kantor called on leaders, decision-makers and opinion-shapers around the world to rethink the way antisemitism is fought, and to reorientate policy towards younger generations.
Kantor delivered a keynote speech at an official International Holocaust Remembrance Day event alongside French president Emmanuel Macron, president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Council Charles Michel, newly elected president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, vice president of the European Commission and European commissioner for promoting the European way of life Margaritis Schinas, former French prime minister Manuel Valls and president of the Representative Council of French Jewish institutions (CRIF) Francis Kalifat.
The event, organized by the European Jewish Congress, was held in cooperation with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and CRIF.
“Today’s youth are not aware or concerned about the lessons of World War II or the Shoah,” Kantor said, noting 2022 has been designated as the European Year of Youth. “We have to understand better their concerns and aspirations and speak to them in their language.”
Full speech here.
Holocaust Distortion Is the Real Challenge Today
Eastern Europe’s post-Soviet “new democracies” have taken to falsely equating Communist and Nazi regimes and denying the role they played in the genocide
Last week a minor miracle occurred, at of all places the United Nations. For only the second time since the establishment of Israel, the General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by the Jewish state. In fact, the support for the resolution was so overwhelming that it was approved by consensus, meaning that it passed without a country by country vote, with the only objection registered in the 193 country body by (surprise, surprise) the Iranians.
The resolution itself deserves scrutiny. It expresses concern over “the growing prevalence of Holocaust denial or distortion through the use of information and communications technologies,” and urges all UN members to “reject, without any reservation, any denial or distortion of the Holocaust as a historical event, either in full or in part, or any activities to this end.” It also called upon all UN members “to develop educational programs that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of the Holocaust in order to help to prevent future acts of genocide.”
Symbolically, the resolution was passed on the 80th anniversary of the Wannsee Conference of January 20, 1942, at which 15 leading Nazi officials and SS operatives were informed of the decision to launch the “Final Solution of the Jewish Question,” and the details of its implementation.
Full article here.
Resurrection of the Palace of Sports: Could It Become a Jewish Memorial?
On International Holocaust Day Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė told LRT.lt the Palace of Sports complex in Vilnius could become a memorial to Jews. For more than a decade now there has been consideration on how to renovate this historical building of brutalist architecture. The main idea was to create a modern conference center, but the Government might not go along with this now.
The building has a unique roof and is an example of brutalism [Soviet architecture]. If there are even a few sites in the Lithuanian capital where it’s possible to travel back through time in an instant, the Palace of Sports is one of them. Abandoned and apparently forgotten, although it once throbbed with life.
Many Lithuanian music stars performed on its stage and festivals and plays were held there.
In 1989 while the USSR still existed the group Sonic Youth performed there.
The Lithuanian independence movement Sąjūdis held its founding conference there.
Vilnius Ghetto Tour on Holocaust Day
The Lithuanian Jewish Community, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry and the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium invited resident diplomats and representatives of Lithuanian institutions to a walking tour of the ghetto territory in Vilnius on January 27, International Holocaust Day. The LJC would like to thank the foreign minister, members of parliament and ambassadors and embassy staff for joining us in remembering the victims of the Holocaust.