Natalja Cheifec’s discussion club meets via internet at 5:30 this Thursday, January 23, with the topic of health and medicine. She will discuss 33 recommendations by Maimonides on how to stay healthy into old age, including the relationship between physical and spiritual health, the place of vegetarianism within the Jewish worldview, and much more information on avoiding illness and maintaining a healthy mind.
To receive zoom credentials, click here.
The Sabbath begins at 4:28 P.M. on Friday, January 17, and concludes at 5:31 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 4:10 P.M. and completed before sunset at 4:28 P.M.
Natalja Cheifetz’s discussion club will discuss the greenest of Jewish holidays, Tu b’Shvat, at their next meeting via zoom at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, January 16. Sometimes described as Jewish Arbor Day, the 15th day of the month of Shvat falls on February 13 this year. Everyone is invited to attend. To gain zoom credentials and indicate topics of interest for discussion, click here.
Australian media outlets reported two more attacks on synagogues in the last two days. The Allawah Synagogue in Sydney was spay-painted with anti-Semitic phrases and swastikas early Friday morning local time. The Newtown Synagogue was graffitied and fire officials detected accelerant intended to set the house of prayer ablaze. Times of Israel reports Australian police and government officials are undertaking counter-terrorism measures to prevent the continuing anti-Semitic attacks.
Full story here.
The Sabbath begins at 4:14 P.M. on Friday, January 10, and concludes at 5:20 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:58 P.M. and completed before sunset at 4:14 P.M. Friday is also Asarah b’Tevet, a fast day to mourn the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia.
The Panevėžys Jewish Community celebrated Hanukkah with gusto this year. Pictures below.
Jewish tradition expert and educator Natalja Cheifec’s Shalom discussion club is starting the new year with a zoom meeting at 5:30 P.M. on January 9. To receive log-on credentials click here. Please indicate your topics of interest on the registration page. Everyone is welcome.
A public menorah display in the city of Šiauliai’s central square and walking mall was lit on each consecutive night of Hanukkah to remind passers-by of the victory of the light over darkness. Chabad Lubavitch also provided holiday food at the Šiauliai District Jewish Community.
The Kaunas Jewish Community celebrated Hanukkah with an evening of music with guests from Israel, Scotland and the USA. The celebration at the Višta Puode restaurant included traditional foods and a holiday quiz as well.
“Be healthy, curious, positive. Dream bravely and make your plans, even if they seem unrealistic to others and to you yourself at first, come true. May happiness and success visit you and your homes ever more, and more and more light and peace visit the world,” Kaunas Jewish Community chairman Gercas Žakas wished the audience.
The Sabbath begins at 4:06 P.M. on Friday, January 3, and concludes at 5:11 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Sabbath candles should be lit at 3:48 P.M. and completed before sunset at 4:06 P.M.
Everyone is invited to attenda 3-D light show, accompanied by music and traditional Hanukkah treats and warm tea. Boris Kizner and the Faylerkh ensemble will perform.
Time: 6:30 P.M., Monday, December 30
Place: Outside the Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
The Sabbath begins at 3:58 P.M. on Friday, December 27, and concludes at 5:04 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region. Friday is also the third night of Hanukkah. Hanukiya and Sabbath candles should be lit before the onset of Sabbath, starting at 3:40 P.M.
Hanukkah starts today, December 25. Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky sends her holiday greetings to everyone and wishes you light in your life, love in your family and friendship in your surroundings.
Happy holidays! Hag Hanukkah sameakh!
by Michelle Rosenberg
In its largest one-time seasonal award, Jewish Foundation for the Righteous sends £250k to rescuers in 10 countries including Australia, Hungary, Romania and Sweden
The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous is sending more than £254k to 83 Righteous Gentile rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust living in 10 different countries–the largest one-time seasonal award in the foundation’s history.
The JFR provides financial stipends for aged and needy Righteous Gentiles, helping to repay a debt of gratitude on behalf of the Jewish people for their heroism.
Since its founding, the foundation has provided more than £35 million to an estimated 3,600 rescuers in more than 34 countries.
As the years pass since the Holocaust the number of living rescuers has dwindled. The remaining Righteous Gentiles receiving this year’s holiday awards live in Australia, Belarus, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Ukraine.
Full story here.
School was target of previous overnight shootings in October and May. Hate crime unit investigating shots fired at Jewish elementary school, 3rd this year.
Toronto police are investigating another incident of gunshots fired outside a Jewish girls elementary school in North York. Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School was the target of two previous overnight shootings in October and May.
Toronto police are investigating after a Jewish girls elementary school in North York was shot at for the third time this year.
The most recent shooting at the Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School happened shortly after 2:30 A.M. Friday, according to superintendent Paul MacIntyre.
The Sabbath begins at 3:36 P.M. on Friday, December 20, and concludes at 4:59 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
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
Dear parents and children and young adults in the Dubi, Ilan and Knafaim Clubs,
The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to a holiday celebration called Hannukah Is Here! The event includes:
• Havadala ceremony
• Fire show “Lords of the Flame”
• Performance by magician with bewitching tricks and a good dose of fun
• Traditional Hanukkah foods
• Gifts
Please note: registration is only open till 2:00 P.M., December 20. To register, send an email to levickajasimona@gmail.com with the names of all attendees including parents and children plus their ages. If your plans change and you cannot attend, please send an email indicating that as well. Please be on time, the doors close at 4:15 P.M. For more information, write or call (+370) 678 81514.
Time: 4:00 P.M., Saturday, December 21
Place: Bagel Shop Café, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius
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.
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.