A Kabbalat Shabat ceremony will be held on the zoom platform at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, April 1. To register, write Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt.
![Sabbath Times Sabbath Times](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/hey3-670x300.jpg)
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 6:21 P.M. on Friday, March 25, and concludes at 7:38 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
![Synagogues of Ukraine, Past and Present Synagogues of Ukraine, Past and Present](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Синагога_на_Подолі_вул._Щекавицька_29_в_Киеве_2-670x300.jpg)
Synagogues of Ukraine, Past and Present
by Abby Seitz
The borders of modern-day Ukraine encompass parts of what was once the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795), the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918), the Russian Empire (1721-1917) and the former Soviet Union (1922-1991). The history of Jews in Ukraine goes back over 1,000 years; sources in the Cairo Genizah note a Jewish presence in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, as early as 930 CE. Throughout Ukraine’s history, Jews could be found in major cities and in shtetls alike.
Many synagogues were built from the 13th through the 18th centuries, especially in the region of Galicia. Few of these structures remain. Synagogues were a common target during pogroms which hit with full force throughout the 19th century; additionally, many Jewish community buildings were destroyed by Nazi forces during World War II.
In the second half of the 20th century, nearly all surviving synagogues were confiscated by the Soviet Union and used for a variety of state purposes, ranging from storage warehouses to opera houses. Upon declaring independence in 1991, the newly sovereign state of Ukraine returned many synagogues back to remaining Jewish communities. Today, a small number of historical synagogues have been restored and continue to serve as hubs of Jewish prayer and education. Other synagogues are permanently gone, with only a plaque nearby to remind passersby of the Jewish community that once gathered there.
![Some Snapshots from the Commemoration Marking 100 Years since Judith Kaplan’s First Bat Mitzvah Some Snapshots from the Commemoration Marking 100 Years since Judith Kaplan’s First Bat Mitzvah](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/batmitzvah2_title-1-670x300.jpg)
Some Snapshots from the Commemoration Marking 100 Years since Judith Kaplan’s First Bat Mitzvah
Rabbi Nathan Alfred from Israel led the shaharit prayer service at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius on Saturday, March 19. Female members of the congregation read passages from the Torah in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Judith Kaplan’s bat mitzvah.
![Justice and Courts according to the Torah Justice and Courts according to the Torah](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NATALJA-Instagram-Post-Facebook-Event-Cover-670x300.png)
Justice and Courts according to the Torah
Natalja Cheifec will hold a lecture this week called “Justice and the Courts according to the Torah,” talking about criteria for selecting judges, the definition of theft in Judaism, crime and punishment, the death penalty, compensation for harm inflicted, the laws of warfare and other topics. To register, click here.
![Sabbath Times Sabbath Times](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sabcan-670x300.jpg)
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 6:10 P.M. on Friday, March 18, and concludes at 7:24 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
![LJC Holds Purim Celebration for Ukrainian Refugees LJC Holds Purim Celebration for Ukrainian Refugees](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/IMG_8792-670x300.jpg)
LJC Holds Purim Celebration for Ukrainian Refugees
The Lithuanian Jewish Community held an event to introduce refugees from Ukraine about the Jewish holiday Purim.
Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky met with families who arrived a week ago from Ukraine and taught them the traditions of Purim, including Hamantashen, the pastry usually shared during this holiday.
“The story of Hamantashen pastry brings hope. And if you can kindle hope in people, you enrich yourself as well, and you can look at life in a different way. Jews know what it means to be a refugee. No one wanted to take us in, and we lived through horrific times. We cannot allow the children of today to have such sad eyes. We must extend a helping hand and inspire hope in them and their parents,” Faina Kukliansky said.
![Sweet Purim Greetings from Lithuanian Jewish Community Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky Sweet Purim Greetings from Lithuanian Jewish Community Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PURIM-CARD_9-copy-670x300.jpg)
Sweet Purim Greetings from Lithuanian Jewish Community Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky
Happy Purim! Hag Purim sameakh!
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
Faina Kukliansky’s hamantashen recipe:
For the dough you’ll need:
125 ml milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
500 ml flour
100 g butter
1 egg yolk
![Purim Celebration for Children Purim Celebration for Children](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/hamentashen_bagel_shop-670x300.jpg)
Purim Celebration for Children
The Lithuanian Jewish Community will hold a Purim carnival with purimshpilen and a performance by Fayerlakh for children at 12 noon on March 20. To register and for more information, contact Margarita by calling 37061800577 or by sending her an email at margarita.kozevatova@gmail.com
![Purim Greetings from Professor Bumelis Purim Greetings from Professor Bumelis](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Hamentashen-litvak-670x300.jpg)
Purim Greetings from Professor Bumelis
Professor Vladas Algirdas Bumelis has sent Purim greetings to the Lithuanian Jewish Community, with the wish the holiday will allow us to look courageously and resolutely to the future.
![Purim Lecture Purim Lecture](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/mes-prisimenam-1-670x300.png)
Purim Lecture
Purim is almost here, the happiest spring holiday, but its true meaning is the Jewish struggle for physical survival, just as topical now as ever. Natalja Cheifec invites you to her internet lecture on the meaning and traditions of Purim. It will take place beginning at 5:30 P.M. on Thursday, March 17, in the Lithuanian Jewish Community’s zoom room. Register here.
![EJC Launches Aid Deliveries for Refugees Fleeing Ukraine EJC Launches Aid Deliveries for Refugees Fleeing Ukraine](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/000_9955D-670x300.jpg)
EJC Launches Aid Deliveries for Refugees Fleeing Ukraine
March 10, 2022–As part of its ongoing efforts to assist refugees fleeing Ukraine, the EJC has initiated deliveries of trucks to the Hungarian and Slovak border with Ukraine.
With the help of Jewish communities in bordering countries, especially the Federation of Jewish Communities in Slovakia (ÚZŽNO) and the Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities (MAZSIHISZ), relief trucks containing basic necessities including food, medicine, sanitary products and other items are being sent out to provide immediate aid to refugees fleeing Ukraine.
EJC executive vice-president and CEO Raya Kalenova together with EJC vice-president Dr. Ariel Muzicant and ÚZŽNO president Richard Duda supervised the first dispatch of trucks leaving Bratislava to the Slovak- and Hungarian-Ukrainian borders. Deliveries will be replenished on a constant basis and expanded to further locations according to needs on the ground.
“Our goal is to assist as many refugees as possible during this urgent humanitarian situation, and to provide them with a measure of relief and safety,” Kalenova said.
![On War, Women and Sunflowers On War, Women and Sunflowers](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/BluePoppy-670x300.jpg)
On War, Women and Sunflowers
The Pakruojis synagogue will host this event at 3:00 P.M. on Friday, March 18. Neringa Latvytė will give a presentation called “We Were All Heroines: Experiences of Jewish Women in World War II.” An exhibit of photographs by Sošana Zaksaitė (1906-1959) featuring snapshots from the lost Jewish world will open at the synagogue and be presented by Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community chairman Sania Karbelis. Later in the afternoon Alina Shakhova from Kharkov in the Ukraine will perform a song. Everyone is invited to attend. The street address and telephone number for the Pakruojis synagogue is located to the right of this page.
![Sabbath Times Sabbath Times](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/JDate-Shabbat-Day-Of-Rest_700x467-670x300.jpg)
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 5:56 P.M. on Friday, March 11, and concludes at 7:10 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Kabbalat Shabat
A Kabbalat Shabat ceremony will be held to usher in the Sabbath under the tenets of Progressive Judaism at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius at 6:30 P.M. on March 11. To register, write Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt.
![Concerning Matzo Ordered from Ukraine Concerning Matzo Ordered from Ukraine](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/matzo_lzb_package-670x296.jpg)
Concerning Matzo Ordered from Ukraine
The Lithuanian Jewish Community has always maintained special ties with the Ukrainian Jewish community. In December last year we ordered matzo from the Ukrainian Jewish community which was supposed to be baked and certified kosher under the authority of chief Ukrainian rabbi Dov Yaakov Bleich and then packed and shipped in our original-style package.
We have received a query from Ukrainian Jewish community leaders in recent days asking whether they could return 9,000 euros already paid for this. While we appreciate their honesty and conscientiousness, our reply was that this constitutes a portion of our aid to the Ukrainian Jewish community and this money should be used for the needs of members of the Ukrainian Jewish community.
We reminded the Ukrainian Jewish community every Lithuanian Jewish family stands ready to help all Ukrainian Jews who need help.
We have a special telephone help hotline,+370 665 064 60, and may also be reached at ukraina@lzb.lt
![What You Always Wanted to Know about Jewish Traditions* What You Always Wanted to Know about Jewish Traditions*](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Guided-tour_The-Jewish-women-as-merchants-trade-in-Vokieciu-street-in-the-XIXth-century-Vilnius1.jpg)
What You Always Wanted to Know about Jewish Traditions*
*But Were Afraid to Ask
The #NataljosCheifecKlubas invites lecture attendees to the #KlubasŠalom on zoom from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. on March 10 to answer their questions submitted prior to the conference. Register here.
Historical Prayer Service
Rabbi Nathan Alfred will deliver lectures via internet before an historic and historical Saturday prayer service and Torah reading at 10:00 A.M. on March 19 to mark the 100th anniversary of the bat mitzvah when Judith Kaplan read the Torah portion on March 18, 1922. To register contact Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt or call+37067250699.
![Purim Celebrations Purim Celebrations](https://www.lzb.lt/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SBK-Purim2-7_700x527-670x300.jpg)
Purim Celebrations
Purim is coming up and as usual the Lithuanian Jewish Community is sponsoring multiple celebrations for all age-groups, including but not limited to the following three:
Purim celebration for seniors from the LJC Social Department starting at 1:00 P.M. on March 17. Register by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt or call +37067881514;
Family Purim celebration at 6:30 P.M. on March 18 at the Bagel Shop Café with Rabbi Nathan Alfred, including reading the Book of Esther, Sabbath ceremony and food. Cost is 15 euros. Register by contacting Viljamas at viljamas@lzb.lt or +3067250699;
Purim carnival for children at 12 noon on March 20 with a traditional Purim shpil with the Fayerlakh musical ensemble and our favorite madrichs. Purim foods including Hamen tashn and special guests. Children expected to wear costumes. Register by contacting Margarita at margarita.kozevatova@gmail.com or +37061800577. The event is free.