The Sabbath begins at 3:34 P.M. on Friday, December 10, and concludes at 4:57 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Hanukkah in Panevėžys
Members and guests gathered in the courtyard of the Panevėžys Jewish Community to waatch the lighting of the first Hanukkah light. Song and dance began the holiday according to Jewish tradition. Hanukkah is a holiday which symbolizes freedom, light, hope and good wishes for our families and friends.
Two thousand and two hundred years, a miracle occurred when there was only enough oil for one day. The oil lasted for eight days. This was one of the major miracles in those times. Therefore Jews today celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah in their homes, lighting a candle for each day. We read three prayers and light the first Hanukkah light on the first day.
We read out greetings from our friends and colleagues, and Israel’s ambassador to Lithuania Yossi Avni-Levy greeted us on the holiday of Hanukkah, wishing us light and happiness in our hearts, and he sent on Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s video greeting, as well as those from Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky. Young and old were presented small gifts and holiday packages at the holiday table.
The high holiday spirits imparted hope and joy for our future.
Hanukkah at the Choral Synagogue
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 3:37 P.M. on Friday, December 3, and concludes at 4:59 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Wine Tasting Saturday
Dear Community members,
An exceptional Hanukkah Evening: we’ll light the seventh Hanukkah candle while tasting and discussing wine.
Do you know which wine goes with what dish at the dinner table? Wine expert Edvinas Gurinas will be present at this wine tasting and you’ll learn which wine is appropriate for different dishes through tasting. Traditional Jewish snacks and dishes will be served. We’ll learn why some wine/food combinations work while others put a damper on taste and mood.
Please register by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt. Space is very limited. The event will take place at 5:00 P.M. on December 4at the Bagel Shop Café.
Traditional Jewish Music at the Ukmergė Regional History Museum
Residents of Ukmergė (Vilkomir) and others were invited to attend a Hanukkah concert at the Ukmergė Regional History Museum with the Rakija Klezmer Orkestar performing on November 29, the second day of the eight-day holiday. Ukmergė Regional Jewish Community chairman Artūras Taicas briefly told the audience the story of Hanukkah and what it means. Ukmergė Regional History Museum director Violeta Reipaitė was invited to light the first candle and chairman Taicas lit the second.
Guests were invited to sample traditional Hanukkah dishes with special food packages to take home.
First Light Lit at Choral Synagogue
Here are some photographs from the lighting of the first Hanukkah light at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius Sunday evening.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Sends Hanukkah Greetings to Jews around the World
Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė sent Hanukkah greetings to Jews around the world Sunday, saying: “I greet all the Jews of the world on Hanukkah, on the beginning of the holiday of lights. The lighting of the Hanukkah candles symbolizes the victory of the light over darkness. I hope that this is not just a victory, but also an eternal path of hope and light.”
Full text in Lithuanian here.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 3:43 P.M. on Friday, November 26, and concludes at 5:03 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Vilnius Jewish Religious Community Sends Hanukkah Greetings
Hanukkah Song “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah!” by Theodore Bikel
Israeli Ambassador Visits Panevėžys
Panevėžys mayor Rytis Račkauskas held a reception for Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Yossi Avni-Levy. They spoke about projects taking place in the Lithuanian city and opportunities for cooperation.
“I thank the ambassador and the embassy for their attention to Panevėžys. For many years now we’ve enjoyed intense cooperation between the municipality and the Israeli embassy. I hope and believe our cooperation with our sister-city Ramla and with the embassy will only continue to grow in strength,” Račkauskas said.
The Israeli ambassador met with the Panevėžys Jewish Community and visited Jewish historical and commemoration sites including the former Rabbinate, yeshiva, Jewish high school and the Yavne school following the meeting with the mayor.
Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community Hosting Play for Hanukkah
The Šiauliai Regional Jewish Community is pleased to announce the first-ever appearance by the Lanzheron troupe from Odessa performing “Teza from Our Yard” at the Stairs Galley at Žemaitės street no. 83 in Šiauliai at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 28, the first day of Hanukkah. “Teza” is about life-stories of Jews with a lot of interesting and funny passages with a distinctly Odessan sense of humor. The main character is played by renowned Ukrainian actor Vitaliy Bondarev. Galina Panibratets is the director. The play is in Russian.
Reservations are required and tickets cost 7 euros, or 3.50 euros for seniors, students and children. Please call 841 200 643 or write an email to toma.galerija@gmail.com to register.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 3:52 P.M. on Friday, November 19, and concludes at 5:10 P.M. on Saturday in the Vilnius region.
Invitation to Attend Lighting of First Hanukkah Light
The Lithuanian Jewish Community is pleased to invite you to attend the ceremony to light the first light of the menorah for Hanukkah, symbolizing the beginning of the eight-day holiday. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 28, at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius.
Faina Kukliansky, chairwoman
Lithuanian Jewish Community
Shmuel Levin, chairman
Vilnius Jewish Religious Community
Please announce your intention to attend with an email sent to info@lzb.lt, thank you.
Alanta Synagogue Renovated
The synagogue in the town of Alanta in the Molėtai region stands on slight hill side a little bit away from Ukmergės street on the right-hand side of the Alanta-Molėtai road. It is unique in Lithuania and Europe. It is one of only seventeen surviving wooden synagogues spread across Lithuania. Judging from its shape, it is thought it was built in the late 19th century. The Alanta synagogue is the only surviving synagogue from the Romantic period with an intact interior and interior stairs left in Lithuania.
The renovated synagogue will be handed over to the Molėtai regional administration for managing public use of the state-protected heritage site for cultural, educational and tourism activities including exhibits and tours teaching local Jewish history.
Sabbath Times
The Sabbath begins at 4:03 P.M. on Friday, November 12, and concludes at 5:19 P.M. Saturday in the Vilnius region.
European Jewish Congress Holds First Sit-Down since Pandemic in Vienna
The European Jewish Congress held their firs in-person meeting since the outbreak of the corona virus in Vienna on November 10. Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky attended.
The meeting touched on current problems of concern to European Jewish communities.
On November 9 members of the executive board attended a commemoration of the 83rd anniversary of Kristallnacht at the Holocaust memorial Judenplatz in Vienna. The same day EJC president Moshe Kantor presented a comprehensive plan to defeat anti-Semitism.