We are saddened to report the death of long-time member Itzhak Solomon on July 1. He was born in 1946. Our deepest condolences to his widow Marija and to his many friends and family members.
More Attacks on Lithuanian Jewish Community
Last week two more attacks were made against the Lithuanian Jewish Community. A man in a mask with the help of an accomplice brazenly stole the Israeli flag flying above the entrance of the building in Vilnius, then took the flag to a nearby park and cut it up with a knife. He also apparently threatened a person there with the same knife, but didn’t wound that person. The next day someone broke a window at the Bagel Shop Café operated by the LJC in the same building as LJC headquarters.
Both incidents were recorded on security video which has been turned over to police.
The LJC expects law enforcement will take swift action to punish the criminals in light of the rising danger posed to Jews in the Lithuanian capital.
“What’s most discouraging isn’t the crimes themselves, but people’s apathy. In the video recording you can clearly see pedestrians passing by who stopped to look back at the crazed masked man but didn’t bother to call the police. There is more than one living eye-witness in our community who has personally experienced what tragic consequences can ensue from remaining passive while crimes are committed,” LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky commented.
Condolences
Jevgenija Feldman passed away on June 7. She was born in 1939. She was a member of the Klaipėda Jewish Community and a client of the Saul Kagan Welfare Center. Faina Kukliansky and the entire Lithuanian Jewish Community send our deepest condolences to her daughter Maja and all her family and friends.
Ilan Club Ending Season
After a fun, intriguing and crazily fantastic season for the Ilan Club for children, the closing ceremony should be just as much fun. It happens this Sunday. To find out where and when, register by sending an email to levickajasimona@gmail.com. Please register by June 8.
Art Studio Ends Season with Exhibit
The Lithuanian Jewish Community’s Art Studio under the tutelage of master painter Raimondas Savickas is ending the season with an exhibit of works by participants. Everyone is welcome, but registration is required by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt.
Time: 6:00 P.M., Friday, June 7
Place: Third floor, Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
Next Quiz
Those who like to exercise their mental faculties are invited to the next “Kas, kur, kada?” quiz with Irina Slutsker as MC. Registration is required by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt or by calling (+370) 678 81514 by next Wednesday, May 15. This time there is also a participation fee of 5 euros, which can be paid by bank transfer to the Lithuanian Jewish Community, account number LT 06 7044 0600 0575 7425 with the word “PROTMŪŠIS” indicated in the appropriate line. The quiz will be conducted in Lithuanian.
Time: 7:00 P.M., Friday, May 17
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
LJC Invites Holocaust Survivors and Veterans to Commemoration Ceremony
Last Wednesday Lithuanian Jewish Community programs director Žana Skudovičienė invited so-called was children, now senior citizens, to a commemoration and celebration of the surrender of Nazi Germany to the Allies in 1945.
As in past years, the LJC invited Holocaust victims and our veterans to celebrate the end of the Holocaust in early May, on Victory Day, celebrated on May 8 and 9.
Participants lit candles in memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the victims of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 and in hope for the safe return of Hamas’s Israeli hostages.
Liba Britanishkina and Samuil Retznik, both now in their nineties but still extraordinarily active, and our centenarians Jewish partisan Fania Bratzovskaya and Aleksandr Asovski, were singled out for special attentions and presented gifts and flowers by LJC chairwoman Faina Kukliansky who visited them personally.
Victory Day
May 8 and 9 are celebrated as Victory Day, marking the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany which came into effect at 12:01 A.M. on May 9, 1945, Lithuanian time.
Children’s Clubs on Weekends
Dear children, young adults and parents,
Meaningful and fun activities await you every weekend:
Knafaim Club for those aged 13 to 17 at 6:00 P.M. on Fridays;
Ilan Club for children 7-12 at 12:00 noon on Saturdays;
Dubi Club for children aged 3 to 6 at 12:00 noon on Sundays.
All clubs meet at the LJC in Vilnius. See you there!
Women’s Club to Meet Friday
The Women’s Club is meeting again this Friday, this time with a male cook in the kitchen. Viljamas Žitkauskas will demonstrate his special breakfast-making techniques with an emphasis on Israeli cuisine.
Registration is required by sending an email to zanas@lzb.lt or by calling (+370) 678 81514.
Time: 7:00 P.M., Friday, May 10
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
Ilan Club Every Saturday
The Ilan Club for children ages 7 to 12 is open again every Saturday, passing on Litvak traditions, offering a place for meeting like-minded friends and loads of fun activities. The club will now be open starting at 12:00 noon on Saturdays at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. Contact Žana Skudovičienė for more information at zanas@sc.lzb.lt.
Knafaim Club Every Friday
The Knafaim Club is open again for young people aged 13 to 17. Games and learning about Judaism and the world is part of the program, followed by a Sabbath celebration, and it happens every Friday at 6:00 P.M. at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. Žana Skudovičienė is happy to answer any questions, write her at zanas@sc.lzb.lt.
Shabbat Hagadol
The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites everyone to Shabbat haGadol, the Great Sabbath, the last Sabbath before Passover, an evening full of tradition which will serve as preparation for the Passover celebration.
Over the course of the evening, under the tutelage of Viljamas Žitkauskas, we will go over the main parts of the seder, learn about keara, the Passover seder plate, read the Haggadah and enjoy the Sabbath meal in pleasant company.
Registration required by sending an email to zanas@sc.lzb.lt. The cost is 5 euros per person with children 3 and under free.
Time: 7:00 P.M., Friday, April 19
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
Women’s Club to Meet Friday
Women are invited to the Women’s Club meeting this Friday where we’ll prepare for Passover which is coming soon. We’ll talk about traditions from over the millennia and from more recent times and we’ll learn how to make Litvak matzo kneydlakh and a huge matzo cake.
Time: 6:30 P.M., Friday, April 12
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
Registration required. Send an email to zanas@lzb.lt or call (+370) 678 81514.
We hope to see you there.
Congratulations to Aleksandras Segalas
The entire Lithuanian Jewish Community congratulates Aleksandras Segalas on his successful defense of his dissertation “Emotions and Confirmation Bias in Simulated Child Sexual Abuse Investigative Interviews” last Friday at the Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius. We are all very proud of his achievements and wish him the greatest future success.
Purim Celebrations for Young and Old Sunday
The Lithuanian Jewish Community invites you to come and celebrate Purim this Sunday with event programs for young and old.
The Dubi Club for children aged 3 to 7 will stage a great program with skits, games, songs and other fun activities.
At the same time Bnei Maskilim invites you to a reading of the Book of Esther, tzedakah and mishloach manot, and the traditional potluck feast.
Everyone is welcome.
Time: 12:00 noon, Sunday, March 24
Place: Lithuanian Jewish Community, Vilnius
Don’t forget your masks and costumes!
Please note: registration is required for the Bnei Maskilim event. Please send an email to viljamas@lzb.lt.
Women’s Club to Meet
Dear women of the Lithuanian Jewish Community,
We are meeting at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius this Friday. You can expect real Women’s Club fun, including interesting conversation, an introduction to Purim, making hamantashen pastries and more. If you’ve been to one of the meetings before, you know this will be an unforgettable evening. Those who haven’t should come and find out for themselves.
Time: 6:30 P.M., Friday, March
Place: Third floor, Lithuanian Jewish Community, Pylimo street no. 4, Vilnius
Registration is required by writing zanas@sc.lzb.lt or calling (+370) 678 81514.
Youth Clubs Meeting This Weekend
The Knafaim Club meets Friday, March 8, at 6:00 P.M. On Sunday at 12 noon the Ilan Club for younger children meet for a special program of activities and loads of fun. On Thursday, March 14, another in the Women’s Club series of meetings will happen at 6:30 P.M. If you’ve been to one of these before, you know what a good time to expect, and if you haven’t, come and find out! It all happens at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. Stay tuned for more information.
Yiddish Lessons
The Lithuanian Jewish Community is offering Yiddish lessons again. The first class will be Sunday, February 25, at 1:00 P.M. at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. For more information, write zanas@sc.lzb.lt. See you there.
New Dubi Club Season Opens
The Lithuania Jewish Community’s Dubi Children’s Club opened a new season of activities on Sunday, February 18. If your child or children aged 4 to 6 want to meet friends, play, have fun and engage in new activities, mark your calendar for Sunday at 12 noon. Dubi Club takes place at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius. For more information, contact Žana Skudovičienė by telephone at +370 678 81514 or by email at zanas@sc.lzb.lt.