Social center

Happy Birthday, Simas Levinas!

Happy birthday to Simas Levinas on his 70th birthday! Simas has been and is both an initiator and one of the most active members of the Lithuanian Jewish Community from its modern inception and earlier was the first principal and intellectual leader of the Sholem Aleichem school, among other things. He spoke forcefully and clearly for the creation of that school. Now that the Sholem Aleichem ORT Gymnasium is one of the best rated in Lithuania, no one questions the need for a Jewish school anymore. Currently Simas is doing very important work as both the head of the LJC’s Social Center and as the chairman of the Jewish Religious Community. Always bright, cultured, intelligent and professional, Simas greets everyone with a smile and is ready to talk to everyone without anger or rancor. He is also very moral man, and these qualities make him stand out in any crowd.

Happy Birthday, Simas. Allow us to wish you even more success and that good health would follow you always. Cheerfulness makes us all look younger than our years. You have chosen a meaningful and long path and you have lit up the hearts of those around you with love. Please accept our small thanks today and may your winning smile never fade from your face. Many happy and beautiful days lie ahead. The contented and generous heart never grows old and gray! May you live to at least 120!

Mazl tov!

Many came to give warm wishes and presents to Simas on this milestone occasion. For snapshots from the celebration, click here.

Matzo to be Given to Members

Dear members of the Vilnius Jewish Community,

Greetings on the upcoming holiday of Passover!

We are distributing matzo to VJC members again this year free of charge. Please pick up your matzo package from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on workdays from April 4 to April 11 at room no. 201 at the Lithuanian Jewish Community.

Each member is to receive one 1 kilogram package. You must provide identification or a VJC member’s card to receive the package.

Members of the Social Club are receiving matzo separately from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. in the computer room on the first floor from April 4 to 15.

This is also a good time for those who need to pay their membership dues to do so, from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. in room 209, or by transferring funds to the Vilnius Jewish Community, institutional code 291199610, bank account LT137044060000908075, bank code 70440. Please indicate for whom the membership fees are being paid.

LJC Children’s Purim Was the Most Fun

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This isn’t the first time LJC Youth Programs coordinator Pavelas Guliakovas has organized a holiday celebration. This year he decided there should be costume play based on excerpts from the Book of Esther with all the heroes and villains: the Persian king, Haman, Esther and all the others. But there were also samurai, cowboys, doctors and princesses. The entire play was performed in rhyme. During the breaks between acts, the children rushed off to change masks, apply glitter and use it as coloring, then came back to the performance space. Dancers from the Fayerlakh ensemble danced. All of the children and several of the parents as well had grown up attending the small children’s club Dubi, and Dubi, Dubi Mishpakha and Ilan Club children aged 2 to 12 took part in the Purim celebration. Samuel Gar, a professional teacher of Jewish dance, taught dances to the children. Their performance was amazing and the celebration lasted for about two hours.

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LJC Gesher Club Meets for Havadalah

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The Gesher Club of the Lithuanian Jewish Community invited members and friends to a ceremony to end the Sabbath, havdalah, on Saturday, February 13. Many community members attended a Gesher evening for the first time. The decorations, beautifully set tables and pleasant music set the mood for celebration. Organizer of the event and LJC program coordinator Žana Skudovičienė greeted each guest individually with a smile. Skudovičienė, who took over administration of the Gesher Club to fill the gap left by Junona Berznitski’s departure as administrator, has many years of experience doing organizational work.

Vilnius Choral Synagogue cantor Shmuel Yatom led the havdalah ceremony. He spoke about the significance of the ceremony and of maintaining tradition. “The word havdalah, it’s verbatim translation from Hebrew means to separate or usher out. This is the meaning of this brief but beautiful symbolic ritual of Judaism which ends the Sabbath, because havdalah separates the Sabbath from other days, in other words, it separates the holy day from daily life. The ceremony is not mandatory according to the Torah. According to the Talmud, Sabbath celebration began in the fourth or fifth century before the Common Era. The havdalah ceremony evolved as the conclusion of the Sabbath to prepare the individual for the coming work week, and the havdalah ceremonies are for our soul, to provide another opportunity to become focused together before the beginning of the week, to gather strength and to ask for G_d’s blessing. According to Judaic tradition, havdalah begins at dusk when you can see at least three stars in the sky. After darkness falls, the havdalah candle is lit.”

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Social Center Jewish Family Center Distributes Donations to Needy

Donated toys, shoes, clothing and accessories were distributed last Thursday and Friday at the Lithuanian Jewish Community. The items were collected last year by Jewish Lithuanian Student Union chairwoman Amit Belaitė and others.

Jewish Family Center clients (young families with children and the temporarily unemployed) were personally invited by the coordinator to come and select clothing and footwear. About 80 people were invited.

Report from the A Mehaye Winter Camp 2015

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Pavel Guliakov, the LJC’s new director ew coordinator of youth programs, reports the A Mehaye winter camp is drawing to a close and was a wonderful success.

He said the winter camp is the largest annual youth program event with the greatest participation and requiring the most organizational work. This year a parents’ committee was called to help with organization and to draw up safety measures, rules and disciplinary measures, Guliakov reported.

A team of young but incredibly responsible and talented coordinators, counselors and professionals aided the camp leaders in their work this year. Guliakov noted there was a high level of comfort and familiarity because all of the members of the time except one (the Judaism coordinator) had themselves participated as children in Community youth programs, and besides working as camp guides were involved in all sorts of other outside activities including Jewish music and dance, art workshops and even professional cinematography.

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Lithuanian Jewish Community Chairwoman Takes Stock of Accomplishments over Past Year

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Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky said 2015 was an important year for the Community and that she is hoping for changes in school curricula in 2016 to take into account the Jewish contributions to Lithuanian history, Jewish culture and the Holocaust.

The year 2015 was an important one for us, the community. Important changes in Lithuanian-Israeli relations were seen. An Israeli embassy was opened in Lithuania and ambassador Amir Maimon began work here. Ambassador Maimon has dedicated a lot of time to the Jewish community and has proven a reliable partner in solving various problems. Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė and prime minister Algirdas Butkevičius paid serious attention to the Jewish community and both visited Israel in 2015 and met with top leaders of the Jewish state. It was said Israeli-Lithuanian relations have never been so good and efforts to expand economic and cultural ties continue.

The Lithuanian state began to pay more attention to preserving Jewish heritage and cemeteries. Old synagogues left in small towns without any Jews were the subject of utilization agreements with local municipalities to be used for cultural uses by the public. The Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library began a significant project to digitize the archive of YIVO, which operated in Vilnius until World War II, together with the YIVO institute now located in the USA.

The Lithuanian Jewish Community appreciates that representatives of our Community are included in state visits by top leaders. This is very important to us. I took part in almost all meetings, and this fact testifies not only to the respect shown the Community, but also to the opportunity to present information first-hand, which is important to the leader as well as the Community. We are taking a successful part at all international organizations and continue our many years of cooperation with the Joint Distribution Committee, and appreciate this global organization’s support for our Community. We also thank the ORT, EJC, WJC, AJC, the Goodwill Fund, the Lithuanian Human Rights Monitoring Institute, EEA Grants and the Howard Margolis Foundation for their help. Thank you all.

Currently I am seriously reviewing the operating rules of the Community’s Social Center. We have established a steering committee for the Social Center and are seeking to expand the circle of people eligible to receive social benefits, which should go not only to support the elderly, but more to children as well. Jews are also concerned that people evacuated during the war do not enjoy equal status with deportees. After all, they didn’t leave their homes voluntarily, but receive no pensions from the state.

We should not forget that last year saw the establishment of three governmental commissions. The first was the Commission for Teaching and Holocaust Education. The goal of this commission is to place greater emphasis in the schools on Jewish history and Jewish contributions to Lithuanian history. The second is the Heritage Commission which is tasked with taking care of cemeteries and mass murder sites as well as all surviving Jewish heritage sites in Lithuania. The third commission is for the restoration of property rights to private individuals who did not have Lithuanian citizenship during the period when the law for such restitution was in force. This issue will require negotiations with the Government. Another issue is a decision on non-inherited property which will never be inherited because it belonged to people murdered in the Holocaust. The program approved by the Government back in 2011 to rename the streets of Lithuanian cities and towns in honor of rescuers of Jews and famous Jewish figures, unfortunately, still hasn’t been implemented.

After the brutal terrorist attacks in Europe last year which shook the entire continent, we also hope the issue of the safety and security of members of the Lithuanian Jewish Community will receive more attention from state institutions.

The Šnipiškės cemetery and the cemetery on Olandų street were the subject of much discussion, but I’d like to say that all issues connected with the Šnipiškės cemetery are being and will be solved under supervision by rabbis, and an agreement was signed with the rabbis in 2009. We thank mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Šimašius and director of the Pavilniai Regional Park Vida Petiukonienė, among others, for their concern with and care of the Olandų street cemetery.

We consider ourselves Europeans but to make our Jewish identity real we still have to renew our knowledge of Judaism. This year we bade farewell to our rabbi whose employment contract ended. We intensively conducted a search for a new rabbi from among many candidates, the successors to the Gaon, who wanted to begin working in Vilnius and Lithuania, to continue the Judaic Mitnaged tradition in this country, to work not just at the Choral Synagogue in Vilnius, but also in the community.

I am pleased that the number of Vilnius residents joining the Community is quickly growing. Although we have always said that all Jews living in Vilnius are members of the Community, today we see them becoming true members and paying membership fees, which have been greatly reduced. And non-Jews are also taking part in the Community’s work, and just as we ask for tolerance for others, we strive to be tolerant people ourselves.

The Community is hoping for more participation by the youth because we are not just elderly people. Taking a more active part means each individual may contribute according to their desire, talent and ability. If an individual wants to preserve his or her Jewish identity and those of his or her children and grandchildren, we welcome any and all such initiatives.

Steering Committee for Social Center Activities Formed

Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky has issued a directive to establish the Steering Committee of Stakeholders for Social Committee Activities. The task of the committee is make and implement essential decisions on Social Center activities, including the need for specific actions, structure of the center, its budget, new programs and other matters.

The committee is constituted of the following community leaders: Faina Kukliansky; deputy chairwoman Maša Grodnik; the doctors Ella Gurina (a member of the LJC executive board) and Arkadijus Goldinas; Kaunas Jewish Community chairman Gercas Žakas; Šiauliai Jewish Community chairman Josifas Buršteinas; ghetto organization representatives Rozeta Ramonienė and Gita Grinmanienė; and JDC representatives Baltic Region director Moni Beniosev and Baltic States Welfare director Marina Astanovskaja. Simas Levinas and Michailas Segal represent the LJC Social Center on the committee. The meeting was exemplary with Žakas, Grodnikienė, Beniosev and the doctors Gurina and Goldinas sharing interesting ideas.

Chairwoman Faina Kukliansky summed up the meeting and promised to consider the committee’s proposals in drawing up the LJC budget for 2016. Meetings are planned every quarter.

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A Mehaye Winter Camp 2015

The A Mehaye Winter Camp is an event for children and juveniles aged 7 to 17 and will take place from December 24 to 30 this year. You are urged to register now.

Cost: 100 euros (plus 30 euros deposit) per individual, 180 euros for two siblings (plus 30 euros deposit).

For more information, please call +37068542463 or +37069920212.

LJC Social Center Jewish Family Service Celebrates Hanukkah

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The Jewish Family Service of the Social Center at the Lithuanian Jewish Community held a Hanukkah celebration December 10 for children and parents which included a creative workshop. An experienced developmental psychologist who several years ago led Purim programs for children served as guide at the event. First the children watched a short film about Hanukkah and associated traditions, then in the art workshop portion of the program the children and their parents used colored sand to create a decorative menorah. The children enthusiastically used many different colors to represent the flames. They framed their pictures and then continued to work on them using different decorations. After the work was done, there was a treasure hunt for Hanukkah gelt, gift-giving, dreidl play and snacks of fresh doughnuts.

Approximately thirty children and parents participated. They reported having a lot of fun and said they would remember the event for a long time to come.

More snapshots from the event here.

Ilan Club Visits Toy Museum

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Last Sunday the Ilan Club visited the Toy Museum. The children had fun with their supervisors and had an interesting and instructive time. Museum guides provided a tour and showed the children old-fashioned toys, and spoke about their effect on development and use. There was a total of 17 participants and all of them said they had a good time.

Snapshots:

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Lithuanian Jewish Community Welcomes New Youth Programs Coordinator

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The LJC welcomes to our staff Pavel Guliakov, the new coordinator of youth programs for the community.

The son of members of the community, former Sholem Aleichem Gymnasium student and college student graduated with honors, Pavel is now our coordinator of youth programs and assistant to Valentin Solomiak. His bachelor’s work, not coincidentally, focused on the history of Jewish Vilna. Many of us already know him since he has worked as a volunteer at youth clubs for about a decade now. Pavel has the true calling of a teacher and likes working with children. Currently the work schedule of the coordinator is filled with meetings and lessons at the regional communities. Events will be held in Šiauliai and Kaunas in the near future. Last week Pavel attended the seminars held by the JDC for Jewish communities aimed at providing greater academic qualifications called “Project Organization, Problem Solving.” The new coordinator says he learned a lot of useful things he will apply in his main work with the Ilan, Knafaim and Students Clubs.

We wish him all the success in the world in his new post, coordinating the very future of the Community.

Social Center Takes Children to See Play

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On November 21 the Lithuanian Jewish Community Social Center’s program the Jewish Family Service took children and parents to the formerly Jewish theater to watch a fun performance of the Three Little Pigs. Twenty-six people turned out for the event. We would like to thank the Goodwill Fund which made it possible for us to attend. It was a lot of fun for everyone.

The coordinator of the program is planning more such cultural events for families to allow children and their parents to have a good time together during the dark and chilly days of fall.

Children’s Event at the Klaipėda Jewish Community

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Sunday the Klaipėda Jewish Community hosted an event for children on the topic of the State of Israel. The hands-on event acquainted the children with Israeli geography and they “traveled” through an interactive virtual Land of Israel, stopping at historical sites and attractions. A bird’s-eye view of Israel from the sky was projected onto a screen, providing children with interesting views of the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. New counselors from Vilnius demonstrated their ability to conduct appropriate and interesting lessons for children of all ages. Everyone had snacks at the end.

Photo gallery here.

Sunday at the Ilan Children’s Club

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Sunday children at the Ilan Club spent time with club counselors and discussed the important topic of Jewish homes. It was an informative conversation about Jewish family values. After the serious stuff was over, the kids played different games with various goals. The time passed quickly and after the games there was additional discussion of Jewish homes, then snacks.

Snapshots from a fun Sunday here.

Everyone Invited to the Gesher Club

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Everyone is invited to begin the Sabbath with the Gesher Club this Friday, November 20, at 7:00 P.M.

Come and meet friends, and bring your board games!

For more information, call Alla Segal at 861061812 or Irina Frišman at 868687580.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Lithuanian Jewish Student Union Invites You

to a free screening of the film “Dėdė Chackelis” [“Uncle Chatskel”]

Registration required. Send your full name and telephone number and the full names of any companion you intend to bring by email to atamuleviciutes@gmail.com

The screening is to take place at 6:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 18 at the Jewish Culture and Information Center located at Mėsinių street No. 3A/5 in Vilnius.

Dėdė Chackelis (1999) is a documentary film by Litvak Rod Freedman about Chackelis Lemchenas, one of Lithuania’s most famous linguists whom Jonas Jablonskis called his best student. This fact helped save him from Lithuanian Holocaust perpetrators.

to donate clothes, books and items

The Lithuanian Jewish Student Union and the Social Center of the Lithuanian Jewish Community invite you to join the campaign and share the clean and neat clothes you no longer wear, books and items to the Social Center for distribution to the needy. You may leave clothes in the bins next to the guard inside the entrance of the Community building or contact amit.belaite@gmail.com

to participate in a photography project

Very soon we will begin a photography project to document the stories of Jews living in Lithuania today. If you’d like to be part of it and have the time at your convenience to have and receive a professional photographic portrait and tell your story, write an email to amit.belaite@gmail.com with PHOTO PROJECT in the subject line, and please include alternate ways to contact you.

Knafaim and Ilan Clubs to Meet

This weekend we will host the following programs :

KNAFAIM – Friday 18:30 P.M. We are taking teens for a special event to Labirinthus (see https://www.facebook.com/labyrinthusgame) and we will celebrate Sabbath there.

ILAN – Sunday at 3.00 P.M. Kids will have a peula on the topic of Jewish values. At about 4:30 P.M. there will be a quiz. Havdala ceremony and story at around 5.30 P.M.

Training for camp and club counselors – Sunday 12 noon. Around 20 young leaders will gather
to acquire more knowledge on Jewish topics.

Jewish Family Service Attends Theater Performance

On Saturday, September 26, the Jewish Family Service of the Lithuanian Jewish Community’s Social Center took children and their parents to the Lėlė Theater, originally established as a theater in the Vilnius ghetto by Jewish intellectuals, to watch a play called “The Tale of a Turtle,” which was surprisingly funny for both the kids and their parents. The event was intended to mark the holiday of Sukkot. Twenty-five people attended the event which was free of charge and funded by the Goodwill Fund. The theater also chipped in and provided us several tickets free of charge, for which we are very grateful. The parents and children had a wonderful time and were quite thankful as well. Coordinator Rašelė Šeraitė is planning many more such events for the families to allow them to spend quality time together and share fond memories later.

Jewish Family Service party

Jewish Family Service party

On Sunday, September 13, just before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish Family Service of the Social Center at the Lithuanian Jewish Community hosted a holiday activities event for children. Children with their parents’ help painted Rosh Hashanah symbols and New Year’s greetings on silk. There were also traditional holiday treats. About 30 people attended, including parents and children of different ages.