Rakija Klezmer Orkestar is a klezmer group which formed three years ago in Kaunas, Lithuania. They have performed Hanukkah concerts at the Lithuanian Jewish Community.
The group say they want to revive Litvak klezmer traditions. The four-set will soon become five with addition of Mantas Ostreika on saxophone. The other members are Darius Bagdonavičius, Mikas Kurtinaitis, Skirmantas Rumševičius and Povilas Jurkša.
Two groups of young rabbis from Canada, England, France, Israel, Japan and the United States came to the Panevėžys Jewish Community April 7, interested in Jewish life before World War II and now. The first group was led by Rabbi Meir Wunder, who leads trips by high school students to Panevėžys annually. The young people were interested in the life of Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman.
Kahaneman was born in the village of Kuliai in 1886 and studied at the yehsivas in Plungė and Telšiai before going on to the yeshiva in Novogrudok, now in Belarus. He became yeshiva director. He lived with his family in Panevėžys from 1919 to 1940. In 1923 he became a Lithuanian MP. In Panevėžys he set up a poorhouse, an orphanage and the Yavne Jewish religious school for girls, and headed the yeshiva. Later he and his son moved to Israel where he continued to maintain Litvak religious traditions. On the wall of an orphanage he founded are the names of the yeshivas of Lithuania. The Panevėžys yeshiva was also restored in 1919 due to his efforts.
The second group was led by Rabbi Tuvia Konn and Rabbi Nesivos Tours. They spoke about how they had heard of the Bokhrim yeshiva and became interested in the city of Panevėžys, and when there was opportunity to visit, they gladly came in search of their roots. They visited Jewish sites in Panevėžys and viewed a film about the history of the Jews of Panevėžys which they said opened a window onto the past.
A documentary film crew shot footage at the Panevėžys Jewish Community April 8 for a new film about Panevėžys Jewish architecture before World War II. Panevėžys Jewish Community chairman Gennady Kofman spoke about the history of Panevėžys Jews to an audience of the director and guests from the Margarita Rimkevičaitė Technical School.
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.
Marija Rolnikaitė, aged 89, has died.
Born July 21, 1927 in Klaipėda/Memel, some have called her Lithuania’s Anne Frank. When she was 14 she and her family were imprisoned in the Vilnius ghetto. After that she survived two concentration camps. What was a adolescent pastime, keeping a diary, became an important testimony of the fate of Lithuanian Jewry.
She wrote a poem in Yiddish about the Strazdamuiža concentration camp in Latvia which became an anthem for the anti-Nazi resistance. After the war she worked on the staff of the Lithuanian National Philharmonic for a time and was graduated from the Maxim Gorky Institute of Literature in Moscow in 1955. She published memoirs about her time in the ghetto and concentration camps in 1963. She moved to Leningrad in 1964 where she wrote more books, articles and reviews and was an active member of the Leningrad Jewish Community.
The Lithuanian Jewish Community will not forget her or the bright trail she blazed and now leaves in her wake.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with the initiators of a unique project carried out in Lithuania and Germany to support the rescuers of Jews. The project was launched at the initiative of the Order of Malta and the Lithuanian Jewish community. The aim of the project is to support people living in Lithuania who rescued Jews during the Second World War. President Dalia Grybauskaitė and German President Joachim Gauck serve as co-patrons of this initiative. “The Righteous Among the Nations attested humanity even in the very darkest hours of our history. Lithuania and Germany together remember their courage and sacrifice, we will always be grateful to the Righteous Among the Nations for their heroism and nobleness. This project unites people and countries, builds bridges between the past and the future, and does not allow indifference to prevail,” the President said.
From the web page of the Lithuanian President’s Office.
Funds collected from a benefit concert in Munich organized by the Order of Malta Relief Organization will go to support Righteous Gentiles in Lithuania, of whom there are currently 87 living. The idea to help the rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust in this way came from Order of Malta ambassador to Lithuania baron Christian von Bechtolsheim and Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky. “It was of great concern to us that our rescuers in their old age would get at least a little relief and be cared for,” Kukliansky said at a press conference held at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius April 6. “There’s no such thing as being too grateful, neither can there be too much material thanks. We wanted to materialize at least a little that which we feel towards our rescuers,” she explained.
Order of Malta Relief Organization in Lithuania secretary general Eitvydas Bingelis said some of the monies generated from the benefit concert, which totaled over 123,000 euros, will be added to debit cards for the Righteous Gentiles to purchase medicine not covered by national healthcare and medical goods, with another portion held in the fund for use for the individual needs of each Righteous Gentile.
Photos from the press conference:
It’s said Jews are most interested in organic, ecological, vegetarian food products with a long shelf-life and unique items such as different flavors of honey. The public organization Versli Lietuva organized meetings between a delegation of Israeli food producers and about 150 Lithuanian businesses. The delegation representing 13 Israeli businesses met with Lithuanian businesses, taste-tested products and considered prospects for cooperation. The Lithuanian Government has named Israel as one of 14 priority Lithuanian export markets. At present about 40% of Lithuanian exports to Israel are food products and mainly milk products. Ze’ev Lavie, chairman of the Israeli Chamber of Commerce’s International Relations Division, told Verslo Žinios Lithuanian food products enterprises could better exploit the global popularity of kosher food.
Full story in Lithuanian here.
The Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Commemorative Authority has reported plans to award the title of Righteous Gentile or Righteous among the Nations to the Lithuanian family of Antanas Blažaitis, Adelė Blažaitienė and Valentina Blažaitytė for saving Jews during the Holocaust at the risk of losing their own lives. The names of the new Righteous Gentiles are to inscribed on the wall of the museum. The medals and certificates will be sent through the Israeli embassy which will host a ceremony to present the awards.
Yad Vashem report available here.
Following a meeting between the Israeli ambassador and the mayor and city council of Kaunas in early March, on the first Friday in April the Kaunas deputy mayors, municipal staff and the chairman of the Kaunas Jewish Community visited the Jewish cemetery in the Slobodka neighborhood [Vilijampolė] and the mass grave at the Seventh Fort. During this meeting in the field, it was resolved that the municipal body Kapinių priežiūra [Cemetery Maintenance] would set up an information stand at the entrance to the Slobodka cemetery and would post signs forbidding cars, smoking, walking dogs and lighting fires there.
Another resolution was adopted for the Seventh Fort mass murder site: the city maintenance department (represented by Jolanta Miliauskienė) is to clean up the site (clean flagstones and collect garbage) around the monument to the Jews murdered there. The environmental department (represented by Radeta Savickienė) is to cut down trees and bushes according to a request drafted by cultural heritage department head Saulius Rimas which includes a photograph showing what is to be cut down and with the consent of Gercas Žakas, chairman of the Kaunas Jewish Community.
Faina Kukliansky, Christian von Bechtolsheim and Aloyzas Žukauskas
Vilnius, April 6, BNS–A benefit concert by the Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Order of Malta held in Germany has raised over 123,000 euros for Righteous Gentiles living in Lithuania.
Ambassador of the Order of Malta to Lithuania baron Christian von Bechtolsheim presented the symbolic check for the full amount to go to the Righteous Gentiles at the Lithuanian Jewish Community in Vilnius Wednesday.
“Righteous Gentiles are the true heroes of that time, they risked their own lives and those of their loved ones providing haven to people who would have been murdered by the Nazis. They hid them, fed them, provided a roof, and all of this demonstrates a human face during the darkest times in Europe,” the ambassador said.
April 6, 2016–Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė met Wednesday with Righteous Gentiles, or people who rescued Jews during World War II in Lithuania. The ambassadors of the Order of Malta, Germany and Israel and the leaders of the Order of Malta Relief Organization and the Lithuanian Jewish Community attended the meeting.
During friendly conversation over tea, the outstanding achievements of these brave Lithuanians were remembered and thoughts were shared on their problems, concerns and the help they need. The Order of Malta project to aid Righteous Gentiles in Lithuania was presented. All Righteous Gentiles still living in Lithuania are quite elderly and many of them live in isolation and need help.
A benefit concert was held in Munich to raise money for the Righteous Gentiles in Lithuania. More than 123,000 euros were raised for this purpose from that concert.
Baron Christian von Bechtolsheim, the ambassador of the Order of Malta to Lithuania, said: “The Maltese in Lithuania take care of many ill, elderly and isolated people. But Righteous Gentiles are special. These noble and courageous people were not afraid and risked their own lives to rescue their neighbors and countrymen from death. Now it’s our turn to help them.”
11:00 A.M., April 9
The Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Rositsan and Maccabi Chess and Checkers Club
invite you to a children’s chess competition.
The match is dedicated to the memory of Vladas Mikėnas
Children up to age 10 will participate. The competition will take place at Kaštonų street No. 2, Vilnius (at the Children’s Chess School)
Tournament director: FIDE master Boris Rositsan, senior referee/judge: Ričardas Fichmanas
To register or for more information, contact: info@metbor.lt or telephone +3706 5543556
The countries of Europe was exhausted by bloody battles during World War II, but the Jewish people suffered especially and were murdered merely for being Jewish. They were murdered in all countries occupied by the Nazis including Lithuania. In Lithuania the Jewish communities were strong and maintained a strong cultural identity, and the country was referred to as the Jerusalem of the North sometimes, but even so, more than 95% of all Jews were murdered here during World War II, and out of approximately 250,000 only 5,000 survived.
In those dark days of chaos, violence and mass murder, however, some very brave, noble and resolved Lithuanians stepped forward to oppose what was happening around them, and sought ways to save at least a few lives of their fellow citizens. Rescuers of Jews risked their own lives and those of their families, and many were killed and sent to concentration camps. The title Righteous among the Nations, or simply Righteous Gentile, is awarded by the state of Israel to those who saved Jews. Currently a little under 100 people who have received this award live in Lithuania, and all of them are quite old. Many of them are living in poverty and suffering from illness. The morality and sacrifice it takes to save an innocent child, elderly person, a man or a woman, your own neighbor from the jaws of death is no less an heroic act than fighting for the freedom of your country. Wanting to help these heroic people, the ambassador of the Order of Malta to Lithuania, baron Christian von Bechtolsheim, launched an initiative and on November 2, 2015, a benefit concert was held in Munich, Germany. The conductor was world-renowned Enoch zu Guttenberg. Patrons included president of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė and German president Joachim Gauck. The benefit was quite successful and raised more than 125,000 euros. These monies will be used for the welfare and benefit of Righteous Gentiles, many of whom are isolated, poor and in need.
April 6, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, Vilnius. President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė met with the initiators of a unique project to aid rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust in Lithuania and Germany. The unusual project for Lithuanian Jewish rescuers carried out in two countries was the initiative of the Order of Malta and the Lithuanian Jewish Community.
The goal of the project was to help people living in Lithuania who saved Jews during World War II. Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė and German Federal Republic president Joachim Glauck supported the initiative.
“Even during the darkest hours of our history, Righteous Gentiles demonstrated humanity. Lithuania and Germany together remember their bravery and sacrifice, and we will always be grateful for the heroism and nobility of the Righteous Gentiles. This project brings together people and countries and forms a bridge between the past and the future, denying victory to apathy,” the president of Lithuania said.
TEL AVIV (JTA)–Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that the state must recognize Orthodox conversions performed in Israel outside the authority of the Chief Rabbinate. The ruling Thursday means any non-citizen who converts in a private Israeli Orthodox conversion court can gain Israeli citizenship under the country’s Law of Return. Previously, converts who converted abroad could only gain Israeli citizenship if they lived in a Diaspora Jewish community. Some 150 citizens who have converted in private Israeli Orthodox conversion courts will now be seen as Jewish by the state.
The court rejected the state’s claim that only Chief Rabbinate conversions are legitimate within Israel. Because of the Jewish community’s multifaceted nature, the court ruled, any conversion performed by any Orthodox community, whether in Israel or abroad, are recognized as valid.
“The Jewish nation is indeed one nation, but it is spread out across the world and is composed of communities, layers and sub-layers,” the court’s decision read. Recognizing only the Chief Rabbinate “does not attribute weight to the existing range of Jewish communities–and that is unacceptable.”
Full story here.
The Kaunas Jewish Community expresses their heart-felt thanks for the timely ordering and delivery of matzo for the community. Our gratitude to Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky, Social Center director Simas Levinas, accountant Asta Rainytė, program coordinators Michailis Segalis, Ema Jakobienė, Rašelė Šeraitėi, project leader Lauras Sabonis, administrator Rokas Dobrovolskas and Indrė Rutkauskaitė.
Holiday greetings to all!
The Bagel Shop Café has begun making challa bread for Sabbath the way it should be. Besides bagels, visitors can now purchase authentic challa bread, not too sweet but very delicious. A good Sabbath to all.
The Panevėžys Musical Theater
Nepriklausomybės [Independence] square No. 8
5:30 P.M., April 20, 2016
Concert
Music: The Best Bridge between All Nations
The American Virtuosi ensemble:
Emmanuel Borowsky on violin, Frances Borowsky on cello, Elizabeth Borowsky on piano, Charles Borowsky on harmonica and voice.
Jerusalem of Lithuania ensemble musicians to perform at the concert:
Boris Traub on violin, Henrikas Marcinkus on alto violin and Valentinas Kaplūnas on cello.
Program:
Day One: Faustas Latėnas – Borisas Traubas. “Jerusalem of Lithuania,” musical score for Grigorijus Kanovičius’s drama “Nusišypsok mums, Viešpatie!” [“Smile upon us, O Lord!”]. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875-1911) – Five pieces (an adaptation by Boris Traub). Luigi Boccerini, quintet, “Musica notturna delle strade di Madrid” [“Night Music of the Streets of Madrid”].
Day Two: Max Bruch, Scottish Fantasy, op. 46, parts 2 and 3. Francis Poulenc, Sonata for cello, FP 143, parts 2 and 3. “Music from around the World” medley by the American Virtuosi.
Lithuanian concerts by the American Virtuosi supported by:
Next week a delegation of representatives of the Israeli food industry are to visit Lithuania. About 20 people from 13 Israeli companies are scheduled to come to look for partners. They are reportedly looking for ecological and vegetarian products, products with a long shelf-life and items which might be new to their national market. The public organization Versli Lietuva is to organize meetings with about 50 Lithuanian companies. The Israeli delegation will also attend a business forum along with representatives of the Israeli embassy to assess the results of cooperation between the two countries so far and to talk about the future. Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Amir Maimon said the visit demonstrates the desire by both countries to increase trade and business ties.
In the past Lithuanian food producers have visited fairs in Israel and more and more Lithuanian businesses are getting kosher food certificates. Almost 40 percent of Lithuanian exports to Israel are food products, mainly milk products, and agricultural production. One hot Lithuanian export item has been cheese for about 20 years now. Non-food exports include pharmaceuticals and furniture.
The most promising Lithuanian exports to Israel include biotech, IT services, chemicals, furniture, food, timber and tourism. The Lithuanian company Altechna exports lasers to Israel and biotech firm ProBioSanus has entered the Israeli market as well.
