Few Jewish groups have been more involved in the renewal of Jewish communal life in the former Soviet Union than the Lubavitch movement. But when the Chasidic organization recently opened a new Jewish center in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, some observers found historical irony in the event. This was because Vilnius, formerly known as… More ▸
Lithuania has observed its annual commemoration of Holocaust victims by honoring Christians who risked their lives to save Jews during World War II. Lithuanian President Algirdas Brazauskas last week decorated 27 Lithuanians with the Life Rescuer Cross, which was established in 1992, soon after Lithuania gained its independence from the Soviet Union. The commemoration came… More ▸
The Lithuanian Supreme Court has annulled a 1991 pardon granted to an alleged war criminal. Petras Kriksciunas was accused by the Soviet authorities of killing Jews in Vilnius, Lithuania, during World War II. Some 50,000 Lithuanians who were convicted as war criminals by Soviet courts were exonerated by the Baltic nation after it gained independence… More ▸
A new synagogue has been dedicated in the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda. The synagogue includes a small soup kitchen to offer meals to needy Jews twice a week, and a Torah scroll the community received from a British synagogue. The Lithuanian seaport, formerly known as Memel, had a Jewish community before the war of 10,000… More ▸
A speech by Israel’s ambassador to Lithuania has that country’s politicians up in arms. Within days after the speech by Oded Ben Hur, Lithuania’s Parliament delayed action on amendments to the country’s criminal code that would facilitate the investigation of alleged World War II criminals. During a discussion of the amendments, parliamentarian Rimantas Smetona urged… More ▸
Commemorations marking the 200th yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon began this week in Lithuania amid criticism from some Jewish leaders that the country had failed to bring alleged war criminals to justice. This week’s opening session of Parliament, which was attended by Lithuanian President Algirdas Brazauskas and Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius, was devoted to speeches… More ▸
Lithuania’s prime minister is seeking to accelerate the annulment of pardons granted to suspected war criminals. Coming just days before the commemoration of the 200th yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon — an event boycotted by some Jewish groups — the prime minister’s call last week for action was viewed by some as a ploy aimed… More ▸
A Lithuanian Talmudic scholar is stirring up controversy among Jews 200 years after his death. September marks the 200th yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon, the renowned commentator on the Talmud and the Torah and the major opponent of the burgeoning Chasidic movement in the Baltic area during the late 18th century. A split has emerged… More ▸
A debate is growing here over whether the Lithuanian government should crack down on neo-Nazi and nationalist groups. Lithuania’s justice minister, Vytautas Pakalinskis, downplays the significance of the groups, saying they are “still in an embryonic stage and are therefore not subject to criminal prosecution yet.” But Simonas Alperavicius, the leader of the country’s 5,000-member… More ▸
An accused Nazi war criminal who was stripped of his U.S. citizenship before returning to Lithuania may finally stand trial here later this year. Legal proceedings against Aleksandras Lileikis were postponed last month after medical experts determined that he was not fit to stand trial. Under Lithuanian law, suspects cannot be brought to trial if… More ▸
Election 2016
