News

On 7 October 2013 Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Culture Darius Mažintas participated in a commemoration event in Yad Vashem World Holocaust Center and Museum, dedicated to pay tribute to the memory of Lithuanian Jews murdered in the Holocaust and to commemorate the 70 years since the liquidation of the Vilnius Ghetto.

The commemoration ceremony was attended by Holocaust survivors and their families, representatives of Lithuanian-Israeli friendship association “ISRAELITA”, leaders of the Association of Vilna and Vilna vicinity Jews in Israel Beit Vilna, members of the Association of Lithuanian Jews in Israel.

On behalf of the Government of Lithuania, the Deputy Minister Darius Mažintas expressed the respect for the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, noting the importance of these painful and tragic pages for Lithuania, for the country's people, and for their efforts to build the future together. Darius Mažintas informed about the Lithuanian Government’s continual efforts to give meaning to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, to preserve and maintain the Lithuanian Jewish history and cultural heritage. This year, the Lithuanian Parliament declared the memorial year of the Vilnius Ghetto. Darius Mažintas briefed the audience about the actions of the Government of Lithuania in order to pay tribute to the memory of the Lithuanian Jewish community. Also, the Deputy Minister presented the program of the Vilnius Ghetto memorial year, the Fourth World Litvak Congress which took place on September 22-25, 2013, and the other commemoration events of the Vilnius Ghetto in Lithuania.

On behalf of the Government of Lithuania Darius Mažintas paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust by placing a wreath at the Yad Vashem memorial.

During the commemoration event in Yad Vashem, Darius Mažintas and Rafailas Karpis performed a musical program that reflects the rich cultural and artistic life of the pre-war Lithuanian Jewish community.