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On 18 March 2014 Bar Ilan University of Tel Aviv hosted an event during which a two-volume publication / catalog “Lithuanian synagogues” was presented. The project was implemented by joint efforts of Lithuanian and Israeli researchers of architecture, art, and history. Researchers of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Centre for Studies of the Culture and History of East European Jews were involved in the project on the Lithuanian side. On the Israeli side researchers of the Hebrew University Faculty of Art History and Bar Ilan University Jewish Art Faculty contributed to the project. Authors of the publication: Prof. Giedrė Mickūnaitė of the Department of Art History and Theory of the Vilnius Academy of Arts and Dr. Jurgita Šiauciūnaitė-Verbickienė of the Center for Studies of the Culture and History of East European Jews, as well as Prof. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin, Dr. Vladimir Levin and Dr. Sergey Kravtsov from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

During the event, Ben Gurion University professor Mordechai Zalkin who is one of the world's recognized Judaic history and culture experts delivered the keynote speech. In his speech prof. M. Zalkin highlighted the uniqueness of the Lithuanian synagogues. This publication offers a catalogue of the extant synagogues in Lithuania: 96 buildings, among them 17 synagogues built of wood.

M. Zalkin also said that the Jewish people settled in Lithuania during the times of Vytautas the Great, Grand Duke of Lithuania who ruled in 15th century, and were well integrated with the local communities. Lithuanian Jews are known to be distinguished by their unique cultural and artistic world which is reflected in the culture of synagogues. M. Zalkin expressed his gratitude to the Government of Lithuania, Lithuanian Embassy in Israel, the director of the Lithuanian Department of Cultural Heritage Director D. Varnaitė and the educational institutions for providing support and assistance for the implementation of this project.

Lithuanian Ambassador to Israel Darius Degutis thanked the authors of the publication for this important work and said that the Lithuanian Government is consistently taking action for the conservation and restoration of the historic and cultural heritage of the Jewish community. This publication / catalog is a part of such efforts.